ACEF Workshop: "Trends in Raising Capital" By Bob Okabe, Founder of Prairie Angels in Chicago and co-founder of RPX Group and the Angel Capital Education Foundation (ACEF)

(angel investors & entrepreneurs)
Union League of Philadelphia

Understanding the current thinking in raising capital and the current financial environment is essential for both investors and entrepreneurs. This workshop will explore how market trends affect the needs and behaviors of both investors and entrepreneurs and what angel investors believe are the best - and worst - practices by companies who are seeking funding for their company. The presenter will discuss new developments in pre-money valuation and deal terms amongst other topics of interest including:

• Current Capital Raising Environment uses data from PricewaterhouseCoopers MoneyTree, Dow Jones VentureSource, Center for Venture Research, and ACA to give the audience a sense of current market activity.
• Meeting Investor Expectations uses data from a recent ACA member survey and the study "Returns of Angels in Groups" (published by the Kauffman Foundation and led by Robert Wiltbank) to set up discussions of the best practices for company documents - executive summary, business plan, slide deck, financial model - as well as due diligence, governance, and deal referrals.
• Company Valuation is a condensed review of current valuation data as well as the primary methods taught in the longer "Valuation and Portfolio Strategies" workshop from the Power of Angel Investing Series.