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INVEST ATLANTIC 2011!
We enjoyed a very successful event!
For information on what is to come follow us on Twitter with @Invest_Atlantic.
Over 160 delegates are expected to Atlantic Canada’s 2nd annual investment conference focused on the raising of equity capital by existing businesses looking for expansion, growth, and/or partnerships. Addressing one of the critical challenges for innovative early- to mid- and even-late stage businesses, INVEST ATLANTIC is an investor-friendly meeting place for investors, entrepreneurs, organizations providing services to the investment and financial sectors and individuals interested in becoming investors. Our industry experts will provide coaching techniques and address how to raise money from venture capital funds, angels, investment firms, government agencies and other investors.
You will leave INVEST ATLANTIC understanding how to prepare your business for investment – everything from preparing a business plan to devising an exit strategy! What’s more INVEST ATLANTIC provides the region’s best opportunity for networking between entrepreneurs, investors, key financial players, institutions, government agencies, and intermediaries.
| Time | Session | |||||
| 6:00 - 8:00am | Exhibitor Setup (Investors' Café Area) | |||||
| 7:30 - 8:15am | Registration for Delegates | |||||
| 7:30 - 8:15am | Welcoming Refreshments (Investors' Café Area) | |||||
| 8:10 - 8:30am |
Opening Remarks
by Gerry Pond, Conference Chair
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| 8:30 - 9:30am |
Sessions Track "A" Introduction to Investing and EntrepreneurshipThis panel of experts aims to educate novices in both entrepreneurship and investing. If you’re planning a business, we’ll help you understand how to develop your business and prepare to approach investors. If you have capital and want to back a rising star, we’ll teach you about angel investing. Moderator: Peter MacNeil, Director Venture Capital, Nova Scotia Business Inc. Panelists: Craig Rowe, CEO,
ClearRisk Inc., St. John's, NL Tanya Shaw, CEO,
Unique Solutions, Dartmouth, NS Denis Lanteigne, ACOA, Moncton, NB |
Sessions Track "B" Protecting your IP
If you have developed or licensed proprietary software, one question investors are sure to ask is what you’re doing to protect it. The obvious answer is to patent it, but it is difficult (and expensive) to defend your patent if a major corporation steals your idea. Our panel will discuss the various options for protecting your intellectual property. Moderator: Nicole LeBlanc, Investment Analyst, First Angel Network, Halifax, NS Panelists: Stephen Hartlen, Assistant Vice President (Industry Relations) and executive director of the Industry Liaison and Innovation Office, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS Nick Whalen, Partner, McInnes Cooper, St. John's, NL Kumaran Thillainadarajah, CEO, Smartskin Technologies, Fredericton, NB |
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| 9:30 - 10:30am |
Writing a Business Plan Your business plan should serve two purposes: it should be a roadmap for you to follow as you develop your business; and it should allow potential financiers to understand why your enterprise will succeed. Our panel of specialists will help you understand the tricks of the trades in crafting a solid business plan. Moderator: Brian Keefe, Director, Business Development, Innovation PEI Panelists: Toon Nagtegaal, Partner, THENEXTPHASE, Lunenburg, NS Daryl Genge, Director, Atlantic Canada Venture Gateway, St. John's, NL Ellen Farrell, CIBC Professor in Entrepreneurship & Venture Development, St. Mary's University, Halifax, NS |
Structuring your Startup Team What’s best for your company: a board of directors or a board of advisers? A full-time or part-time CFO? An in-house marketing staff or a freelance consultant? The correct answer is that it depends on the type of business you’re in. Our experts will discuss the pros and cons of the various options. Moderator: Rob Cowan, Partner, McInnes Cooper Panelists: Todd Murphy, CEO, Medrunner, Saint John, NB Brian Lowe, Co-founder & Director, First Angel Network, Halifax, NS John Rowe, President, Abbey Island Foods, Charlottetown, PE |
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| 10:30 - 11:00am | Networking & Refreshment Break (Investors' Café Area) | |||||
| 11:00 - 12:00pm |
Tapping Government for Expertise and Capital All levels of government offer a range of programs that can help entrepreneurs succeed. Some will help you attack export markets, while others offer mentorship and networking opportunities. Others offer various programs that can help to fund companies with potential. We will tell you about potential problems and help you choose programs that are best for your business. Moderator: Anne Thomas, Regional Director, Office of Small & Medium Enterprises, Atlantic Region Panelists: Barrie Black, Managing Director, Intelivote Systems. Inc., Dartmouth, NS
Thomas Rankin, Investment Manager, Innovacorp, Halifax, NS
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Social Media for Entrepreneurs Ever worry that you’re missing out on the easiest way to market your product? You’re not alone. We’re all familiar with the concepts of social media but it takes knowledge, discipline and often a big commitment to really benefit from the new marketing technologies. We’re bringing in a panel of expert to help to demystify social media. Moderator: Sean Williams, Principal, Sean Williams Marketing Group, Halifax, NS Panelists: Giles Crouch, Managing Partner, MediaBadger, Halifax, NS Saeed El-Darahali, President and CEO
SimplyCast, Halifax, NS |
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| 12:00 - 1:30pm |
Keynote Luncheon Address
Global Lessons for Investors in Atlantic Canada
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| 1:30 - 2:30pm | Approaching Silicon Valley
There’s only one Silicon Valley, and Canadian companies are beginning to make inroads into the Mecca of technology thanks to the creation of the C100 group. We’ll hear from a few Atlantic Canadians with inside knowledge of the best way to approach the Promised Land. Moderator:
Nancy Mathis, Executive Director
Wallace McCain Institute, Saint John, NB Panelists:
Matt Eldridge, CEO, Lymbix, Moncton, NB Jevon MacDonald, CEO, GoInstant, Halifax, NS
Robert Niven, President, CarbonCure Technologies Inc.
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| 2:30 - 3:30pm |
"Pitching" Den Four "Pitches" from capital-ready organizations from Atlantic Canada will be presented to an expert panel of investors in hopes of securing capital investment. Delegates will also be able to vote for their favorite "Pitch" with all results tabulated and announced during the reception. Moderator: Gregory Phipps, Director, Investment, Innovacorp, Halifax, NS Pitchers: Milan Vrekic, CEO, TitanFile, Halifax, NS Ed Clarke, CEO, Adfinitum, St. John's, NL Denis Kay, Chief Scientific Officer, Neurodyn, Charlottetown, PE |
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| 3:30 - 3:45pm | Networking & Refreshment Break (Investor's Café Area) | |||||
| 3:45 - 4:25pm |
The Regional Venture Capital Fund
Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have each committed $15 million to a new regional venture capital fund. It will be operated by the private sector and make investments in the region and beyond. We will take a look at the issues surrounding the fund, what investments it should make and how it should be managed. Moderator:
Tom Hayes, President & CEO,
GrowthWorks Atlantic, Halifax, NS Panelists: Dominique Bélanger, Director, Strategic Initiatives, Business Development Bank of Canada Gregory Smith, President, Canada's Private Equity & Venture Capital Fund Association Managing Partner, Brookfield Financial Toronto, ON |
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| 4:30 - 5:30 pm |
Delegate Reception All delegates are welcome to attend the conference reception. Cash bar. |
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