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Successful Strategies for Attracting Capital

Thu, 11/07/2002 - 5:30pm
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An understanding of finance and funding is crucial for entrepreneurs.  Before an innovator approaches a source of funds, he should know the relationship between value generation, financing and ownership.   <?xml:namespace prefix = o /?>

There are perennial questions: 

  • What is value, and how much of it am I developing with my efforts?

  • How is value generation dependent on the funding I raise?

  • How is value apportioned during funding and how does it evolve over time?

  • What are the questions I need to be prepared to answer or ask in my investor meetings? 

And today's financial environment encourages a few more questions in the mind of the curious: 

  • Where does funding come from in 2002?

  • How has the market impacted the valuation process?

  • Is there still investment money available? 

Tonight we will explore the various aspects of funding, capital and value.  Please join us for an enlightening evening with Christopher Hedrick, founder of Lguide and Greg Gottesman of Madrona Venture Group.  Our speakers will discuss the funding process, resources available, and the impact of today's market on business valuations. 

Christopher Hedrick
President and CEO, Chairman of the Board of Directors
Lguide 

Chris Hedrick guides Lguide's strategic direction and provides consulting services to select clients. Before founding Lguide in 1999, Chris was Technology Policy Advisor to Governor Gary Locke of Washington state.  

Prior to serving in the Locke administration, Mr. Hedrick was the Director of Strategy and Operations for the Gates Library Foundation. The foundation was an outgrowth of Libraries Online, a program he oversaw while managing national philanthropic programs for Microsoft.  Mr. Hedrick also coordinated educational interactions across divisions of Microsoft. 

Before joining Microsoft, Mr. Hedrick was a senior administrator at the Peace Corps international headquarters, where he developed the agency's Internet and education technology initiatives. Previously, he had served as a small business development volunteer for the Peace Corps in Senegal. 

Mr. Hedrick has also managed a congressional office, served as an elected school board member in Olympia, Washington, where he pushed forward a nationally recognized school technology program, and taught American political history at Oxford University.  

Mr. Hedrick graduated from Stanford University with honors and was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University. He is a board member and treasurer of PATH, the global health non-profit.

Greg Gottesman
Managing Director
Madrona Venture Group 

Greg Gottesman joined Madrona in 1997 and currently serves on the boards of several portfolio companies including Asta Networks, Bocada, and WildTangent. He is also a Board Observer of Appliant.com, Dantz Development Corporation, Nimble Technology, Talisma and Rendition Networks. 

Previously, Mr. Gottesman served in a board or advisory capacity to Singingfish.com (prior to its acquisition by Thomson Consumer Electronics, Inc.), LiveBid.com (prior to its acquisition by Amazon.com) and AdRelevance (prior to its acquisition by Media Metrix). Before joining Madrona, he worked as an Associate at Boston Consulting Group. 

Mr. Gottesman graduated Phi Beta Kappa with honors and distinction from Stanford University, with honors and distinction from the Harvard Business School, and with honors from Harvard Law School where he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review. Mr. Gottesman is a board member of Seattle Repertory Theatre. He is the author of three books.

 

 

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