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How To Write an Effective Business Plan

Thu, 03/06/2003 - 5:30pm
See map: Google Maps

The MIT Venture Lab kicks off the Spring Series by reviewing the fundamentals of writing a business plan.  This event features two local executives that will lend their insight in helping you drive success in your company.

Join us as we explore the answers to questions that have no doubt crossed the mind of every Northwest entrepreneur. Why does a VC read one business plan and not another? Why does one business idea get an audience and the other goes in the "round file"? Come hear seasoned experts Alex Knight, Managing Director at ARCH Venture Partners and Paul Bialek, Chief Financial Officer at digiMine, as they discuss the whys and wherefores of business plans and guide you in constructing a more compelling plan for your business.  The discussion will focus on the following:

* The foundations of a solid business plan and how they've changed through the years

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* How investors determine "good investment potential" in a company


Seminar cost will be $25.00 per attendee or $75 if you register for all four seminars in the series. In addition, the cost of parking for the evening is $6.00 after 5:00.  Reservations may be arranged as follows:

-          Register online by clicking the buy button below until 5:00 pm, March 5th 

-          Phone registrations at (206) 283-9595 accepted until March 5th at noon

-          Onsite registration begins at 5:00pm March 6th, space permitting

-          VISA, MasterCard and American Express are welcome

Social hour and registration begin at 5:30 p.m.  The seminar begins at 6:30.

Alex Knight
Managing Director
ARCH Venture Partners



Alex Knight is a Managing Director of ARCH Venture Partners. Prior to joining ARCH in 1997, 
he was a senior consulting executive to several start-up companies, including NetBot, Inc. and 
Throw (both acquired by Excite@Home), Appliant.com, and About.com (public, then 
purchased by Primedia).

 

Previously, Knight was an Executive Vice President at News Corp./MCI Internet Ventures 
where he managed editorial, production, product marketing, and strategic development for the 
venture's online services. He joined News/MCI from Microsoft, where he was Director of Business 
Development and Creative Affairs for online services and broadband media. In this capacity, he 
managed a variety of marketing, product, and business development groups focused on advanced 
network media and Microsoft's relationships with media companies as well as the launch of 
MSN. Prior to Microsoft, Knight was Director of Business Development for Continuum (now 
Corbis), a pioneering interactive services company owned by Bill Gates. He also spent five 
years at Apple Computer in a variety of product marketing and management positions.

 

Knight is responsible for ARCH's investments in Syncronex, Nimble Technology, mForma, 
Viathan/Dantz Development, and Asta Networks. He is a director of ImproveNet, Dantz 
Development, Syncronex, Asta Networks, and Nimble Technology. Mr. Knight is also a 
board observer at Appliant, CelebrateExpress.com, and ePolicy Solutions.

 

Knight holds an MBA. from the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania, 
and an AB from Stanford University.

  

Paul Bialek

Chief Financial Officer

digiMine

 

Paul Bialek has over twenty years of experience in financial management. Prior to digiMine, 
he was Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President, Finance and Operations, for 
RealNetworks, Inc., a publicly traded Internet media company. During his tenure, RealNetworks 
revenue grew to approximately $250 million and the company achieved profitability. 

 

Before joining RealNetworks in 1998, Bialek was CFO for Metapath Software Corporation, 
a venture stage software company with products for the wireless telecommunications industry. 
From 1993 to 1997, he was CFO for Edmark Corporation, a publicly traded software company. 

Bialek started his career at KPMG Peat Marwick, where he was employed in a variety of

positions for 11 years, primarily focused on private and public technology companies. 

 

Bialek has a BA from Seattle University and is a Certified Public Accountant. He currently 
serves on the boards of the Washington Software Association and the Washington Research 
Foundation, as well as the advisory board for Seattle University's accounting program. 



Christian Edward Montegut
Member
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati



Christian Montegut's practice focuses on corporate and securities matters involving emerging 
growth companies, venture capital firms and investment banks.  He has broad experience in 
startup and general corporate issues, venture capital transactions, public offerings and acquisitions.  
Montegut works with companies in a wide range of technology-driven industries in the Pacific 
Northwest and Silicon Valley.  He has helped companies in a broad range of industries, from 
Internet companies of all flavors, to software companies, to hardware companies, to medical 
diagnostic product companies.



Montegut joined the Pacific Northwest team of WSGR after having practiced in the firm's Palo 
Alto office. Christian received his JD from New York University School of Law in 1994 and a BA 
in economics from Yale University in 1988.  He is admitted to the bar in California, Connecticut 
and Washington.




 
 









Venture Lab