Conference Panels

This year we focus on getting your business to that next level of growth, whether by raising money thru conventional or non-conventional methods, improving marketing, outsourcing operations, strengthen the management team or by employing new technologies. We will try to help you and your company “ Break through the Growth Barrier”

Panel Descriptions: By Topic

Management

Business Plans that Accelerate Growth
Jim Shnell
Your business plan should direct the action, not sit on a shelf. This panel will help you jump start your planning process. You'll find out what grabs the attention of today's investors. Pick up resources and tips for putting together your plan - whether you are looking to attract capital or grow your company faster, or both.

CEO Confessions: "If I Knew Then What I Know Now"
Lance Stuart
"20/20 Hindsight"…..how many times has this applied to you? Entrepreneurs' discuss real life lessons learned that could be part an important part of your company's growth strategy; in this case, "areas to avoid".

Defending the Crown Jewels: How to Manage and Protect Intellectual Property
Knobbe
In a business driven by technology, your patents, trademarks and other intellectual properties are essential to your value. A well-executed intellectual property strategy can help you take command of new territory or defend your existing turf.

Do You Have the Right Stuff? Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs
Beth Adkisson
Are you wondering if you have skills and temperament to run your own business? This panel will help you answer that question by looking at traits of successful entrepreneurs, the skills and knowledge you need to acquire, and how to play to your strengths when starting and running your own business.

Gen Y at Work - Are you Ready?
Kimberly Gerber
Whether you see it as revolution or evolution, the Millennial's have entered the work force - if not the office - and they're here to stay. Find out how they're impacting corporate culture and what you can do to understand, embrace and leverage their collective value.

How to Build a Great Management Team
Cal Laird
Great companies are built by great leaders. The good news is that leadership is an acquired skill. This panel will look at the key competencies of leaders and how to you and your management team can acquire these competencies. Experts will also share strategies for attracting, vetting, hiring, and managing top performers. This session will include a framework for diagnosing and improving your own leadership skills.

Outsourcing Opportunities for Businesses of All Sizes

Outsourcing isn't just for big businesses anymore. Call center staff, IT support, HR management, manufacturing, and executive assistant functions are some of the functions that small and medium size businesses are now outsourcing here and abroad. Learn how outsourcing can help you save money, get things done more quickly, and - perhaps most importantly - add expertise to your team that you might not be able to otherwise afford.

When Family Means Business
Barri Carian
When your family owns the business, you have a host of special challenges, such as succession planning, attracting and retaining non-family talent, or dealing with an underperforming employee who is also a relative. You also have the luxury of thinking long term and the ability to provide continuity for your company and your family. This panel looks at strategies for navigating the issues and maximizing the benefits of a family owned business.

Marketing

How to Find the REAL Growth Opportunities
Pete Sawyers
Is the market you are targeting really there? Learn from three experienced and successful entrepreneurs how to determine, in advance, whether your idea is likely to attract customers by applying real world market research techniques. This panel will emphasize on do-it-yourself practices for the entrepreneur. You do not have to be an expert or spend a fortune to make sure that all your hard work (and investment capital) is being focused behind a winning business concept.

Marketing in a Web 2.0 World
David Bailey
Online social networking and user generated content have enabled consumers to become a viral marketing force. Savvy brands are allowing customers to influence everything from product design to marketing campaigns, and are relying on these engaged customers to spread their message. Learn how effectively harnessing Web 2.0 can spread your business's message.

Secrets to Growth from Marketing Gurus
S.L.(Sam) Srinivasulu, Ph.D
Attracting new customers when you have very little cash is the secret to every successful start up. Successful entrepreneurs will share their strategies for promoting your business effectively with little to no expense; creating awareness and credibility with target customers - even when you are new to the market; generating "buying urgency" among prospective customers; and the key to making your company stand out from the competition.

