Earlier this week we quietly unveiled a redesign of the ATDC web site. The redesign was first announced on twitter, and now here on PeachSeedz. Tomorrow at the Entrepreneurs Showcase it will be formally launched.
We had several goals when redesigning the site:
- Clearly explain our positioning and value proposition;
- Provide more information on our companies;
- Make the site more current and relevant;
- Provide mechanisms for the various groups interested in ATDC to get involved;
- Delineate the services that we offer;
- Integrate PeachSeedz;
- And create a similar look and feel between PeachSeedz and the site.
At a higher level the aim was to make the site the online version of ATDC itself, the hub of entrepreneurial startup activity in Georgia. For the most part I think we succeeded. But you are the ultimate judge. Give it a whirl. Your comments and feedback on how we can improve are most welcome.
Kudos to our graduate assistant Blake Perdue for bringing the site to life.
One of the groups that is working to boost entrepreneurial and startup activity in the Southeast is the StartupLounge. Each quarter, StartupLounge hosts a private networking event for
early-stage entrepreneurs and investors here in the Southeast. Formerly
called "Capital Connections", CapitalLounge takes place at a location in Atlanta that is only divulged to approved attendees. Who is approved? Fast-growth entrepreneurs based in the
Southeast U.S., as well as venture capital and angel investors from
around the country.
I tell nearly every entrepreneur that walks into ATDC looking for funding that the Capital Lounge is the place to start. The format for CapitalLounge is simple: cash bar, free gourmet food spread, lots of
networking, several hundred vetted attendees, and no fees at the door. Entrepreneurs need to go prepared to aggressively interact with the investors. To pitch if you will, in a non pitchy way.
The next CapitalLounge event is taking place on May 21 from 6 to 9 pm. If you are interested in attending you need to create a profile on StartupLounge. Once your profile is approved you can then apply to attend.
I hope to see you there!
Oh yeah, I almost forgot, the StartupLounge folks on going to be onsite creating a podcast during our Entrepreneurs Showcase. Stop by and say hi to Scott and Michael.
Emcien has been recognized as one of Gartner's Cool Vendors in SCM and ERP for 2008. According to Gartner Emcien is cool because "Optimization is no longer just being used for transportation, inventory and production planning; it can also be used in innovative ways, such as determining the best mix of options an enterprise should offer for a configured product."
Emcien's innovation originated when Dr. Roy Marsten, leading computational optimization expert, solved a tough problem for a leading auto manufacturer when a professor at Georgia Tech in the 1990s. Emcien was founded a decade later in 2002. Today Emcien is dedicated to solving complexity problems in the discreet
manufacturing industry. Towards this end they offer a unique software solution to help leading manufacturing companies deal with unrelenting pressure to reduce costs in their manufacturing and supply chain operations, that yields significant bottom line savings to clients while giving them a competitive advantage with customers.
Radhika Subramanian and Dr. Marsten will also be honored when Emcien graduates from ATDC this Thursday during our Entrepreneurs Showcase. Please join us if you can.
Things have been pretty quiet here on PeachSeedz over the past few weeks. That is because most of the ATDC staff is gearing up for our annual Entrepreneurs Showcase. We just passed 500 registered attendees so this is turning into our biggest event ever.
Update: The total number of registrants was 671, a new record.
For those of you that have not heard the showcase will take place on May 15 at 2:00 pm. Due to the size of the crowd the event is being held at The Biltmore located at 817 West Peachtree Street (you can still park at ATDC and walk, here are directions). This year the program is focused on the entrepreneurs that start companies and how being associated with ATDC increases the probability of startup
success.
There is no cost to attend the Entrepreneurs Showcase. But if you
want to join a vibrant mix of entrepreneurs, investors, and technology
leaders at the Entrepreneurs Showcase, you need to RSVP now.
