Last October, the Coleman Center presented “Meet the Angels”, a sold-out educational and networking forum that attracted over 100 entrepreneurs. This time, we’re pleased to present Meet the Angels II: Tales from the Trenches.

At this program, start-up and early-stage entrepreneurs will get the unique opportunity to network with angel investors from around Chicago, and hear their stories of past deals — the good, the bad, and the ugly. An esteemed panel of active angel investors will discuss the criteria that were used to make some of their investments, what went right and wrong in due diligence, how relationships with their portfolio firms have evolved, and factors that contributed to the success and/or failure of their deals.

In addition to the panel discussion, there will be a roundtable networking period as well as open networking, during which entrepreneurs can interact with the investors and among themselves. Each roundtable will be hosted by an angel investor, and entrepreneurs will be able to ask specific questions about angel investing, in general, or how that particular investor (or his/her network) makes investment decisions. Don’t miss this terrific opportunity to Meet the Angels!

Please note that business plan pitches are not appropriate at this event.

Panelists

Frank Ballantine is a Partner in Reed Smith Sachnoff & Weaver’s Business Group focusing his practice on Corporate Finance and Securities Transactions and Corporate Counsel and Business Planning. He also Chairs the Corporate Department and Co-Chairs the Private Equity and Venture Capital Group.

Frank is very active in the community as a Board Member of a technology venture fund advisory board and as a member of both the Chicago Software Association and the Association for Corporate Growth. In addition, he speaks frequently on topics involving private equity and venture capital finance, mergers and acquisitions, securities transactions and high-growth developmental companies.

Frank graduated from University of Michigan Law School, J.D., in 1984; Haverford College, B.A. with honors in English, in 1978; attended Manchester College, Oxford University from 1976-77; and Columbia University School of the Arts, Film Division from 1979-80.

Bob Geras, President of LaSalle Investments, Incorporated, has been an active participant in the VC and Angel community in Chicago for over 40 years.

Termed “a virtual Renaissance Man of Entrepreneurship” in a David Lundy Chicago Sun-Times interview, “one of the Big Three ‘old-timer’ angels in Chicago” in Crain’s Chicago Business, and featured in a July 2005 cover story in INC. magazine on “Angels in America”, many VCs, accountants, attorneys and other consultants call Bob when they have a client who needs experienced advice and a good dose of mentoring as well as some seed or early stage money for their young company. This is not only because Bob has been at it for so long, but also because he has extensive line operating experience as an entrepreneur and turnaround specialist in addition to having been a long time investor in a wide variety of deals.

Bob was given the “Angel of the Year-2002” award by the Chicago Software Association at their Annual CityLIGHTS ceremony in recognition of “Many years of exceptional service in fostering and encouraging Entrepreneurship in Chicago’s Technology Community.” In December 2004 at the Illinois Venture Capital Association’s Annual Awards Night, Bob was presented the Fellows Award for “Extraordinary leadership in early stage venture funding in Illinois.” In addition, on March 1, 2006 Bob was also inducted into the Chicago Area Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame.

Ronald L. Kirschner, M.D. is President of Heartland Angels, Inc. Dr. Kirschner has a broad background in healthcare, start-ups and private equity. While practicing medicine, he started three companies of his own in the healthcare field. Dr. Kirschner has been a consultant on funding and market strategies to both entrepreneurs and early stage companies, and was the VP of Technology -Development for CDIB Biotech, Inc., a Midwest biotechnology venture fund.

Bob Okabe has worked with early-stage and growth companies as an investor, member of management, consultant, board member and banker. Upon leaving the corporate world in 1999 and until he joined RPX Group in 2002 Bob was a consultant, employee, or advisor to a number of companies tackling the issues facing high growth enterprises. These companies have ranged from raw startups to a ten-year-old, family owned equipment leasing company where he served as CFO and Senior Credit Officer.

Bob Okabe was awarded his Bachelor of Science in Finance and Organizational Behavior from Boston University’s School of Management.

Roundtable Hosts

Michael Gruber, Cornerstone Angels
Larry Hayward, Scius Capital
Bill Houston, Cornerstone Angels
John Lump, DePaul Blue Angel Network
Dennis Serio, Illinois Business & Investor Forum
Ira Weiss, Hyde Park Angels