Featuring --

• Bootstrappers: Chris Hill, Jeff Judge
• Investors: Jeff Carter, Laurence Hayward
• Moderator: Linda Darragh

Hear from two companies, currently building their businesses with revenue, as they engage in a bare-knuckles dialogue with seasoned investors. Our "bootstrappers," Chris Hill and Jeff Judge, lead off the session each giving us his company's "pitch" on why their respective firms would be solid investment opportunities.

 

Following the pitches, investors Jeff Carter and Larry Hayward will kick-off a dynamic discussion, offering their candid feedback as well as a no-nonsense perspective on the merits of outside funding. Our session will cover:

 

 

 

 

• How can both early-stage and mature companies spark investor interest?
• What are the potential trade-offs to consider in seeking outside investment?
• What's the best approach to seeking and acquiring outside funding?
  
  

  Chris Hill is an investor turned entrepreneur. Having had a successful career in investment banking and private equity, Chris decided he was ready for something different. That's when he launched his first business, PerkSpot. PerkSpot administers employee benefit programs on behalf of more than 1.5 million employees. PerkSpot's clients include leading employers such as Chevron, CDW, DIRECTV, and Burlington Northern. As founder and CEO, Chris has experienced firsthand what it takes to take a business from concept to profitability. And his entrepreneurial charge continues. Chris is also the creator of Coupon Tweet, a real-time Twitter-based coupon aggregator and search engine.

  
  

  Jeff Judge co-founded Interactive Mediums in 2006, taking advantage of the rapidly growing market for mobile marketing solutions. His technology and marketing vision continue to guide the company's mission to enable marketers to engage on-the-go consumers with relevant and effective mobile dialog. He is highly active in the mobile marketing and technology communities, playing leadership roles with organizations such as Mobile Monday and The Heartland Mobile Council. Prior to launching Interactive Mediums, Jeff was a Technology Director at Orbitz Worldwide, one of the leading leisure and travel sites as well as among the best known internet brands. With Orbitz, Jeff led the engineering team responsible for the company's most profitable service. His background also includes consulting roles with Diamond Management & Technology Consultants and Cap Gemini. Jeff received his B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Iowa.

  
  

  Jeff Carter is on the CME Board of Directors and Co-Founder of Hyde Park Angels. Since 1988, Jeff has been an independent commodity speculator. A graduate of the University of Illinois College of Business, he also holds an MBA from the University of Chicago. Jeff has contributed to numerous media outlets including doing television commentary on markets for CNBC, Bloomberg, Fox Business, WTTW, WGN, CBS News, and written articles for several print and online publications.

  
  

  Laurence Hayward is the founder and managing partner of VentureLab where he advises and raises private equity for early-stage business ventures. His career began at Arthur Andersen, working as global marketing director of Andersen's Enterprise Group, a $500 million practice targeting middle-market and venture-backed companies. He was appointed to represent the firm at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. From Andersen, Laurence went on to start-up, Vcapital Inc., working as Vice President of operations. Vcapital matched entrepreneurs with investors using an internet-based, private-equity exchange. Prior to being acquired, the firm raised $13 million in venture capital. And following the acquisition, he became President, led the Vcapital subsidiary, as well as the Chicago office of the acquiring investment bank Jesup & Lamont, a FINRA broker dealer.

  
  

  Linda Darragh currently serves as Director of Entrepreneurship Programs and Adjunct Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business. Prior to the University of Chicago, Ms. Darragh taught entrepreneurship courses at the Kellogg School of Management. She was also Vice President of the Women's Business Development Center where she assisted high growth women business owners. She organized Springboard: Mid-West, a nationally recognized investor forum for women entrepreneurs. These forums, in combination, rose over $85 million. Her work with women seeking equity investment led her to initiate the Ceres Venture Fund in which she is an investor. She is the recipient of numerous awards including: the Illinois Technology Association's Citylights Award for significant impact on the Illinois technology community.

 

 

 

 

Technical Needs: Richard Cross http://healthcodex.com
Communications and Technical Needs: Tim Courtney http://keylimetie.com
Co-Chairs of Communications: Karin Nauth Shelley
Jessica Lybeck http://tillcreative.com
Video: Carl Karsten
Team Leader: Bob Brill http://bobbrill.net