50-50 partnerships, inadequate pricing, lack of focus. These are just some of the entrepreneurial death traps that trouble many startups. The Venture Capital Institute has put together a list of 25 of these death traps, such as:
- Betting the ranch
- Spiraling costs
- Failure to admit a mistake
- Failure to segment the market
- Inadequate market research
- Emotional litigation
- Failure to look at the downside
| Posted Monday, April 28, 2008 Cindy Cheatham |
Categories: Events |
 |
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Society Meeting 7:30 to 9am
Entrepreneurs-only Roundtable 9:15-10:15am
Centergy One Building
75 5th Street, NW
Hodges Room (335)
Atlanta, GA Map
Click here to register |
As an entrepreneurial company moves through its life cycle, its
capital structure morphs. In the early days, cash is all about getting
started. This phase soon moves into cash being needed to gain traction
in the marketplace to establish the company as a viable entity. As the
company continues to mature, its capital needs evolve as well. Often,
the entrepreneur faces the task of raising capital to fund the business
in its product development, and sales efforts. So, what does the owner
of a maturing tech company do to position itself for a capital raise?
The TAG/ATDC Entrepreneurs Society will address this question in a
panel discussion featuring:
- Ed Croft, Managing Partner, Croft & Bender LLC
- Linnea
Geiss, Senior Associate, Arcapita Inc.
- JC Boyanton, Vice President Silicon Valley Bank
- Dave
Chambless, Principle, Abraxas Business Services, Inc.
Following the society meeting, the attending entrepreneurs (no service providers or consultants allowed) are invited to continue the discussion on Startup Fundamentals with ATDC's Lance Weatherby and Cindy Cheatham. This is a unique opportunity to pick these experts brains and the brains of your fellow entrepreneurs while building relationships in this smaller group setting.
Register now!
On Tuesday ATDC company Innovolt had a launch party. And lo and behold today I pick up the AJC and they have a nice article on the company. Innovolt's product is a next generation surge protector. Their technology prevents electronic equipment from getting damaged
not only from voltage surges but also from over voltage, and current surges - a phenomenon not addressed by protectors on the market today. Why is this important? It prevents equipment fatigue.
Innovolt has some big plans and intends to add 200 to 300 employees over the course of the next year. Based on what I know about Innovolt's marketing plan, you are going to be hearing and seeing more about the company in the near future.
If you have a notion to protect that big LCD screen or computer you can go to the Innovolt web site and purchase their product.
As we wrote before, many investors don't want to read your business plan. That doesn't mean you shouldn't take the time to write one. Writing a business plan is good discipline for the entrepreneur and can force you to think through things you might otherwise ignore. Below is a best practices on realistic, executable business planning.
Effective business planning and execution go hand-in-hand to help start-up companies create and implement on an effective, focused strategy. At least a very basic business plan should be created early in the companies’ formation, usually before a formal company launch but certainly before significant time or resources are invested in the business. A complete business plan should be available at the time at which you begin formal fundraising efforts (remember, it usually takes 6 months+ to raise money). Three key business planning steps include:
I. Develop a Thorough, Realistic and Compelling Business Plan
A business plan is an important planning, communications and selling document typically consisting of a 2-3 page Executive Summary and an approximately 20-30 page business plan. The executive summary is critical as this is what most will turn to first to assess your company; A poor executive summary may cost you key investors or key hires. It should be written last.
II. Conduct Regular, Ongoing-Business Planning
All effective start-ups need to continually validate and revise their business plan as needed.
III. Execute, Execute, Execute
Entrepreneurship requires effective, speedy execution in an uncertain environment.
...continue reading >
SoloHealth is announcing today that they have secured $1.8 million in seed funding from private investors including the Atlanta Technology Angels investment group.
SoloHealth has been on a bit of a roll this year. They joined ATDC in February, were selected as a Top 40 Innovative company shortly thereafter, and most recently took home a slew of awards at their major industry trade show.
Congrats to Bart and the rest of SoloHealth team on their first institutional round and continued momentum.
ATDC member company Biofisica has obtained a commitment of $2.3 million in financing. The round was led by Unilever Technology Ventures, Novartis Venture Funds, the ATDC Seed Capital Fund, and a number of private investors.
The funding will support Biofisica’s continued chronic wound care therapy marketing efforts in the UK and ongoing planning initiatives in the U.S. Blount Swain has joined the company as CEO. Blount’s prior experience with early stage companies in general and his relevant tenure with Closure Medical (now part of Johnson & Johnson) in particular makes a great addition to the Biofiscia team as they continue to grow and build a successful venture.
