April `13.indd

The New Enterprise Forum
The Entrepreneur’s Link to Resources
Vol. XXVIII, No. 4 • April 2013
www.NewEnterpriseForum.org
NEF Stakeholder Members
Crowdfunding Lessons for
Entrepreneurs
As Ethan Mollick, a Kauffman Dissertation
Fellow at U-Penn’s Wharton School puts
it, “Crowdfunding has received...relatively
little notice from academics, even though
it touches on many topics of importance to
scholars of entrepreneurship.” His 2012
paper, “The Dynamics of Crowdfunding:
Determinants of Success and Failure”
examined nearly 47,000 projects on Kickstarter that raised combined revenues of
$198 million.
Data analysis showed several factors influence a project’s success: size of the
founder’s social network, high-quality
pitches that use a video, strong geographic
tie-in, shorter (30-day) duration, being
highlighted on the Kickstarter website, and
large number of creative individuals in the
city where the project is based. Find the
full story at http://www.growthology.org/
growthology/2013/03/lessons-for-entrepreneurs-from-crowdfunding.html
GLEQ News
Ask-the-Investors
Thursday, April 11, 5-7 p.m.
Maker Works, 3765 Plaza Dr., Ann Arbor
A panel of venture capital and angel investors field questions and provide suggestions to help entrepreneurs build a better
business. This is an informal event for
entrepreneurs to meet investors and get
their individual questions answered.
http://gleq.net/gleq/events.aspx
See GLEQ, Page 2
April program
Use of Social Media in New
Ventures
How does a “like” become a “lead”? Find
out how social media fits in the general
marketing mix of new ventures, and how
a company can accurately measure (and
improve) ROI with the new digital marketing
and networking methods.
Panelists
Linda Girard
Co-Founder/President of Pure Visibility
Linda is responsible for leading the aggressive
growth and business direction
of the company. Her experience in Internet marketing
includes more than a decade’s
work in aligning client goals
with search marketing strateLinda Girard
gies that deliver meaningful,
measurable results. She is a frequent speaker,
author and widely recognized expert on Internet marketing. She has given keynotes at
Eastern Michigan University and has spoken
at the Search Engine Strategies Conference in
Chicago. In January, 2012, she co-founded the
SEMPO Michigan chapter for search engine
marketing professionals.
Sean Hickey
COO, PWB Marketing Communications
Sean has extensive experience in marketing, advertising, and sales, and is skilled at defining and
building brands that sell, Throughout his career
he has been involved in a variety of aspects
of demand generation – whether developing
creative strategies or deploying systems for metrics. His passion is for truly integrated brands
that recognize and leverage the full spectrum of
See April Program, Page 2
Support our stakeholder companies! They are working actively to enhance the entrepreneurial community in southeast Michigan!
Board
of Directors
Gerry Roston, President
Pair of Docs Consulting,
734/516-6715, gerry@pairofdocs.net
William McPherson, Vice President
McPherson Commercial Capital, LLC
734/429-2524
wmcpherson@mcphersoncc.com
Stewart Nelson, VP Programs/Program Chair
Kapnick Insurance,
734/ 994-9099 x1140
stewart.nelson@kapnick.com
Joan Hutchinson, Secretary
Write on…, 734/996-0566
writeon@iserv.net, writeonA2.com
Gary Hessenaur, Treasurer
Hessenaur & Assoc., CPA, PC
810/231-2050 or 734/663-9306
gary@hessenaur.com
Steve Field, Membership Chair
Trenton Corporation
734/424-3634 sfield@trentoncorp.com
Francis Glorie, Publicity Chair
Glorie Associates
734/846-0407, francisglorie@yahoo.com
Melissa Wong Aagesen
Cetare Ventures
734/929-4396, melissa@cetare.com
Shannon Beeman
The Whole Brain Group
734/919-0431, cell 734/323-0539
srbeeman@wccnet.edu
Lauren Bigelow
Growth Capital Network
734/ 678-5161 cell, lauren@growthcap.net
Ian Charles
Boleyn Advisory Group Inc.
734/437-0724, ICharles@boleynadvisory.com
Diane Durance
Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest
734/255-3183, diane@gleq.org
Helen Ewing
The Ewing Group, 810/360-5153
helen@1ewingroup.com
Adrian Fortino
Shepherd Intelligent Systems
734/ 212-1098, afort26@gmail.com
Denise Graves
Michigan Economic Development Corporation
517/335-9931, cell 517/599-5123
gravesd@michigan.org
Lee Gorman
Barton Consulting Services, 734/663-8219
Gorman@bartonconsultingservices.com
George C. Levy
GDI Infotech, Inc. (retired, but active)
734/657-6464, geolevy@gmail.com
Bill Mayer
Ann Arbor SPARK
734/821-0072, Bill@annarborusa.org
Alain Piette
MI-SBTDC
248/931-3886, piettea@gvsu.edu
Claudia Rast
Butzel Long
734/213-3431, rast@butzel.com
Ray Waters
Detroit Development Fund
313/886-2091
rwaters@detroitdevelopmentfund.com
April 2013
April Program, Continued from Page 1
available communication channels. Sean also
provides strategic and day-to-day guidance in
all aspects of PWB operations.
