Long Island Capital Alliance Completes Consumer Products Capital Forum

Save the Date: Technology Capital Forum on September 16, 2016

Melville, NY – May 19, 2016 – The Long Island Capital Alliance (“LICA”), Long Island’s leading non-profit capital formation and business development organization, today announced the successful completion of its Consumer Products Capital Forum held May 6, 2016. The capital forum featured presentations by five Long Island companies which are building businesses around innovative consumer products that reflect the latest trends and conveniences to enhance daily activities and lifestyles.

Highlights included:

• An audience of approximately 80 attendees, which included venture capital firms, investment banks, private equity firms, and angel and high net worth investors.
• Many Long Island and New York City based investors along with other regional business professionals.
• Keynote speaker Keith D. Drayer,Vice President and General Manager of Henry Schein Financial Services. Henry Schein Inc. is one of Long Island's largest public companies and the world's largest provider of health care products and services to office-based dental, animal health and medical practitioners.Mr. Drayer discussed the many paths to success for young companies through proper financing and strategic partnerships.
• A panel of industry investors reviewed each of the presenting companies and provided expert insights into the valuation and investment processes typically applied by investors.
• The industry investor panel was led by Michael A. Lane, LICA Board Member and President of Long Island-based Real Content Media Group, Inc., who recently secured his company’s second round of financing.

“Our Consumer Products Capital Forum was very well attended and marks another successful event for our organization as we strive to improve the local business landscape,” said Neil Kaufman, Chairman of LICA. “In April we launched our Entrepreneur Educational & Mentoring Series, which is intended to provide professional guidance, mentoring and assistance to the next generation of business leaders and employers on Long Island. This series, along with our quarterly Capital Forums which showcase companies seeking capital, are proving to be a vital resource to the resurgence of early stage and high growth regional businesses.”

"Our Company, EZ Pocket Eyewear was honored and appreciative to be invited as a presenting company at the recent Long Island Capital Alliance Forum. It was an excellent opportunity to introduce our EYEFolds innovative folding frame eyewear line to an engaged, interested and knowledgeable consumer products investor audience. Congratulations and thanks for hosting an excellent and informative gathering," said presenter Wayne Rubin, Founder and CEO of EZ Pocket Eyewear, LLC.

Consumer Products Capital Forum Presenting Companies

The following companies presented their business plans:

Chroma-Fish:  Platform for quantification of color-change chemical reactions using smartphone cameras, initially targeting the fish tank maintenance market.

Commute Safety LLC: A smart phone application package that produces a safer driving experience, reduces injuries and insurance accident cost, and improves driver safety by providing highly accurate driver behavior, trip travel mileage monitoring and live traffic data. 

EZ Pocket Eyewear: An e-commerce, wholesale, & manufacturing company which develops iconic styled, high quality and affordable folding sunglasses, sun readers, readers and prescription frames designed for easy use and transportability.

MeVee: A free social media live streaming platform that shares advertising revenue with content creators.

Quikiks-Hands-Free Shoes: The first fully supportive, totally hands-free operable shoes.

Consumer Products Capital Forum Panel of Investors

The following investment professionals participated in the investor panel at the Consumer Products, Manufacturing and Distribution Capital Forum:

Robert Hussey: Mr. Hussey is a seasoned financial, marketing, and operations executive focused on advising private equity and institutional investors.  He founded and managed the first NASDAQ IPO and ultimate sale to News Corp of POP Radio, which became the country's largest direct broadcast satellite network. He is currently the Lead Board Director of CPXi, a top 10 US independent digital media company.  

Gary B. Kane, CFA: Mr. Kane is the Founder and Managing Partner of Chimera Strategies which provides investment banking services to small businesses. Mr. Kane is a CFA – Chartered Financial Analyst - and has extensive experience both on Wall Street and Main Street in various roles such equity research, corporate development, business development, consulting, and corporate financial planning and analysis.  He is a member of the Long Island Business News’ 40 individuals under the age of 40.  LIBN considers award winners to be the rising stars in the Long Island business community.

Larry Nusbaum: Mr. Nusbaum is currently President of BioHarvest, a biotech consumer supplement company, and was formerly a Managing Director of Vertex Capital, a fund which invests in early stage private companies.  Mr. Nusbaum has a 25 year track record in maximizing sales, and creating operating efficiencies for early stage start-ups, turnarounds, and expansions for mid-size companies in the consumer brand, direct marketing, and multi-media space. He has served as CEO for a number of renowned companies, including Ronco.

Next LICA Capital Forum—Technology Companies

LICA is hosting a Technology Capital Forum on Friday, September 16, 2016 from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at 68 South Service Road, Melville, NY, 11747. The capital forum will provide an opportunity to meet capital providers, entrepreneurs, industry executives and businesses seeking capital, as well as to hear a panel of industry experts discuss financing alternatives for emerging companies.

About Long Island Capital Alliance

Since 1984, the Long Island Capital Alliance (www.licapital.org), formerly known as Long Island Venture Group, has been promoting business growth on Long Island. LICA seeks to create a productive and business-friendly environment that will afford area businesses access to the resources necessary to compete successfully in today's markets. LICA serves as a focal point for the exchange of ideas among new and existing business enterprises, successful entrepreneurs, investors, and service providers. Through quarterly capital forums and special meetings, LICA brings together members of the region's business community, and has been recognized as the place to turn to when small businesses need equity, debt, or other financing, or for investors to find an attractive investment opportunity.

LICA's mission is to encourage economic development on Long Island by facilitating capital formation for a broad range of companies in various industries, from early stage to mature, middle market, closely held and publicly-traded businesses. LICA accomplishes this primarily through education, networking, quarterly capital forums, periodic special educational meetings, and alliances with other regional organizations. LICA brings together members of the region's business community and serves as the finance arm for significant local business and organizations.

For more information on LICA and its next event, please contact LICA today or register online.

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Contact:

Jordan Darrow

Darrow Associates, Inc.

631-766-4528

jdarrow@darrowir.com