Springboard Alumnae Caucus: Agenda

 

June 3, 2010
Babson College, Wellesley, MA

8:00am Registration & Breakfast
9:00am Welcoming Remarks
9:20am Essay: Global Opportunities
9:30am Out Loud: Voices of Experience
Panel discussion of practical solutions for entrepreneurs building scalable ventures.
10:45am Essay: Finding Opportunities in Today's Market
10:50am Crafting the Culture in Your Organization
Featuring Sharon Kan, Tikatok LLC (ATM '08)
An interactive session assessing organizational culture.
12:50pm Essay: Investing in Innovation
1:00pm Luncheon
2:15pm & 3:20pm Concurrent Alumnae Solution Sessions
Alternative Funding Sources: VC's Are Not the Only Option
Strategic Partnering: How and When to Bring in a New Player
The New Deal: Essentials to Negotiate Equity Terms
The Human Capital: Keys to Recruitment & Management
A Win - Win - Win Exit: You - Your Company - Your Investors
4:25pm Essay: The New Media Frontier
4:30pm Springboard 2020
Springboard is committed to serving its alumnae long after their participation in the venture forums. This interactive session will focus on how Springboard can best leverage the valuable network that is the Springboard Trust for the benefit of its members.
5:30pm Closing Remarks

SESSION 1: Alternative Funding Sources: VC's Are Not the Only Option
There is a lot of money out there for early stage companies but it may not be from VCs. Springboard companies have been resourceful in seeking out alternative sources to keep up the momentum. Our discussion will include tried and true examples of alternative sources such as family offices, high net-worth individuals, government or foundation grants and contracts, in-kind funding, and state and federal small business assistance programs.

SESSION 2: Strategic Partnering: How and When to Bring in a New Player
Early stage life sciences ventures often hope to gain significant operational advantage by forming strategic alliances with large biotech and pharma companies. Our discussion will include the strategic reasoning behind different kinds of partnerships, structuring the agreement, the "dos" and "don'ts" of managing these important relationships, dealing with cultural differences in a way that gains respect, and balancing your partner's requests and needs while looking out for your company's best interests.

SESSION 3: The New Deal: Essentials to Negotiate Equity Terms
With liquidity at historic lows over the past couple of years, equity deal terms have not gotten any prettier for entrepreneurs. However, there are still many levers an entrepreneur can pull in working through the deal structure. Our discussion will include the finer points of deal structures, recent changes in security types, valuations, terms, trends, and more.

SESSION 4: The Human Capital: Keys to Recruitment & Management
Hiring and managing the right team is essential to your bottom line results; whether it's your staff, Board, Advisory Council, or outsourcing to third party vendors. A measure of the successful CEO is how she handles this critical decision and maintains these relationships. Our discussion will include lessons learned about recruiting and managing a win-win relationship.

SESSION 5: A Win - Win - Win Exit: You - Your Company - Your Investors
Decisions made early on can have huge implications down the road but circumstances change and you may need to adjust your plan along the way. How do you know when it is the right time to exit? How do you structure the exit so that it's positive for you, your company, and your investors? Our discussion will include planning for an exit, the optimum time to exit, valuation and terms.