Raising capital and building investor relations

By Cheryl Lindsay

Is your business looking for tips and advice on raising capital and investor relations?   This is the Growing Your Business session for you!

The RIC Centre is looking forward to the next Growing Your Business breakfast session on Thursday May 12^th: “Raising Capital – Negotiating the Perfect Deal.”  This session will discuss the importance of securing an investor and negotiating the term sheet of the proposed investment.  The panellists will share tips on the best practices when it comes to negotiating a term sheet.

Among our panellists this month will be Paul Chipperton, an experienced entrepreneur in the life sciences industry.  Currently, Paul is the CEO of Profound Medical Inc., a medical devices company that focuses on the treatment of Prostate Cancer through cutting-edge MRI and Ultrasound technologies.  Paul has led the company to multiple awards including the Ontario Premier’s Catalyst Award for “Best Start-Up”.

Paul has many years of experience in investor relations, strategic development and new product development with a number of companies including PerkinElmer and CRi & Beckman-Coulter.  His current specialities include securing financing and building commercial relationships.  We are looking forward to his insight into the world of investor relations and negotiations.

Join us for  Negotiating the Perfect Deal at our “Growing Your Business” breakfast event series 7:30 to 10 a.m., Thursday,  May 12 at the University of Toronto Mississauga’s Faculty Club .

Pre-Registration $25, Pay at Event $30 (covers breakfast and parking). To register, visit http://www.riccentre.com.

Cheryl Lindsay is an undergrad student and the University of Toronto, Mississauga.  She is currently enrolled in the CCIT program pursuing a specialist in Digital Enterprise Management.  Cheryl is a student intern with the RIC Centre acting as Assisting Communications Officer.

The RIC blog is designed as a showcase for entrepreneurs and innovation. Our guest bloggers provide a wealth of information based on their personal experiences. Visit RIC Centre for more information on how RIC can accelerate your ideas to market.

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Business Valuation-Busting the Myths!

By Sandy Sehgal

Part of Growing Your Business Series

As an entrepreneur, it is important to understand how investors value your business. In the next Growing Your Business series, our experts will be giving an insider look into how investors value your business and how to maximize your business value! This seminar will cover business valuation for any stage-from pre-revenue to those looking to sell their company.

Join us for Business Valuation-Busting the Myths: How do Investors Value Your Business? “Growing Your Business” breakfast event series 7:30 to 10 a.m., Thursday April 14^th, at the University of Toronto Mississauga’s Faculty Club

Our experts have real-life experience in business valuation and are ready to share their tips.

Andrew Maxwell, Chief Innovation Officer at the Canadian Innovation Centre will be talking about different valuation techniques used by pre-revenue companies and explain the benefits and pitfalls of each strategy.

Lisa Kendall, Managing Director in Corporate Finance at PricewaterhouseCoopers, specializes in mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, and raising capital for mid-market technology companies.  Lisa will cover valuation and exit strategies for those ready to sell part or whole ownership of the company.

Our final speaker, John Gillberry, is the founder and president of Bayfield Capital Group – a corporate finance advisory firm. Over the last 10 years, John Gillberry has worked through many valuation issues relating to raising capital, acquisitions, mergers and divestitures. John will bring some real practical experience and recent examples on how investors look at valuation and the impact this may have on your business.

Click to learn more about the speakers

Register today at www.riccentre.com

The Research Innovation Commercialization (RIC) Centre and the Ontario Center for Environmental Technology Advancement (OCETA) jointly host the 10-event series, which runs from September to June 2011. 

For a complete schedule visit riccentre.com

Pre-Registration $25, Pay at Event $30 (covers breakfast and parking). To register, visit www.riccentre.com.

For more information, contact Jasmeet Duggal 905-273-3530 jasmeet@riccentre.com

Sandeep Sehgal is completing an Honours Bachelor of Science degree at University of Toronto Mississauga. She is currently utilizing her skills and knowledge of biotechnology issues as a bio-business intern at the RIC Centre. Upon graduation, she hopes to seek opportunities in R&D for a pharmaceutical company.

The RIC blog is designed as a showcase for entrepreneurs and innovation. Our guest bloggers provide a wealth of information based on their personal experiences. Visit RIC Centre for more information on how RIC can accelerate your ideas to market.

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Navigating the SR&ED program

Emerging environmental companies, long on innovation but short on capital, have potential access to more than 150 government funding, incentive and rebate programs. The key, says consultant Fred Hausmann, is to navigate the maze of programs to ensure that these entrepreneurs receive the maximum possible support to advance their products or services and grow their firms.

