One of the hurdles preventing many small businesses from breaking into the broadcasting business is obtaining financing, and to help alleviate that problem the FCC is holding another event bringing together finance and deal-making experts and would-be entrepreneurs. Among the experts is RBR-TVBR contributor Erwin Krasnow of Garvey Schubert Barer.
The session is calls Access to Capital Conference and Workshop for Small Businesses, and its scheduled to run from 9AM-3:30PM on Thursday 7/11/13.
The FCC stated, “The FCC has invited representatives from the angel investing community from across the nation to discuss their investment strategies in the telecommunications, technology, and media-related industries. Our panelists will examine what entrepreneurs need to know when seeking funding from potential angel investors, and once successful, how to navigate the investment relationship.”
The FCC released the following details for interested parties:
“All persons interested in attending this informative event in person are asked to register by contacting OCBO at (202) 418-0990 or via e-mail at [email protected]. Persons interested in participating via the Internet may do so by logging on to www.fcc.gov/ocbo .”
And the FCC released brief bios of the panelists, noting that others may be added to the list:
JOHN MAY, Managing Partner, New Vantage Group
John May is the managing partner of New Vantage Group, a McLean, VA firm that innovatively mobilizes private equity into early-stage companies and provides advisory services to both funds, private investors and entrepreneurs. Mr. May’s experience in private equity capital over the last 25 years ranges from venture capital fund management to angel investing in the USA and angel ecosystem development abroad. Mr. May has been at the forefront of the angel investor movement. He is the founder of five investment groups, as well as the Investors’ Circle, a national non-profit group of 125 family and institutional investors working to grow the social venture capital industry. He is chair-emeritus of the Angel Capital Association (formerly a program of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation), and is a lead instructor for the “Power of Angel Investing” seminars, a program of the Angel Resource Institute. He is the co-author of two books, Every Business Needs an Angel (Crown Business: 2001) and State of the Art: An Executive Briefing on Cutting-Edge Practices in American Angel Investing (Darden Publishing: 2003).
AMY MILLMAN, President, Springboard Enterprises
Amy Millman is a passionate advocate for women entrepreneurs building Big Businesses Starting Small. In 2000, she co-founded Springboard Enterprises, a non-profit venture catalyst which sources, coaches, showcases and supports women-led companies seeking equity capital for product development and expansion. Springboard has assisted hundreds of women entrepreneurs in raising billions in investments and connecting with thousands of expert resources. The successes of Springboard entrepreneurs include 10 IPOs, legions of high value M&As and a community of accomplished serial entrepreneurs. During her career in Washington, DC, she served as a representative for several industry groups and was appointed as Executive Director of the National Women’s Business Council during the Clinton Administration. She served on the boards of many organizations including her current service with JumpStart Inc. and Enterprising Women Magazine.
ERWIN KRASNOW, Owner, Garvey Schubert and Barer Law Offices
Erwin Krasnow counsels and represents radio and television broadcasters, tower owners, financial institutions and trade associations in administrative, legislative and transactional matters. Erwin advises clients on a wide array of issues ranging from new technologies to lobbying strategies. He concentrates on transactional matters and has represented sellers and buyers of broadcasting, cable, tower and telecommunications properties in transactions totaling in excess of $21 billion.
TERRY HICKS, Minority Angel Investors Network (Vice President Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania)
Terrence H. Hicks is Vice-President of the Investment Group for Ben Franklin. Hicks is responsible for all of the organization’s investment activities. Ben Franklin has a portfolio of over 120 early and emerging-stage technology companies; one of the largest such portfolios in the country. Hicks came to the Ben Franklin in 1993 after twenty years of experience in small business lending and corporate treasury activities with Fidelity Bank (currently Wachovia) and Sun Company respectively. Hicks previously served as Vice President of Sun Company’s Specialized Small Business Investment Company. In addition to managing Ben Franklin’s investment activity for over ten years, Hicks also co-founded the Minority Angel Investor Network, the nation’s only organized angel group investing in high growth minority owned or led companies.
CAROL POLITI, President and CEO, TRX Systems, INC.
Ms. Politi is a 20 year technology industry veteran with extensive experience in successfully bringing new technologies to market. Prior to TRX, Ms. Politi was the Senior Vice President for product management and business development at Kajeet®, a cell phone service for children that delivered one of the first GPS-based mobile location products. She co-founded and served as vice president of marketing and product management for Megisto Systems (now Syniverse), delivering software infrastructure for mobile operators, and served as vice president of product management at Ericsson, leading IP infrastructure initiatives for mobile data networks. Ms. Politi holds multiple patents for innovations related to administrative control of mobile communications devices.