Ten Technology Trends that Will Shape Your Future
Dave Berkus
Dave Berkus, prolific angel investor and author, has been divining the future of technology for CEOs, business groups and technology associations for over 15 years. His "Ten Trends" is certain to generate lots of hallway conversation as attendees evaluate the impact upon personal lives and business strategies.

Money

Angel Financing: Angels & the Value Proposition

This panel describes the Tech Coast Angels value proposition - much more than just money, no charge to entrepreneurs, no charge to entrepreneurs, and goal to bring value even to ventures not funded. Then an entrepreneur makes a live presentation, and receives feedback from TCA members. Opportunity for audience Q&A. Tech Coast Angels, ranked as #1 in Southern California among top venture capital firms for entrepreneurs with over 100 ventures and over $68 million in member capital.

Business Pitches that Hook Investors

Most VCs and Angel investors receive more business plans than they can possibly read. As a result, investors rarely read more than the first paragraph, and most plans wind up in the "round file." This panel will focus on proven methods for your business plan's Executive Summary and PowerPoint presentation that will cause investors to give your business serious consideration.

Deal Making in a Turbulent Market.....Finding the Best Exit Strategy

You are building a business of significant value and are wisely looking ahead to your exit strategy. What strategies in today's market can best address your valuation, liquidity, control, and succession planning goals? The credit markets are in transition, the IPO market is lackluster, and the same corporations that are relying on acquisitions to drive innovation are often also divesting to sharpen their strategic focus. What are the key issues you need to be looking at when planning your exit strategy? A real world case study will be used to illustrate key points.

Equity Financing: How to Get More than Just Cash

Fast growth startups often require much more than cash to be successful. Our panel of leading investors describes what entrepreneurs should look for when seeking angel financing, private equity or venture capital. In addition, the panel will discuss current trends and the top criteria each look for in a startup.

Financing Growth with Debt

Debt financing can be a powerful tool at any stage in a company's growth, and is often preferred by companies with an established revenue stream. This panel will look at the best methods for accessing a wide variety of debt financing options, including factoring, venture leasing, asset based lending, PO financing, SBA loans, as well as traditional lending. The panel will also show you successful strategies for leveraging your assets, minimizing the risk associated with debt financing, approaching lenders, and planning ahead for different stages of debt financing.

Financing Options from Early Stage to Growth Stage

As your company progresses through its growth cycle, what are the financing options available to you at each stage. This panel will show you the various options available and provide you all the alternatives you can explore to finance your company. You will learn what to consider if looking at equity financing (Angels, VC's, private placement, strategic investors, etc) and different forms of available debt (SBA loans, factoring, PO financing, etc.). Chances are, as your company grows you will need multiple and overlapping forms of capital. This panel will help you navigate the many choices you have.

Reverse Mergers/PIPES and Other Alternative Public Offerings

PIPES coupled with reverse mergers and other alternative public offerings have become an attractive alternative to traditional financing. Investment banks have expanded use of these financing techniques for deals in the $5 to $50 million range, and doing few IPOs in this size range. Advantages can include more attractive terms and valuations than private rounds. Leading providers of these nontraditional financings will explain the use of these techniques and how to access this large pool of capital. Savvy entrepreneurs will want to evaluate these alternatives prior to their next financing round.

What's Your Business Really Worth?

How will investors, lenders, and future buyers value your company? How do you put a price on IP, revenue streams, and customer goodwill? This panel of experts will explain how they approach valuations and provide strategies for protecting and maximizing the value of your company's key assets. If you are looking at selling your company in the future, considering buying a company, or want to know how to measure the value of the company you are building, you don't want to miss this panel.

Faculty Forum

Jack Pike and Bill Donohoo
As service to business education in Orange County, the Entrepreneur Conference has sponsored a forum where business faculty members can gather information from each other and share their experiences in improving entrepreneur education. The schools represent all levels of teaching institutions from Community College through Masters Programs and Senior Executive Programs. The Faculty Forum is restricted to faculty members.