Thursday, September 24, 2009

Cool event in LA for entrepreneurs

Just wanted to pass the word on a cool new event coming up. It's a
workshop put on my the DealMaker team which also brings you the
Strategy Series and Startonomics. I've been to several of these
events, and I have to say that they are really, really good - very
high signal-to-noise ration. Here's the next big thing they are
putting on here in LA.

Details are below. Enter "STARTUP LA" in the ""how did you hear about
The Workshop" and get $20 off!

Seats are limited, and from the speaker/mentor list, this event
promises to sell out fast! Check it out!
https://undertheradar.wufoo.com/forms/apply-to-attend-the-workshop/

Official Info

THE WORKSHOP: October 6, 2009. 1:00pm – 6:00pm
This hands-on "workshop-style" event will allow entrepreneurs to drill
down on the key issues we face when laying the foundation to build and
fund their company. http://dealmakermedia.com/the_workshop.html

The Workshop is your chance to get your hands on actual cap charts and
term sheets.
Ask questions, get answers.

Tuesday October 6, 2009 | 1:00pm - 6:00pm
Microsoft LA | 333 S. Grand Ave. 33rd Floor, Suite 3300 | Los Angeles, CA 90071
Parking: Joe's Auto Parts:
220 So. Hope
(Microsoft will validate)


WORKSHOP MENTORS:
* Charles Halloran, Attorney, KPPB
* Dan Gould, VP Technology, Fox Interactive Media
* Dave McClure, Founders Fund
* Daniel C. Burnham, Partner, Strategic Law Partners
* Frank Addante, CEO, Rubicon Project
* Jason Nazar, CEO, DocStoc
* John Babcock, Partner, Rustic Canyon Partners
* John Suh, CEO, Legal Zoom
* Kent Goldman, Principal, First Round Capital
* Jeff Tinsley, CEO, Mylife
* Mark Suster, Partner, GRP Partners
* Richard Wolpert, Partner, The Mailroom Fund
* Seth Sternberg, CEO, meebo
* William Quigley, Partner, Clearstone Ventures

SESSIONS – What You'll Learn:

Romancing the Deal: Getting to "I do" And Getting What You Want
Only fools rush in to venture money, and for good reason –
underestimate the bargaining power of your target investor, and you
may just end up with a broken heart. Before you jump in, you need to
understand the strategies and tactics of negotiating a funding round
and it starts with the first date. Get tips from successful founders,
lawyers, and VC's on the moves that lead to "Mr. or Mrs. Right Money".

Determining Need vs. Greed
We've all heard the horror stories of taking too much funding and
diluting your value. This session will help you determine how much
financing you actually need, explore alternative financing options
every entrepreneur should consider, understand the investor's math,
and protect your (ass)ets along the way.

Equity Structure
Equity structure is one of the most important and most misunderstood
factors of starting a company. With numerous legal, investment, and
strategic impacts, implementing a solid equity structure is a
prerequisite to success. How should you divide equity among employees,
and even more importantly, how can your equity structure affect your
legal rights, venture outlook and exit?

Team, Board, & Advisor Compensation
How can you determine the right combination and levels of compensation
plans for your team, board and advisers? What are the legal landmines
and loopholes you should know about? How have VCs' successful
portfolio companies structured compensation packages? We'll help you
understand the ins and outs of incentive plans and choose the right
mix for your start-up.

Term Sheet Negotiation
Think you've mastered the term sheet? Think again. In this session
you'll get to walk through an actual term sheet with a VC,
entrepreneur, and lawyer to find the quick sand and learn how to get
around it.

Working with Investors, Advisors & your Board: What to Watch Out For
In the beginning, everything is happy-go-lucky...until something goes
wrong. What could you have done in the beginning to protect against
explosions, and how much leeway to you really have? We'll discuss how
to structure investor and adviser relationships so you have maximum
control, as well as how to effectively manage your investors and
advisors in the good times, and bad.

APPLY TO ATTEND!
Tickets are limited. Entrepreneurs will be given priority access to tickets.
https://undertheradar.wufoo.com/forms/apply-to-attend-the-workshop/

Potential consulting work in Los Angeles: Drupal-based

A client of mine (based here in LA) is in need of Drupal expertise very soon (in the next few weeks). The project is a consumer-facing Q&A site that is in open beta now, but in need of additional work in the coming months.

Please contact me if you're interested.