Jessica Soulliere
Communications Officer at Community
Foundation for Southeast Michigan
Eight-plus years of communications work has
cultivated Jessica’s expertise
in digital marketing and communications strategy. From
developing and managing
the University of Michigan
Jessica Soulliere
Health System’s social media
enterprise, to creating and managing the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan’s
new venture, Mode Shift, Jessica melds brand
vision with results.
Moderator
David C. Bloom
Venture Catalyst, Factotem
David is a serial entrepreneur
in software/mobile/SAAS,
consumer electronics, big
data/analytics, and life
David C. Bloom science/medical devices. He
mentors startups on customer
development, commercialization, revenue
generation, and networking. In 1995, David
co-founded the Factotem Constellation, a group
of business acceleration professionals who
engage with entrepreneurs and investors on
product development, business development,
and due diligence projects. David chairs the Ann
Arbor Marketing Roundtable and the Annual
Collaboration for Entrepreneurship Consultants
Corridor. He is also a Director of the a2geeks
charitable foundation.
Showcase Presentation
Showcase Presenter this month is Avegant
(Edward Tang, CEO), a projection display
technology company that is creating a product
to provide immersive gaming experiences
for the console and gaming market on the go.
The RealVision Display (RVD) uses a costeffective, proprietary technology to provide
head-mounted display (HMD) users with a
high definition 3D visual experience similar to
native sight for significant improvements over
other HMD technologies.
As always, we will have great hors d’oeuvres
and networking before and after the program.
Please plan to join us: Thursday, April 18 at
Holiday Inn North Campus, 3600 Plymouth
Road at US 23, Ann Arbor. See you then!
Become a Member
• Stakeholder $500
• Corporate $275
• Individual $100
• Student $25
For details of category benefits
and payment of membership fees,
visit www.NewEnterpriseForum.org
Join Our Program Committee*
All are welcome!
8 a.m., A2Y Regional Chamber
115 W. Huron, Third Floor, Ann Arbor, MI
Address questions about Program Committee or becoming a Showcase Presenter
to Committee Chair Stew Nelson,
at programchair@NewEnterpriseForum.org
*Our next Program Committee
meeting is Thursday,
April 25, 2013.
GLEQ, Continued from Page 1
2013 Livingston Regional Job Fair
April 17; 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Crystal Gardens Banquet Center
5768 E. Grand River Ave., Howell Sponsored by Automation Alley.
Visit www.lcmw.org, for details.
Michigan Celebrates Small Business
Thursday, May 2, 4:30-9:30 p.m.
The Lansing Center
333 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing
Gala evening event features Michigan’s
50 Companies to Watch awards.
More than 1,000 entrepreneurs, small
business owners, community leaders,
small business supporters, universities,
community colleges and investor groups
are expected to attend this year.
Presented by MI-SBTDC, SBAM,
and the Edward Lowe Foundation. http://www.michigancelebrates.biz/event/
Michigan Growth Capital Symposium
Tues. and Wed., May 21 and 22
Marriott Resort, Ypsilanti
Celebrating its 32nd anniversary
Keynote presentations, 32 pre-qualified
Midwest companies seeking up to $20M,
Five panels of experts from the US
venture and entrepreneurial communities
and 2 days of high-level networking.
http://www.michigangcs.com/register/
registration.asp
© 2013 New Enterprise Forum
www.NewEnterpriseForum.org
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LAST MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
Showcase Presentation
AdAdapted
Presenter, Molly McFarland
Featured Speakers
“Funding Until Investable”
Thank You to Our Panel
The Company provides a scalable model for serving highly integrated ads in mobile apps and games by giving publishers the tools
they need to create and register customized, dynamic ad spots that
fit the content of their game or app. They are able to auto-create
and serve ads from matching advertisers into each unique placement
based on ad spot properties. Their software development kit (SDK)
makes it easy for developers to place revolving properties within
their applications that can be swapped out for brand assets stored
in the Company’s ad server. The firm also handles the details of
managing brand assets and logos, serving ads based on size or cost
of the display space, and target demographics of the app or game
for publishers.
Gregg Hammerman, Larky
Gregg is a serial entrepreneur whose previous
ventures include: TechStreet, a website providing
tech professionals with e-access to industrial codes
and standards (acquired by Thomson Reuters); an
early-stage electronic medical records company
that he helped grow to a national presence; and most
Gregg Hammerman recently, the co-founding of Larky, a developer of
mobile apps that help consumers maximize discounts
available to them through membership organizations, loyalty programs,
and coupons from local businesses.
