On July 11, 2013, from 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m, the FCC‘s Office of Communications Business Opportunities (“OCBO”) will host an Access to Capital Conference and Workshop focusing on telecommunications and technology-related businesses interested in obtaining funding from angel investors. This conference, which includes one on one breakout sessions, will be held at FCC Headquarters, 445 12th Street, Washington, DC on Thursday, July 11, 2013 from 9:00 am until 4:30 pm in the Commission Meeting Room.
We have invited representatives from the angel investment community from across the country to discuss their investment strategies in the telecommunications, technology, and media-related industries. Our panelists will examine what entrepreneurs need to know when seeking potential funding from angel investors and, once successful, how to navigate the investment relationship.
The program will begin with a panel discussion from 9:00 am to 11:30 am. The afternoon, from 1:00 to 4:30 pm, will feature one-on-one sessions between our panelists and any small business owners who would like individualized advice on angel investing and information on current funding opportunities.
The goal of this program is to identify trends in angel investing, delve into the differences between angel investors and venture capitalists, and explain why would-be entrepreneurs should seek funding from angel investors rather than venture capitalists. We will also highlight how angel investors select projects as well as the special challenges angel investors and entrepreneurs face in getting to an agreement.
This will be a power-packed panel discussion. Our Panelists will include some of the most successful angel investors in the nation, including, Terry Hicks who serves as Vice President of the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeast Pennsylvania and has over 120 early and emerging-stage technology companies to his credit. Mr. Hicks is also Co-founder of the Minority Angel Investors Network based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Also joining our panel will be Mr. J.S. Gamble, a Co-Founder of Blu Venture Investors, which is a venture capital investment company that supports early stage entrepreneurs in the Mid-Atlantic Region – Maryland, Virginia, Washington, DC and North Carolina.
Amy Millman, President of Springboard Enterprises, will participate in our panel discussion. Springboard is the premier platform where influencers, investors and innovators meet to help women build big businesses by starting small. Springboard has significant educational programs and forum programs as well as The Dolphin Tank, which is a supportive pitch practice program, intended to help presenters refine their elevator pitch through friendly, actionable feedback from a panel of investment industry experts.
Carol Politi will be joining our discussion. She is President and CEO of TRX Systems, Inc., the developer of NEON®, delivering mapping and location indoors, underground, and in dense urban areas where GPS is not available or is unreliable. NEON delivers accurate 3D indoor location through the use of advanced sensor fusion, ranging, and dynamic mapping algorithms. Finally, attorneys Erwin Krasnow, from Garvey Schubert, & Barer, and Frank Montero from Fletcher Heald & Hildreth will participate on our panel. Both of these attorneys represent and counsel radio and television broadcasters, tower owners, and financial institutions in legislative and transactional matters.
Bios for the panelists are included in the FCC’s Public Notice released June 14, 2013 which is linked below.
If you would like to participate in the conference or register for the afternoon breakout sessions, please contact Karen Beverly, Assistant for Management, OCBO, no later than Friday June 21, 2013 via email at Karen.Beverly@fcc.gov.