One of the primary obstacles early-stage entrepreneurs face is the lack of awareness around the complex landscape of capital options. With limited exposure to sources of financing, early-stage entrepreneurs may struggle to identify which option aligns best with their business goals and growth trajectory. Additionally, the ability to build relationships with potential investors or lenders and demonstrate market potential and a strong value proposition can be difficult with limited resources and competition. For underrepresented entrepreneurs, these obstacles can unfortunately be greater. What can be done to overcome these challenges?

The Center is thrilled to be joined by Geri Stengel, President at Ventureneer, for an important conversation on capital strategy. Geri understands the unique capital challenges that entrepreneurs of all kinds face and has worked with thousands to help them align their vision with their strategic goals. Her insight will provide you with a framework to make informed decisions around your capital needs so that you and your business can remain on a sustainable trajectory of success. Join us to learn how best to assess your options and secure the capital your business needs to grow and succeed.

Key Takeaways:

• Aligning your capital needs with your vision, your values and your ‘why’.
• How to clearly identify your strategic goals before exploring capital options.
• How to find and secure the right capital option for your business.

OUR SPECIAL GUEST

Amy L. Simmerman

A Wilson Sonsini Practice Leader

A leader of Wilson Sonsini’s Delaware office and governance practice

Comprehensive Experience in Delaware Law

Amy’s practice focuses on providing advice on all aspects of Delaware corporate law and related corporate governance issues, including fiduciary duties, mergers and acquisitions, stockholder activism, corporate formation, stock issuances, preferred stock investments, and various statutory matters

Amy Simmerman is a partner in the Wilmington, Delaware, office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. Amy is a leader of the firm’s Delaware office and governance practice. Her practice focuses on providing advice on all aspects of Delaware corporate law and related corporate governance issues, including fiduciary duties, mergers and acquisitions, stockholder activism, corporate formation, stock issuances, preferred stock investments, and various statutory matters. Amy regularly represents special committees of boards of directors in mergers and acquisitions, internal investigations, and other matters, and she provides corporate advice in the context of governance litigation.

Amy frequently speaks and publishes on Delaware law and governance issues and has guest lectured at Harvard Law School, the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and UC Hastings College of the Law. Within Delaware, she has served on a committee of the Council of the Corporation Law Section of the Delaware State Bar Association to vet potential amendments to the Delaware General Corporation Law. Amy is also a member of the Board of Advisors of the Institute for Law and Economics at the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Founder and President, Ventureneer

“A baby boomer with the heart and soul of a millennial” describes Geri best. She grew up believing that dedicated, thoughtful people can change the world by working together.

She is a believer still. In fact, Geri is even more committed to the possibility of meaningful change because she realizes that we have a huge, untapped resource: Women!

For the last few years, Geri has researched and written about the challenges women face in the entrepreneurial world and the success factors that help them break through barriers, whether they are starting a business or scaling to a multi-million dollar enterprise.

Geri’s passion to get women on the radar as leaders of mega-firms led her to write Forget the Glass Ceiling: Build Your Business Without One. To find out best practices for investment crowdfunding — a great alternative for women entrepreneurs! — Geri undertook a successful rewards-based crowdfunding campaign herself and published the results in Stand Out in the Crowd: How Women (and Men) Benefit from Equity Crowdfunding [add link]

Geri is a questioner and a builder, and is passionate about eliminating barriers to entrepreneurial aspirations.

Geri’s accomplishments include:

• Mentor for WE NYC: 2016 to present
• 2015 Madam C.J. Walker Business Leadership Award from the National Minority Business Council.
• 2013 and 2012 Small Business Trends Small Business Influencer
• Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at The New School
• Facilitator, Kauffman Foundation FastTrac courses for entrepreneurs
• Researched and published Ditch Digital Dabbling: How Small Businesses + Nonprofits Can Master Online Marketing
• Former board member for the New York City Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners. Was on the board for eight years.