The Funding Roadmap

funding billboard

The Blackstone LaunchPad is pleased to join The Innovation Connectors (www.uvc.org/syracuse) to present a two part series on Startup and Growth Capital. Explore funding opportunities from startup to acceleration stages with experts who can introduce you to various funding resources, loan programs offered by the U.S. SBA, alternative financing such as the Excelsior Growth Fund, state programs/tax credits available to young businesses.  A panel of equity investors will give an inside look at what’s in their mindset when it comes to impact investing.  Participants will also hear from founders who have “been there and done that,” with tips on how to approach funders.  There is a nominal registration fee.  Register at: fundingmap.eventbrite.com

The Blackstone LaunchPad is a founding member of The Syracuse Innovation Connectors, a consortium that includes leaders within government, business, incubation, acceleration and resource organizations across Central NY.  The group’s goal is to build alliances, collaborate on events and understand the strength of our region’s resources to better assist our next generation entrepreneurs.  See the list of members here.

The two-part agenda is:

The Funding Roadmap – Part I:  Startup Capital, Tuesday, September 26, Syracuse Technology Garden, 235 Harrison St., Syracuse, NY

8:00 a.m.         Registration, Sign-In, Light Refreshments, Networking, Visit IC Table Displays 8:30 a.m.   Welcome, Rick Clonan, VP of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, CenterState CEO

8:45 a.m.         Building Your Case:  “Black Box of Financing”

Lee DeAmicis, Regional Manager, Business Banking, M&T Bank

You’ve built your plan, done customer discovery, and developed your product or service. Now you are launching or ready to scale and looking for funding. What’s right the source of capital for your business? Where do you find  it? What are the essentials you need to have in place to approach a funder? What’s the capital continuum, from ideation to acceleration, and what kinds of funding are best matched for each stage?

 9:20 a.m.         How I Did It: A Case Study; A perspective from company that has gone from concept to launch to growth, through various phases of funding

  • Good Nature Brewery, Carrie Blackmore
  • Life of Reilley, Ben Reilley
  • Plowz and Mowz, Wills Mahoney
  • Rapid Cure Technologies, Tim Shaughnessy
  • Sweet Praxis, Natalie Evans and Jennifer Walls Moderator: Amy Wyant, Syracuse CoWorks & Tech Geekery

10:45 a.m.       Funding Options:  A Panel of Founders and Funders

  • Bootstrapping and Crowdfunding (Erin Miller, Out There Productions)
  • Loan Guarantee Programs (Grace Connor, Small Business Administration)
  • Online Funding Source (Paul S. Kaiser, NYBDC and Excelsior Growth Fund)
  • Specialized Programs: tax credits, state programs, etc. (Bob Herz, InSourcing and Joanne Lenweaver, WISE)

Moderator:  Kathryn Cartini, UVC & Peacock Media

Noon               Lunch + Q&A

Finding Help:  Overview of the Regional Innovation Ecosystem

Terry Brown, Falcone Center for Entrepreneurship, SU

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The Funding Roadmap – Part II:  Accelerate your Growth with Impact Capital, Monday, October 2, CNY Biotech Accelerator, 841 E. Fayette St., Syracuse, NY

This second workshop in the Innovation Connectors Funding Roadmap series provides an overview of impact investing – capital for enterprises addressing social and environmental challenges. Attendees will also learn from seasoned investors and a successfully funded company about their experience with impact investors, as well as network with local impact entrepreneurs and a variety of investors.

4:00 p.m.        Registration, Sign-In, Networking, Appetizers 5:00 p.m.           Welcome, Dr. Robert Corona

5:15 p.m.         Impact Investing: An Overview, Jill Newbold, Director of Business Development, Investors’ Circle

Impact Investment:  A Success Story, Jon Strimling, Entrepreneur Founder, UltraCell

5:45 p.m.         Investors Panel:  Understanding the Investor Mindset

  • Michael Lasch, Managing Partner, Pine St. Capital
  • Alan Bernstein, President, Investors’ Circle New York Local Network
  • Sharon J. Weinberg, Managing Director, New York Ventures
  • Rami Katz, COO, Excell Partners
  • Kathryn Cartini, Partner, Chloe Capital

Moderator:  Nick Querques, Technology to Market Program Manager, NYSERDA

6:30 p.m.         The Pitch:  Region’s top for-profit impact ventures

  • Josh Aviv, Spark Charge
  • Richard Uhlig, Quadrant Biosciences
  • Joe Dickson, Pelitex,
  • Fuz Eller, Euphony,

Moderator: Linda Dickerson Hartsock, Executive Director, Blackstone LaunchPad, SU

7:00 p.m.    Networking, Demo Alley & Cocktail Reception