CEO Roundtable

Past CEO Roundtables

• June 15, 2010

  A Conscious Approach for Real Economic Growth, Stefan Pagacik, E-Ventures360 and the Conscious Entrepreneurs Collaborative

  Out of the financial collapse of the past two years and the current European euro crisis, we are starting to plant seeds of hope and passion for bringing conscious leadership and capital to global markets seeking a new direction and platform from which to grow new ventures. Stefan Pagacik, the co-founder of the Conscious Entrepreneurs Collaborative, will introduce a new model for bringing together resources, education and capital in a structured, integrated format that benefits multiple stakeholders and creates a new environment for collaboration amongst business, government and finance. Click here for more information
• May 18, 2010

  Mergers & Acquisitions: A current perspective, Colin Lang, Credit Suisse Technology Group

  Colin will discuss the current state of the M&A market with a focus on the technology sector, including which sectors and buyers are most active; immediate trends; and the outlook for 2010 and beyond. He will share his experience-based perspectives on valuation and discuss the factors that contribute to a successful M&A exit. Click here for more information
• March 16, 2010

  An Alternate Exit: Secondary Markets for Venture Capital, Mike Gridley, Industry Ventures

  The increase in venture capital investment coupled with a decrease in IPO and M & A activity has led to an imbalance that has resulted in the opportunity for venture capital to support a secondary investment market - a market in which previously issued assets are bought and sold - as an alternate exit option. Secondary funds can purchase investments from exitsing shareholders and enable early ivnestors to "lock-in" their gains without waiting years for a liquidity event. Mike will provide an overview of the Secondary Market and discuss liquidity options for investors, early founders, and management. Click here for more information
• February 16, 2010

  Fueling Your Network, Patrick Ewers, mindmaven.

  Eighty percent or more of new business opportunities are generated by your network, often in the form of referrals or introductions. This only happens when your contacts connect your name with opportunities they come across. Patrick Ewers of mindmaven, an expert in communication, will discuss how to improve communication with the people you know in order to maximize your mindshare and attract more opportunities for your business. Click here for more information
• September 15, 2009

  Accomplishing More by Doing Less, Marc Lesser, ZBA Associates LLC.

  Marc will explore how mindfulnness practice, slowing down, and letting go can clarify and increase our accomplishments, lead to more meaning in our lives, and allow for greater ease and satsifaction. He will discuss practices for reducing fear, assumptions, distractions, resistance, and unnecessary busyness - developing the ability to find stillness and calm in the midst of the activity and intensity of our lives. Click here for more information
• June 16, 2009

  Commercial Real Estate Strategies for Entrepreneurs, Sam Wright, NAI BT Commercial.

  Hard times for commercial real estate owners and their lenders means opportunity for entrepreneurs. Sam will discuss how to capitalize on these opportunities, including creating optimal lease structures; finding motivated owners; subleases v. direct leases; and pursuing blend and extend and other creative approaches to leasing. Click here for more information
• April 21, 2009

  Venture Lending Market: An Update, Kelly Cook, Costella Kirsch.

  Kelly will discuss venture debt and the different ways in which it can be used. He will explain the various venture debt products available and their pros and cons with a focus on today's market conditions. He will also discuss Costella Kirsch and its role in the venture debt market. Click here for more information
• February 10, 2009

  Building Lasting Wealth - Manage your personal finances like a business, Mark Johnsen, Wealth Architects.

  Mark will speak about the philosophy of managing personal wealth the same way a business is run - with an overarching vision and purpose based on core values; short-term, long-term and next generation goals; a strategic blueprint to execute the plan; and an integrated team to help design and implement it. He will illustrate how focusing on a holistic strategy and a well-coordinated team will help avoid common risks and pitfalls for many executives and lead to more efficient execution and lasting results over the long-term. Click here for more information
• November 18, 2008

  Implications of Today's Unstable Financial System for Venture Capital and Entrepreneurs. Michael Borrus, General Partner, X/Seed Capital.

