Our very own Don Baker is leading a panel discussion on best practices for startups and early-stage companies in raising investment capital.  Most entrepreneurs find capital fundraising to be daunting and a huge strain on the already difficult task of launching a new product or service.  Even when potential funding sources are identified, there can still be painful negotiations concerning valuation, price, and terms.  The whole process, however, can be made streamlined and accelerated by developing and following a capital fundraising plan.  Don has developed a program to help entrepreneurs develop just such a plan.

The panel discussion will take place on February 9, 2010 at 6:00 p.m.  South Oakland County location to be determined.  The cost $20 in advance and free for students registered by January 30th.  After January 30^th, the cost is $30 and $5, respectively.

All participants can get a full copy of Don’s article on the topic — the introduction for which can be found here.

The event contact is Andrea Reese at andrea.reese@yahoo.com and (586) 945-3306.

–Matt

The Detroit Free Press has a nice article on client Avanti Press, Inc., “a downtown Detroit greeting card company with a high quotient of wacky critters, wry babies and frisky geezers.”   Also featured in the article is Avanti owner Rick Ruffner.  My favorite quote comes from Avanti employee Athena Inempolidis: “Rick takes being funny very seriously.”

–Matt

The Annual Collaboration for Entrepreneurship (ACE), now in its tenth year, is taking place next Thursday, January 21, 2010, at Skyline High School in Ann Arbor (2552 N. Maple, Ann Arbor, MI 48103).  Registration begins at 4:00 p.m., with the program running from 4:30 to 9:00 p.m.  What exactly is ACE?  From the website:

The Annual Collaboration for Entrepreneurship is an event that celebrates and promotes entrepreneurship in the Great Lakes region. ACE brings together entrepreneurs, service providers, investors, students, government agents, and other members of the business community to network, learn, and connect. In 2009, about 550 people attended ACE.

ACE began in Michigan in 2001 as a joint meeting hosted by the New Enterprise Forum (NEF) and the MIT Enterprise Forum of the Great Lakes. Today, additional organizations participate in organizing, supporting, and promoting the event, and the scope of ACE has grown to encompass participants from the broader Great Lakes region.

ACE is expecting 700+ attendees this year and will be showcasing more companies than ever (including some Safford & Baker clients).

Hope you can make it.  Registration can be found here.

–Matt

Clients Myine Electronics and Livio Radio are featured in this New York Times article on the new wave of Internet radios.  From the article:

A wide variety of stand-alone players are now available that allow consumers to listen to Internet radio without using a PC.

One compelling feature: many offer wireless connectivity — with a wireless router, you can place the player anywhere in the home within range of the signal, and use the player as you would with a normal radio.

Livio Radio’s wireless line includes its AARP, NPR and Pandora models. (Pandora’s music service allows listeners to “create” a radio station based on an artist or genre they like. Then, Pandora automatically plays other music that the service believes fits the same category.)

–Matt