by Jeffrey C. Robbins | at MinneBar 11 | 11:45 – 12:35 in Theater | View Schedule
Sponsored by AngelPolleNation, Piranha Pool (TM) III is Minnesota's own live take on the TV series "Shark Tank." -- and our third year of doing it at MinneBar! A panel of experienced, local tech investors will, on the spot, consider investments in FishFood (TM), aka local entrepreneurs. Confirmed Piranhas are well-known local investors Cathy Connett, David Dalvey, Dave Mao and Steven London. Details on how to apply to participate as FishFood are here: link.
Cathy Connett is the President and founder of CorConnections, LLC, which specializes in guiding businesses through new business initiatives, equity infusions, ownership transitions and the building of alliances and partnerships. Ms. Connett is also a co-founder and CEO of the Sofia Angel Fund, a Minnesota-based fund focused on making private equity investments in companies founded by or led by women, or whose products and services target women. She formerly served as the director of the Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of St. Thomas. Ms. Connett has an engineering degree from Vanderbilt University and a MBA from Harvard Business School.
David Dalvey is a Managing Partner of Brightstone Venture Capital since September 2000, and he has 27 years of venture stage investment experience with 17 years as a venture fund manager and 10 years as a technology investment banker. Also, Mr Dalvey has 35 collective years of corporate board director/advisor experience. Previously, Mr Dalvey has been a general partner at Food Fund Venture Capital II, L.P. from 1992 to 1995 and also held senior investment banking management positions with R.J. Steichen and Company from 1995 to 2000 and Wessels, Arnold & Henderson from 1987 to 1992. During his career, Mr Dalvey completed 40 public common stock offerings and 90 private placements totaling over $1.75 billion in equity growth capital for technology and life science companies. He currently serves as a Director at Mobile Realty Apps, Horizon Oil Field Services, Celcuity and Blue Rock Advisors and has also served Director roles with AppTec Laboratories, Navarre Corp., Definity Health, CHF Solutions, Nature Vision, TestQuest, Agiliti, Digitiliti and ShoreLunch Recipes.
Dave Mao is Managing Partner of Come Up Capital, a new $50 million venture fund based in Minneapolis that is focused on early-stage technology investments, with a preference for internet-of-things, smart devices and big data product offerings. He has a joint MBA from Columbia University, the University of Hong Kong and the London Business School.
Steven London is CEO of iCrimeFighter, a mobile evidence management solution, and co-founder of Six Points Capital, his angel investment vehicle. He is a also a member of Gopher Angels. Mr. London has his MBA from the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management. He also has his law degree from the University of Iowa and formerly practiced business law as an associate with Faegre & Benson.
Jeff is an attorney and shareholder in the business services practice group at Messerli | Kramer in Minneapolis, Minnesota. For 35 years, he has represented entrepreneurs who start and grow technology-based enterprises and angel and venture investors who target those companies. He is a serial entrepreneur himself, having founded two companies in the entertainment ticketing industry. Jeff represents high-growth, high-potential private enterprises and publicly traded companies. In 2011, he founded AngelPolleNation, a networking organization for investors that holds quarterly events in the Twin Cities. He has served as an advisory service member to the Minnesota Angel Network and serves as an advisory board member to Gopher Angels, a Minneapolis-based investor network. Jeff is also a judge for the annual statewide Minnesota Cup business plan competition. He is a board member of Venture Academy, a new Minneapolis charter school focused on developing entrepreneurial leadership skills for its students, and of the Minnesota Jewish Theater Company. Jeff was named in 2011 as one of “200 Minnesotans You Should Know” by Twin Cities Business magazine.