Hausmann was one of the panelists at the last Growing Your Business seminar “Turning Research into Dollars” hosted by the RIC Centre and OCETA.

FRED is particularly focused on obtaining the full range of tax credits available to companies through the Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax incentive program. Administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), it is the largest single source of federal government support for industrial research and development. Companies can recoup up to 68% of eligible R&D expenditures.

In recent years, there have been some notable trends and changes in the SR&ED program, Hausmann observed. There has been an increase in the number of auditors and audits of applicant companies, and new application forms have been introduced, requiring briefer descriptions of the applicant’s product or technology and a more streamlined risk analysis outline.

At the same time, more supporting documentation is sought. This can be a challenge for smaller, entrepreneurial companies whose focus on innovation may leave little time for reams of paperwork.

Inadequate or incomplete documentation is often one of the main reasons a company’s SR&ED claim may be rejected by the CRA. Hausmann pointed out that the difficulties and setbacks encountered in developing or advancing innovative technologies, products or processes need to be as thoroughly documented as the successes. This will give the CRA a full picture of the R&D process and its prospects.

For more informationvisit www.fredgroup.ca.

Join us for Business Valuation – Busting the Myths: How do Investors Value Your Business at the  next Growing Your Business breakfast event series 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., Thursday April 14th at the University of Toronto Mississauga?s Faculty Club.

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Creative Financing and Cash Bootstrapping – When Friends, Family and Fools Fail!

Raising cash can be the most important activity for a start-up company. But what do you do when you have exhausted the money from friends and family and are not yet ready for angel and VC investment? In our fifth seminar we will explore some creative methods to finance your business including accessing inexpensive resources such as talent and exploring options to go public.

Join us for Creative Financing and Cash Bootstrapping – When Friends, Family and Fools Fail! at our “Growing Your Business” breakfast event series 7:30 to 10 a.m., Wednesday,  January 19 at the University of Toronto Mississauga’s Faculty Club

Our guest speakers include:

Ulrich Krull, Vice-Principal: Research, University of Toronto,  is appointed as Professor of Analytical Chemistry and holds the endowed AstraZeneca Chair in Biotechnology at the University of Toronto. He serves as the Vice-Principal: Research at the University of Toronto Mississauga.

Krull has played key roles in 4 start-up companies that have incorporated work from his research team in the area of diagnostic technologies. He continues to serve on a number of corporate boards for pharma and analytical service companies and associations. Krull led the consortium of industry, government and institutional partners that evolved to form the Research Innovation Commercialization Centre.

John Lombardi, Business Consultant, Mina Mar Group, is a business consultant with the Mina Mar Group where he assists SMEs raise capital, offering M&A, IPO, and investor relations services. He has helped raise over $6 million dollars through his work in real estate marketing and Loblaw Companies. John started trading shares on the stock market independently at the ripe age of 18. His research and understanding of business naturally lead him to Canada’s top business school, the Schulich School of Business.

Chris Skura, CEO, Skura Corporation, is the CEO of Skura Corporation as well as Skura BI Group. His responsibilities for both companies include company vision, business development and building partnerships with leading companies worldwide.

He has established Skura as a global leader in the pharmaceutical technology market and continues to ensure the company is building the solutions necessary to succeed in these times of rapid change. Prior to founding Skura Corporation in 1996, Chris was in sales operations at Bayer Inc.

The Research Innovation Commercialization (RIC) Centre and the Ontario Center for Environmental Technology Advancement (OCETA) jointly host the 10-event series, which runs from September to June 2011.

For a complete schedule visit riccentre.com

Pre-Registration $25, Pay at Event $30 (covers breakfast and parking). To register, visit www.riccentre.com.

For more information, contact Shantanu at shantanu@riccentre.com or at (905) 273-3530.

The RIC blog is designed as a showcase for entrepreneurs and innovation. Our guest bloggers provide a wealth of information based on their personal experiences. Visit RIC Centre for more information on how RIC can accelerate your ideas to market.

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HomeStars to Speak at RIC’s Growing Your Business Event

By Mary Dytyniak

Nancy Peterson, Founder and CEO of HomeStars, will be sharing her stories  -the mistakes, the challenges and finally the wins – to building a successful company at the Growing Your Business seminar hosted by the RIC Centre and OCETA this coming November 17, 2010 at the University of Toronto Mississauga.

The event, “Finding and Retaining Customers – How to Make the Sale” will outline fundamental strategies in sales;  how to increase client engagement and improve customer retention.