  What dots connect the post tech-bubble 2001-era recession and the current recession? What roles were played respectively by cheap credit, the mortgage boom, financial deregulation, computer-driven risk diversification strategies, credit default swaps and other financial market elements? What are the implications of the teetering financial system for venture capital and entrepreneurs? Michael will present a straightforward account of what happened to generate the financial crisis, the anticipated implications for venture investing, entrepreneurs and start-ups over the next few years, and how X/Seed Capital fits into the picture. Click here for more information
• October 21, 2008

  Capital Efficiency for Start-Ups, Jim Bennette, BlenderBlue Consulting.

  In this time of economic uncertainty where the private markets are beginning to feel the impact of the public markets, one thing almost certain is that attaining additional funding will prove to be more difficult than in the past. This means that startup companies must focus on capital efficiency in the process of attempting to penetrate the market and build repeatable businesses. The companies that survive these economic times are those that learn to master the iterative evangelical process of proving out the "real" market, building the killer pitch / value prop, defining the business model, building the ecosystem and finding proof point customers; the faster these are all cemented the more capital efficient the company. Click here for more information
• September 16, 2008

  Top Ten Mistakes of Outsourcing, Shrinath Acharya & Shrikant Acharya.

  Outsourcing: There are proponents and there are detractors - somewhere in the middle lies the reality. Outsourcing is here to stay, and it is not just for big companies. Shrinath and Shrikant will discuss this much hyped area of business staffing. The duo have established India development centers several times and through their own hard experience know what mistakes not to make. They have seen new CEOs in small businesses who want to implement outsourcing immediately, often starting it improperly- sometimes with bad consequences. Small companies can get outsourcing right the first time. It is not an easy road, but it can be done. Shrinath and Shrikant will help show how.
• June 17, 2008

  U.S. Small Business Administration Financing Opportunities, Niki Wong, United America Bank.

  The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns. One of the agency's services is to facilitate loans to small businesses. Niki will discuss how to tap into this often over-looked funding source. She will explain exactly what SBA financing is and how the program works, dispelling the myths of difficulty and bureaucratic red-tape that surround the program. She will explain how to obtain an SBA loan, what lenders look for, and what the borrower should prepare when requesting an SBA loan.
• May 20, 2008

  Trends and Investment Opportunities in Clean Energy, Susan Preston, General Partner, CalCEF Clean Energy Angel Fund.

  Susan will discuss investment opportunities and approaches in clean technologies at the seed stage and start-up levels. She will speak on the vital importance of filling the funding gap in all clean technologies, with an emphasis on clean energy. In addition, Susan will touch on the future of clean energy investing and where she sees interesting opportunities for early-stage investments. Click here for more information
• April 22, 2008

  New and Emerging Areas of Interest in the Clean Technolgy Field, Todd Kimmel, Principal, Advanced Technology Ventures.

  In honor of Earth Day, Mr. Kimmel will be discussing new and emerging areas of interest in the clean technology field, including building materials, sustainable agriculture and base load power replacement. In addition, he will touch on the project financing challenges that clean technology companies face and how these companies are overcoming them. Click here for more information
• March 18, 2008

  Angel Groups and the Role they Play in Silicon Valley's Start-up Ecosystem, Jeffrey Yu, Managing Director, The Angels' Forum.

  Angel groups play a vital role in the start-up ecosystem of Silicon Valley. Mr. Yu will discuss the evolution of Angel groups and provide insight into how they operate. He will outline the types of opportunities Angel groups are currently seeking and provide tips for entrepreneurs who are planning to approach Angels with their ideas. Click here for more information
• February 19, 2008

  How Silicon Valley Companies are being Impacted by Today's Capital Market, Jennifer S. Muller (Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin) and Ray Boone (ORIX Venture Finance).

  Given the latest equity and debt market volatility, it makes sense that local companies may start to feel the effects. Ms. Muller and Mr. Boone will explain how Silicon Valley companies are being impacted by these markets. They will begin with an overview of the current state of capital markets followed by a more narrow discussion of the ability of local companies to raise private debt and equity.
• January 22, 2008

  Financial Organization for the Busy Individual, Joel Jakubson.

