February User Group:: Venture Capital 101

Got a great idea but no money to fund it? Looking to move your company public? Not quite sure what a term sheet is or what it should look like? Wouldn't know bootstrap from mezzanine funding if you bumped into it on the street?

Join BostonPHP, Austin Westerling of Charles River Ventures, Larry Bohn of General Catalyst Venture Partners , Michael Skok of North Bridge Venture Partners and David Beisel of Masthead Venture Partners  (and founder of the Web Innovators group - listen to BostonPHP's interview with David here ) to get answers to these and a host of other questions.

In addition to the basics, we will also delve  into areas like: 

• Why are VC's interested in OSS? 
• Is VC funding obsolete in Web 2.0?
• Is mobile the micro payment savior - or will the Web's financial future remain in the hands of Goggle AdWords?
• What are the latest business OSS models and what's GPL v3's impact on them?

Help MC this discussion - add your topic to our wiki 

Can't make it to the meeting?  Listen via Skypecast. (sign in and search on BostonPHP).   

See calendar.

Wed, Feb 7th 2007   6:30pm

About David Beisel

David identifies and evaluates investment opportunities in close collaboration with the partners. Prior to joining Masthead, he co-founded Sombasa Media, an e-mail marketing company which was successfully acquired and subsequently became the About Direct division of Primedia (NYSE: PRM). As Vice President of Marketing at Primedia, Mr. Beisel led the marketing group responsible for the company's e-mail newsletter product suite, managed the division's customer relationship operations, and coordinated related business development activities. In addition, he has worked as a management consultant at The Parthenon Group and in product management at Adobe Systems.

About Michael Skok

Michael joined North Bridge Venture Partners in 2002. Prior to this, Michael had been an entrepreneur and CEO in the software industry for over 20 years. Michael founded, led and raised over $100 million in private equity for his companies in the CAD/CAM, Document Management, Workflow, Imaging, Collaboration, Security and Analytics markets -- spanning the Mini Computer, Workstation, PC, Client Server and Internet eras.

Six of these companies were successfully acquired by Siebel, Platinum, Filenet, Banyan and IBM and two went Public, including Symantec for which he built Symantec UK into its most profitable international business.  Most recently Michael founded AlphaBlox where he envisioned and defined the market for Analytical Applications, now a multi-billion dollar market segment.  IBM acquired Alphablox and markets the product as DB2 Alphablox and integrates it into its Websphere and Rational product lines.

About  Austin Westerling

Austin joined Charles River Ventures in early 2000 and focuses on making investments in consumer and enterprise software & services. He is currently a Director of Secure Software, EnterpriseDB, Aveksa and Trusted Network Technologies. Prior to joining CRV, Austin advised a variety of technology companies on strategic, operational and financial issues at The Boston Consulting Group (BCG).

Austin also has experience with Analysis Group Economics/Integral, Inc. and the New England Consulting Group. Austin holds a double BA with distinction in Psychology and Economics from Yale University.

About Larry Bohn

Larry invests in both new and existing technology businesses. Areas of special interest include: open source, information technology; systems; and software on-demand business models.  Larry is a board member of Advanced Electron Beams; Black Duck Software; ChoiceStream; Demandware; Optaros; and QUMAS which are all active General Catalyst investments. Larry also served on the Board of Venetica, a General Catalyst investment that was acquired by IBM in October 2004.

Prior to joining General Catalyst, Larry was the chairman, president and CEO of NetGenesis, a market leading software and analytic solutions provider.  Larry led NetGenesis from 1997 to 2001, overseeing the company’s business, product strategy and direction.  During this time, NetGenesis was a two-time Deloitte & Touche Fast 50 award winner and was included among the Inc 500.  In February 2000, Larry took the company public (NTGX) and in December 2001, NetGenesis was acquired by SPSS, Inc. (SPSS).