HomeStars is an online company that launched in 2006. It provides thousands of reviews on contractors, repairmen and service providers to help clients with home improvement projects. Peterson believes reviews and online social media are shaking up the fragmented and non-tech savvy home improvement industry by empowering homeowners to seek out high-quality service. Peterson is excited to be one of three guest speakers invited to the breakfast seminar.
“I’m looking forward to meeting fellow entrepreneurs and hearing their issues and burning challenges in the start-up phase,” she said.

Other speakers include Mark Zimmerman and Timothy Hardman.

Timothy Hardman is the Commercialization Executive and former President of Cymat Technologies Ltd. Hardman will talk about his experiences in developing customer relationships and why it is important to invest in the sales process.

Mark Zimmerman, IT Advisor for Communications and Entertainment at MaRS will discuss start-up sales, explain how to build a sales funnel and go over instruments and tools to help measure success.
RIC (Research Innovation and Commercialization) and OECTA (Ontario Centre for Environment Technology Advancement) host the GYB breakfast seminars in an effort to help entrepreneurs in the manufacturing, science and technology field accelerate their commercialization.

“The series aims to help entrepreneurs fast track commercialization. Attendees will benefit from presentations related to business growth and commercialization. Every panel has three speakers, each hailing from different backgrounds, including academia, service providers and experienced entrepreneurs,” says Pam Banks, Commercialization Director at RIC.

The event is November 17 from 7:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. at the University of Toronto Mississauga’s Faculty Club.

For a complete schedule visit riccentre.com

Pre-Registration $25, Pay at Event $30 (covers breakfast and parking). To register, visit www.riccentre.com.

For more information, contact Shantanu at shantanu@riccentre.com or at (905) 273-3530.

Mary Dytyniak will be graduating from the University of Toronto with an Honours Bachelor of Arts this June 2011. She is currently finishing her major in Professional Writing and a double minor in Classics and History. Mary has published works in the fields of non-fiction, creative, journalistic, research and corporate writing. She is currently pursuing a career in the magazine and publishing sector.

The RIC blog is designed as a showcase for entrepreneurs and innovation. Our guest bloggers provide a wealth of information based on their personal experiences. Visit RIC Centre for more information on how RIC can accelerate your ideas to market.

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Cultivating strategic alliances

By Reem Aziz

One of the fastest growing trends for businesses today is the sweeping growth of strategic alliances. Three key speakers addressed this issue at the last Keep Growing Your Business Event: Strategic Alliances, held on May 19^th, at the University of Toronto Mississauga faculty club.

The event, which was sponsored by the FRED GROUP, OCETA and the RIC Centre included presentations from industry professionals Hairdoss Sarma, Andrew Horsman and Ali Asaria.

Hairidoss Sarma, who is the sole proprietor of KRIYA Consulting and affiliated with the University of Guelph, emphasized the benefits of industry-academia alliances. Sarma says that a true alliance provides both parties with a win-win only scenario. For instance, in a research alliance between an industry and an educational institution, both organizations can work collaboratively on a project to achieve the best possible results.

Sarma admits that critical issues may arise due to the differences in the structure, mission and values of university institutions and industries. One way around this is for the two parties to collaborate on an outline of the problem definition and the methods to solve the problem.

Andrew Horsman, who is the Executive Director of Ontario Tire Stewardship (OTS) spoke of the Ontario Used Tires Program – a solution for Ontario’s scrap tires. Horsman says that the OTS board is composed of tire manufacturers, tire retailers, mass merchants and vehicle manufacturers who act as a unified central body between organizations that deal with tires.

OTS is working to further its strategic alliances with key companies in the industry as well as the government sector for technology upgrades, equipment purchases, investment and R&D. Horsman says “you want to make sure that the company is able to sustain itself in the current market place.”

Ali Asaria, started his career as a RIM employee but decided to branch out on his own to become the founder and CEO of Well.ca – an online health and beauty supply store that offers free shipping across Canada. Well.ca focuses on providing the highest quality service for its customers.

Asaria was offered funding from Venture Capitalists but instead turned to the Maple Leaf Angels and does not regret it. His main advice is, “say no if it won’t solve your problem.”

Asaria emphasized the importance of personalizing relationships and has formed alliances with Jordan Banks, CEO of Facebook Canada, Colin Webster of Truition and Dave Ceolin of Digital Cement. Asaria says that one of the most important aspects of forming a strategic alliance is to “be clear about your weakness, needs and offerings.”

As emphasized by the speakers, strategic alliances has become an important tool for entrepreneurs who wish to expand the reach of their company without losing individuality or committing to expensive internal expansions.

Join us for our next Growing Your Business session, Innovator Idol, where four emerging companies will pitch to an expert panel for a chance to win big! Feedback will be given by the panellists but the winner will be chosen by the audience.  Details.