  Companies have bookkeepers and controllers and the busy pace of life makes it desirable for individuals to do the same for their family finances. Joel will discuss the growing field of personal finance software and how families can "outsource" some of their financial chores. He will explain how families can analyze personal spending, monitor budgets, and greatly simplify tax preparation.
• December 7, 2007

  M&H Client of the Year, PlayPhone, Inc.

  M&H honors PlayPhone, Inc. as our Client of the Year. PlayPhone is a leading mobile media company providing cutting edge personalization and entertainment content to mobile consumers anytime and anywhere. The company pioneered the concept of direct-to-consumer mobile content distribution and powered the first off-deck downloads of mobile games in North America. PlayPhone is currently one of the largest distributors of mobile games, ringtones, wallpaper, videos and other mobile content in the world.
• November 13, 2007

  CEO Coaching for Board Meetings, Cindy Steiner.

  Running a Board Meeting is no easy feat. For a CEO a Board Meeting presents a number of challenges ranging from discussions that get off track to deciding how best to present data so that Board Members can make intelligent decisions. Join us for lunch to hear Cindy Steiner discuss the process and benefits of CEO Coaching for Board Meetings.
  
  CEO Coaching can benefit both Board Members, who may think meetings are too long, full of too much irrelevant detail, or need to be run more tightly; and CEOs who need to present an image of control and maintain favorable standing with the Board.
• October 16, 2007

  More is Better, Sooner is Better: Thoughts on Variable Compensation Plans, Randall Bolten.

  Variable compensation plans are a powerful tool for motivating and rewarding sales reps and managers, of course, but also... the executive management team; technical project teams; employees across-the-board, through MBO and company-wide bonus plans. But all too often, the value of these expensive plans is wiped out by poorly thought-out designs, unintentionally conflicting incentives, and employee misunderstandings that damage morale.
  
  Randy Bolten, a CFO experienced with both public and private companies, will offer practical thoughts and tips on structuring, implementing, and packaging variable compensation plans to maximize their value and effectiveness. With many companies nearing the ends of their fiscal year and the start of the next, this is a timely topic for a Roundtable discussion.
• September 18, 2007

  Featuring Ted Noble of Wintec Energy, Ltd.

  Renewables are now the hottest sector of the energy market, but the road from creation of the renewable technology to actual installation and operation of renewable energy projects has a variety of challenges. Investors and developers need to get the latest insights on how to take their technology and turn it into real world projects as well as the different monetization opportunities along the development cycle. Wintec Energy, Ltd., has been a developer, owner and operator of renewable projects since 1984.
• July 17, 2007

  Featuring Jim Pitofsky, Executive Director of Hands On Bay Area.

  Jim has partnered with and coached many CEO's on how to improve their philanthropic giving and corporate volunteerism and how to use service as a strategy for leadership development. He will talk about how other companies have done this, how it has helped their businesses, and how executives have made the business case to their investors, boards, consumers, etc. for such efforts.
• June 19, 2007

  Think Big with Sandesh Patnam of Bay Partners.

  Sandesh will discuss Bay Partners' seed program. Since 1976 Bay Partners has worked with entrepreneurs in starting and growing more than 200 information technology and health care businesses.
• May 15, 2007

  Featuring Clint Chao, a founding general partner of Formative Ventures.

  Formative Ventures is a leading early stage venture capital firm whose founders all have operating backgrounds. Before co-founding Formative Ventures, Clint Chao worked as VP of marketing, sales and business development at SkyStream Networks.
• March 21, 2007

  What every startup should know about SOX, SAS70 and other awful regulations. Mat Siliak and Gary Nankin of Illumant.

  Mat and Gary will discuss how to prepare your business to navigate the new regulatory landscape, including SOX, SAS70, PCI, Security Breach Disclosure Act and more. Both Mat and Gary have deep expertise in corporate governance, risk management, compliance, and information technology.
• January 16, 2007

  2006 in Review and the Forecast for 2007. Steve Fletcher from Savvian LLC.

  Our annual state of the ecosystem presentation, courtesy of Steve Fletcher, Managing Director of Savvian LLC, a San Francisco based investment bank. Steve will present Savvian's 2006 in review and a forecast of what we can expect in the emerging company ecosystem in 2007.