Latest on Startup Funding: What’s Changed? What’s Still Hot?

With funders representing tech, food and other industries, this event will explore the current state of funding for startups, from a macro level as well as insight specific to New Jersey. Our speakers will cover:
• Is it true that investment is finally moving away from Silicon Valley, or is that just hype?
• How can a startup get on the radar of a venture fund inside a billion-dollar company?
• Is it easier to get angel and seed capital in 2018, and what’s the best strategy for tapping into this funding?

Don’t miss your chance to get up-to-date on the latest funding landscape for startups at this event on Tues. Feb. 13 at Montclair State. Event is free and open to the public.

Speakers:
Mario Casabona, angel investor and founder of TechLaunch
Tom Mastrobuoni, CFO, Tyson Ventures
Steve Socolof, managing partner, Tech Council Ventures
Joan Zief, investor, Golden Seeds

Agenda:
6:00-6:45 p.m. Networking with free pizza
6:45-7:00 p.m. Welcome remarks and 30-second pitches from the audience
7:00-8:30 p.m. Introductory remarks by Steve Socolof, then panel discussion with audience Q&A Location: Feliciano School of Business, Montclair State University. Networking in room 140; event in room 101.

Directions and parking info: Park in the Red Hawk Deck on campus, exit the deck on Level 5 and proceed straight up the walkway (soccer field will be on your left) to the Feliciano School of Business building. Campus map with directions http://www.montclair.edu/media/montclairedu/feliciano/pdf/campus_map.pdf

Speaker bios:

MARIO CASABONA is an entrepreneur and active angel investor. In 2012, he founded TechLaunch, committed to identifying and nurturing early stage tech ventures by mentoring, coaching, nd providing access to resources and capital. TechLaunch has supported over 50 tech companies and mentored over 100 aspiring entrepreneurs. In 2006, he founded Casabona Ventures, investing in over 30 seed and early stage companies. In 1982, he founded Electro-Radiation Inc., which was acquired by Honeywell International in 2004. Full bio: http://casabonaventures.com/investor-profile/

TOM MASTROBUONI is CFO of Tyson New Ventures, the corporate venture capital division of Tyson Foods, where he is responsible for sourcing investment, valuing and monitoring the portfolio. Tom was the Chief Financial and Compliance Officer at Advance Vixeid Partners, a growth equity firm affiliated with Advance Publications; the Chief Financial and Compliance Officer at RedBird Capital Partners; Senior Vice President of Finance at The Electrum Group; and the Chief Financial and Compliance Officer at Augusta Columbia Capital Group. Tom has 14 years of experience in alternative asset management. Full bio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-mastrobuoni/

STEVE SOCOLOF has been a technology investor for 20 years, and a founding Managing Partner of New Venture Partners LLC since 2001. At NVP, Steve raised $580M across three funds. Steve focuses on investments in semiconductors, software, storage, and wireless technologies. He is currently a director of EverSpin Technologies, GainSpan Corporation, NVMdurance, and Vasona Networks. He was recently a director of various companie sold to Descartes Systems, BD, Cisco, Intel and Murata. Prior to forming NVP, Steve led an internal incubator for Lucent’s Bell Laboratories. Full bio: http://techcouncilventures.com/index.php/team/stephen-socolof/

JOAN ZIEF is an active investor in early-stage high-growth companies and has been leading deals for Golden Seeds since 2008. Prior to 2008, Joan was a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs. Her 40-year career as an equity research analyst specializing in insurance and financial institutions spanned the Wall Street investment banks of Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch as well as several buy-side firms. She was highly ranked on the Institutional Investor “All American Research Team” for 10 years. Full bio: http://www.goldenseeds.com/venture-capital/joan-zief