Reem Aziz is a University of Toronto student in the Digital Enterprise Management Specialist stream of the Communications, Culture and Information Technology program. She is currently a Writing and Communications intern at the RIC Centre where she is putting her academic knowledge to the test. She has an interest in marketing and event planning and has background experience in creating posters, banners and web ads.

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Cultivating strategic alliances

Cultivating Strategic Alliances is the subject of the next Growing Your Business seminar on May 19 at the Faculty Club, South Building at the University of Toronto Mississauga.

These monthly seminars are hosted by RIC Centre (Research Innovation Commercialization Centre) and the Ontario Centre for Environmental Technology Advancement (OCETA) and sponsored by the FRED Group.

The featured speakers include Haridoss Sarma, Technology Transfer Manager, University of Guelph; Andrew Horsman, Executive Director, Ontario Tire Stewardship and Ali Asaria, CEO and Founder, Well.ca.

Haridoss is affiliated with the University of Guelph, Business Development Office. He is also the sole proprietor of KRIYA Consulting focusing on a holistic approach to business value addition through research & technology matters. As an industry consultant he has helped SMEs and MNs in areas of new product development and patent portfolio alignment. Haridoss is a senior member of IEEE and Chairman for CSC/IEC 113 (Canadian Subcommittee for International Electrotechnical Commission) Nanotechnology Electrotechnical Products. He holds a Ph.D in Physics from I.I.T. Madras, India.

Andrew was formerly the Regulatory Compliance Manager with Wal-Mart Canada. At Wal-Mart Andrew was responsible for the Regulatory, Stewardship and Sustainability files, working closely with a range of industries and fellow retailers to enhance the compliance and sustainability of the organization. Prior to joining OTS as ED, Andrew was the Vice-President of Corporate Sustainability with the Delphi Group, an Ottawa-based consulting firm.

Ali  is a software engineer from the University of Waterloo and started his career at Research in Motion (RIM). Ali decided to leave RIM and, in September 2007, launched Norfolk Canada Home Health, which was later incorporated and named Well.ca. Having experience with the pharmaceutical industry, Ali recognized an opportunity to give customers the convenience of shopping online for drugstore products. The company has grown from a small operation in his dad’s pharmacy to a sustainable business in the Hanlon Industrial Park in Guelph that now employs more than 40 people.

Don’t miss this opportunity to explore cultivating strategic alliances with these compelling business leaders.

Registration is available through the RIC Centre website. Poster.

Check in and breakfast will start promptly at 7:30 at the Faculty Club South Building at the University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road North.

For further details about this event please contact: shantanu@riccentre.com

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Keep your Intellectual Property close

Keep your Intellectual Property Close is the subject of the next Growing Your Business seminar, held March 10 at the LIVING ARTS CENTRE, Bank of Montreal Theatre.

These monthly seminars are hosted by RIC Centre (Research Innovation Commercialization Centre) and the Ontario Centre for Environmental Technology Advancement (OCETA).

The featured speakers include Anthony de Fazekas, Miller Thomson LLP, Don Waugh, PCA Services Inc. and Paul Blanchard, NuCove Group of Companies.

Anthony de Fazekas, Partner, Miller Thomson LLP drafts original patents in the software, e-commerce and mechanical areas. This includes firm-specific intellectual property protection strategies and trade mark advice. He also has experience in managing intellectual property issues related to corporate transactions, including large mergers and acquisitions. Anthony will discuss how and when to cost effectively protect your IP.

Don Waugh, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, PCA Services Inc. is responsible for leading the strategic direction of the company. Prior to the start up of PCAS in 2006, he had built three successful technology companies – Quarsametrics, a developer of storage systems for the computer market place founded in 1994; Coolwater Ltd., an Internet access and marketing company, whose clients included Royal Bank of Canada and JVC Canada; and Echoworx Corporation, a pioneer in secure email technology founded in 2000. In addition to his current responsibilities with PCAS, Don is Chairman of the Board of Applied Recognition Inc., a company that specializes in the application of face recognition technology.

Paul Blanchard, Founder, President & CEO, NuCove Group of Companies is the founder, president and CEO of NuCove Group of Companies. Having completed a 10 year career in IBM in 1991, Paul went on to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities in environmental technologies. He co-founded a private Canadian company and secured the North American rights to a patented German technology that converts organic waste into compost and renewable energy. Paul Later left and formed NuCove Development Corporation which has established itself in the Canadian marketplace as a provider of environmental products and services.

Don’t miss this opportunity to better understand Intellectual Property.

Registration is available through the RIC Centre website. Poster.