The initial business model is a Cost Per 1,000 impressions charge to
advertisers and AdAdapted has validated a rate range in the targeted
market. Fifty percent of revenue goes to the game/app developers.
Ad agencies in Boulder, Chicago, and Detroit with whom the firm
currently has strong relationships are the initial target. They will sign
on developers who have games and applications that reach Mobile
Moms (25-44 demographic) and Millennials (13-18 demographic).
AdAdapted is seeking $250K to hire additional sales people and a
developer to support anticipated campaigns. To learn more, visit
http://adadapted.com/index.html.
Maria LaLonde, Bizdom
Maria is a serial entrepreneur who founded businesses in the recruiting, automotive, and real estate
industries. Her role at Bizdom, a start-up accelerator
with offices in Detroit and Cleveland, is to raise
awareness about Bizdom in the community and to
vet candidates. She also advocates for the startup
community, mentors, and connects entrepreneurs
Maria LaLonde
to available resources. She started her career with
Enterprise Rent-A-Car, where she oversaw the recruiting process and
managed 35 branch offices.
Open Forum
John Swiatek, CEO, Coliant Corp.
An electrical engineer and a motorcycle enthusiast,
John recognized the need for a system to power electronics on open-cabin vehicles, and founded Coliant
Corp. to commercialize the Powerlet products he developed in his basement. The award-winning products
are now sold in 67 countries. Today, the firm designs,
markets, licenses, and sells innovative products for
open-cabin vehicles in the powersports industry, as
John Swiatek
well as for industrial and military use.
Entrepreneurs
SIPBOX, LLC; Lon Cooke (734/ 222-0666; lcooke@sipbox.us)
The Company manufactures and licenses other companies to manufacture SIPBOX’s Energy efficient mobile structures that withstand
harsh climates, heavy winds and can be transported through intermodal or other transportation systems. Seeking help in obtaining
capital to reach the next stage of development.
Intelify Inc.; Prateek Bhatnayar (519/995-1321, prateek@
intelifyinc.com)
The Company is commercializing an e-learning system that extracts key
concepts and presents them in a visual manner, making learning easier for
many people. Seeking capital and advice.
Help Wanted
Advaita; Andrew Olson (734/922-0110; andrew@advaita
corporation.com)
A bioinformatics Company that provides software tools for researchers interested in pathway analysis. Their advanced Pathway Guide
assists researchers in gene-expression experiments. Seeking Java
developers.
Adrian Fortino, VP, First Step Fund
Adrian’s entrepreneurial experience includes launching three technology start-ups: Shepherd Intelligent
Systems, SideCar, and FlockTAG, where he developed
the business models, raised over $3 million from angels
and VCs, and led product development and launches
in national markets. At First Step Fund, a seed- and
early-stage investment fund, he is responsible for all
aspects of investments with an emphasis on high tech
and clean tech startups.
Adrian Fortino
Thank You!
March Meeting Sponsor:
The New Enterprise Forum reviews business plans to determine the readiness of entrepreneurial ventures for presentation to the group. No independent
investigation of claims or representation is made. Applicable securities laws place certain limitations on the manner in which an offer to sell securities may be
made and on solicitations and advertisements to sell securities. Failure to comply could result in the loss of the private offering exemption. The New Enterprise
Forum can assume no responsibility for the form or content thereof.
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April 2013
NEXT MEETING:
T h u r s d a y, A p r i l 1 8 , 2 0 1 3
“U s e o f So c i a l M e d i a i n New Ve nt u re s”
Featured Speakers
Showcase Presenter
Panelists
Presenter, Avegant
Linda Girard, Pure Visibility
Edward Tang, CEO
The Company is commercializing
projection display technology
that provides an immersive gaming
experience for the console and gaming
market on the go.
Sean Hickey,
PWB Marketing Communications
Jessica Soulliere, Community Foundation
for Southeast Michigan
Moderator
Open Forum
Brief turn at the mic
to introduce your business, marketing
strategy, and present resource needs.
Meeting Sponsor
New Stakeholder
Cendrowski Corporate Advisors
David C. Bloom
Venture Catalyst, Factotem
Holiday Inn North Campus • 3600 Plymouth Road at US-23 • Ann Arbor, MI
Registration and networking begin at 5:00 p.m., program at 5:45 p.m.
Non-members $20 at the door, students $5
New Enterprise Forum
115 W. Huron at Main, 3rd Floor
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
April 2013
Inside:
• April Program:
“Use of Social Media
in New Ventures”
Showcase Presentation
by Avegant (Edward Tang, CEO)
• Crowdfunding Success Factors
•
GLEQ News
• Last Meeting Highlights
• Get Involved in NEF!
Thank You to Our Program Partners...
www.gleq.org
www.a2ychamber.org