Raising Early Stage Capital for Your Venture

by Doug Ramler | at Minnebar spring 2020 (canceled)

Raising capital for your early stage company can be time-consuming, frustrating and a general pain in the a$$. This session provides an overview of the capital raising process and suggestions for increasing your chances of a successful raise:

(a) understanding the different phases of capital raises (i.e. startup, friends and family, angel, seed, first/Series A);
(b) documents you need to prepare before contacting investors; (c) how to find and connect with investors; (d) the most common investment structures/terms; (e) pitching and closing; (f) mistakes to avoid.

Presenters are the principals of SAGIS Club, a local angel investor network that facilitates investments in local early-stage companies.

  • Rick Brimacomb - venture capitalist and advisor to early stage companies
  • John Francis - franchise industry consultant and advisor
  • Doug Ramler - attorney to emerging companies, co-founder of local tech company and national angel group
  • Graeme Thickens - startup marketing consultant, advisor, and mentor
  • Mike Vekich - experienced and well-connected executive
Beginner

Doug Ramler

Doug advises high-growth start-up and emerging companies on business formation, technology commercialization and licensing, financing, governance, contracts and strategic matters. Doug's focus is on helping entrepreneurs, managers and boards build their companies. His legal advice is shaped by on his own experiences as a co-founder of a software company, and as a director, officer and advisor to numerous early-stage ventures. Doug also has experience as an angel investor, independently and as a co-founding member of IrishAngels, a national angel investment group which invests in growing companies throughout the United States.

Entrepreneurs in industries including software, e-commerce, hardware, biotech, medtech and health care rely on Doug to assist in forming and capitalizing their start-ups and advising on their structure, funding and operations. He has experience helping companies grow through angel investments, venture capital, private debt and equity placements, and public offerings. Doug also advises emerging company management and boards on governance and assists with contract negotiations and preparations involving licensing, services, distribution, employment and compensation. In financings and securities transactions, Doug provides counsel on disclosures and regulatory compliance, and assists with federal and state filings.

Doug enjoys fishing, football and financing.