The Blackstone LaunchPad is joining The Syracuse Innovation Connectors to present a two-part series, The Funding Roadmap, on startup and growth capital. The workshops will be presented on Tuesday, Sept. 26, and Monday, Oct. 2.
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 and 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 here.
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 New York. The group’s goal is to build alliances, collaborate on events and understand the strength of the region’s resources to better assist the next generation entrepreneurs. See the list of members here.
The two-part agenda is:
Part I: Startup Capital, Tuesday, Sept. 26, Syracuse Technology Garden, 235 Harrison St.
8 a.m. Registration, 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 a company that has gone from concept to launch to growth, through various phases of funding
10:45 a.m. Funding Options: A Panel of Founders and Funders
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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Part II: Accelerate your Growth with Impact Capital, Monday, Oct. 2, CNY Biotech Accelerator, 841 E. Fayette St.
This second workshop 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 p.m. Registration, networking, appetizers
5 p.m. Welcome, 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
Moderator: Nick Querques, technology to market program manager, NYSERDA
6:30 p.m. The Pitch: Region’s top for-profit impact ventures
Moderator: Linda Dickerson Hartsock, executive director, Blackstone LaunchPad, SU
7 p.m. Networking, demo alley and cocktail reception
