Open Pitch Event

Entrepreneur Forum
Lecture and Pitch Events

Open Pitch Event

Ben Boissevain, Bois Capital
Phyllis Haberman, Golden Seeds
Barry Kolevzon, N.Y. Private Equity Forums

A common problem of entrepreneurial pitching is that presentations often lack the structure and content preferred by accredited investors. To resolve this, we will go with an adapted investment banking 'due diligence' format that addresses the interests of both institutional and private investors. The event has been created to enable serious entrepreneurs to be prepared for the disclosure requirements and questioning they will encounter when seeking funding.

Pitch applicants are requested to provide summary information on the registration page.
Firms deemed to be most fundable will be selected to pitch, regardless of sector.
Format: 6 minute presentations, followed by 6 minutes of investor feedback.

Presentations must be highly candid and free of 'hype & spin' depictions. During the feedback session with investors, presenters should be prepared to discuss how their firm will behave if confronted with adverse conditions. Pitches should include the following information:

    Business Risk:
    What does your firm do, and what expertise do the owners and managers have?
    What market do you operate in, what is its size, and at what rate is it growing?
    What technological or operational advantages does your product create for end-users?
    Is your platform protected by patents, licenses, trademarks, or other legal barriers?
    What is your strategy for building the business from a startup into a going concern?

    Financial Risk:
    How much money have owners & managers invested so far (sweat equity excluded)?
    What is your current liquid position, and how long will it last given your burn rate?
    What is your funding requirement, and how will proceeds be spent if successful?
    What firms are in your peer group, and have they been in the fund raising market?
    What are your 3 yr. financial forecasts, and what assumptions are imbedded in them?

Pitch Feedback Panel

Ben Boissevain is Founder of Bois Capital, an independent investment bank providing financial advice on mergers & acquisitions, spinoffs, as well as financings for public and private companies. Bois also assists with valuation, financial structuring, and negotiations. This is augmented by senior-level access to angel & venture capital investors, as well as family funds.

Phyllis Haberman is an angel investor with Golden Seeds, a network of private investors dedicated to providing capital to early stage businesses founded or led by women. She is also Senior Managing Director of Egret Capital Partners, a New York based private equity investment firm which provides financial backing and strategic guidance to entrepreneurs of small capitalization businesses.

Barry Kolevzon is Executive Director of N.Y. Private Equity Forums. He is on its screening committee, which assesses the comparative fund raising ability of entrepreneurial firms. Further, he is Managing Partner of The Nessa Group, an advisory firm which helps companies to attain cost efficiencies. Focal areas include funding strategies, sales & marketing, human capital, and operations.