This workshop will provide background considerations about working with angel investors as a funding source for a startup company. The workshop will discuss reasonable parameters and expectations for negotiating angel investments with individuals and point out examples of success and problems that can result from this funding strategy. An angel investor is typically an affluent individual who provides capital for a business start-up, usually in exchange for convertible debt or ownership equity. Some angel investors organize themselves into angel networks to share research and pool their investment capital.

About the Speaker: Dennis Beard is a Principal with Serra Ventures and also serves as a Partner and CFO for Open Prairie Ventures, an early stage venture capital firm. Dennis, a CPA, has been involved throughout his career with businesses of all sizes as a Manager for PricewaterhouseCoopers, Controller for SLM Aminco, CFO for Segno Communications, CFO and CEO for the Home Recovery Group of Companies, and Partner with Blakeman and Beard, LLC, CPA’s. Dennis serves on the Board of Directors of the Millikin University Center for Entrepreneurship and as an Adjunct Lecturer for the University of Illinois College of Business Department of Finance.