Check in and breakfast will start promptly at 7:30 at the LIVING ARTS CENTRE
Bank of Montreal Theatre, 4141 Living Arts Drive, Mississauga, ON L5B 4B8

For further details about this event please contact: shantanu@riccentre.com

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Employing Creative Leadership Basics

Employing Creative Leadership Basics is the subject of the next Growing Your Business seminar, held Feb. 17 at the University of Toronto, Mississauga campus.

These monthly seminars are hosted by RIC Centre (Research Innovation Commercialization Centre) and the Ontario Centre for Environmental Technology Advancement (OCETA) and sponsored by FRED Group Inc.

The featured speakers include Larry Chester, Process Design Consultants Inc., Max Carbone, Team Works, and Paul Wickberg, CEO, EnviroTower.

Larry Chester has been providing strategy formulation and deployment, business process improvement, and training and development consulting services to senior human resource and corporate management since 1980. Prior to forming Process Design Consultants Inc., Larry was a partner in a Toronto-based training & development company, a Vice-President in an international management consulting firm and Sales and Marketing Vice President for a major sales and distribution company. Larry, a professional engineer with an MBA in finance, has been a guest speaker on continuous improvement and employee empowerment and a University lecturer on creative decision making and project management.

Max Carbone is an entrepreneurial strategic planning advisor, private investor, director and visionary. He helps leaders build plans, teams and drive business results. Max has assisted organizations like: AT&T, Coca-Cola, CB Richard Ellis, Chubb Security, CITY TV, Nike, Royal LePage, Trimark, TD Bank, and many, many more. Max has worked in traditional jobs with Grant Thornton, CB Richard Ellis, The Bank of Nova Scotia and York University. Max holds an MBA in Entrepreneurial Studies from Schulich School of Business and a BA in Economics and Psychology from University of Western Ontario.

With more than 20 years of business leadership and senior management experience, Paul Wickberg brings to EnviroTower a proven track record of driving rapid growth and value creation for technology start-ups as well as Fortune 200 organizations. Most recently, as President and COO of Verisae, Inc., a provider of energy and asset management software, Paul grew the company from startup to multi-national status in just 4 years. He is credited with creating and building Emerson Retail Services, now the leading provider of energy services to the supermarket industry.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn first-hand how to employ Creative Leadership Basics

Registration for the event will open until February 16, 2010 through the RIC Centre website

Check in and breakfast will start promptly at 7:30 in the Faculty Club (Third floor, South Building, University of Toronto Mississauga).

For further details about this event please contact: sharon.dotan@riccentre.com

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Use market intelligence strategically

“Using Market Intelligence as Your Strategic Weapon” is the next “Growing Your Business” seminar, held Nov. 18  at a new location this month in Brampton. The monthly workshops are hosted by RIC Centre (Research Innovation Commercialization Centre) and the Ontario Centre for Environmental Technology Advancement (OCETA).

This session, held at the Rose Theatre, located on 1 Theatre Lane in Brampton, will explore the value of market intelligence as a strategic advantage for entrepreneurs.

Three excellent speakers are on board to explore  this subject.

Christine König, Managing Partner at König & Consultants Inc., studied biochemistry in Goettingen, Germany, where she received her PhD in Cell Biology. Her first entrepreneurial activity was to custom develop genetically modified mice that serve scientists as models for human disease. Later, she transferred that knowledge into a research firm developing state-of-the art breast cancer diagnostics. As an entrepreneur Christine has personally experienced the rise and fall of great ideas, potential markets, and partnerships.

Isabel Alexander, Vice Chair, Fielding Chemical Technologies Inc., founded Phancorp Inc., a small chemical wholesaling company that became a global standard for the chemical industry. On August 1, 2009 Phancorp Inc. merged forces with Fielding Chemical Technologies Inc. to provide Cradle to Cradle Care of Chemicals. Isabel now serves as Vice Chair, Fielding Chemical Technologies Inc. Since 2002, Ms. Alexander has been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Women Entrepreneurs and in 2009, she was the recipient of the International Women of Influence Award for Emerging/Growth enterprises.

Usha Srinivasan, Director, Market Intelligence, Market Readiness Program, and her team of industry specific and information specialists provide quality and timely market intelligence to entrepreneurs in Ontario through the MaRS Market Intelligence Services. Prior to joining MaRS, she worked at Frost & Sullivan, a leading global market research and consulting company. She has technical and industry background in the water, environment and building technologies space, having worked with global clients such as GE, Siemens, IBM, Honeywell and Brita.

For more information visit  www.riccentre.com. Or  Register here, For further registration details, please contact Sharon Dotan at sharon.dotan@ric-centre.on.ca

Registration deadline for the event is November 17, 2009.

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