Take a minute to view the highlights from LICA's January Technology Forum.
The Long Island Capital Alliance Showcases Healthcare Companies at Capital Forum
Save the Date: Technology Capital Forum on January 30, 2015
Melville, NY – November 20, 2014 – 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 Healthcare Capital Forum held on Friday, November 7, 2014. The event provided an opportunity to bring together capital providers, entrepreneurs, industry executives and businesses seeking capital, as well as to hear a panel of industry experts discuss financing alternatives for healthcare businesses on Long Island.
Five local healthcare products and services companies presented their business plans to an audience that included venture capital firms, investment banks, private equity firms, angel and individual investors. Each of the companies LICA selected for presentation at the capital forum possesses unique intellectual properties with catalysts for significant growth.
“The market for Long Island healthcare and life science companies is improving and we are proud to help bring these companies forward at our Capital Forums,” said Neil Kaufman, Chairman of LICA. “Through our Healthcare and Biotechnology Capital Forums, we have now provided access to capital and business developments assistance for 22 companies. We are pleased with the support that the local investment community is showing to many promising businesses that leverage the LICA platform.”
“The presenters were very strong,” said David Calone, a panelist and CEO of Long Island-based venture capital and private equity firm Jove Equity Partners. “I am focused on the Long Island eco-system. It was exciting to see a number of strong Long Island companies who are continuing to grow and seek additional capital on Long Island.”
“I was very impressed by the caliber of the presenting companies and the caliber of the panel,” said fellow panelist Clayton Besch III, who also serves as Director of the Small Business Technology Investment Fund at Empire State Development. “I was anxious to meet more local investors, both Angels and professional investors, to consider co-investment with.”
Joseph Scaduto, Founder and CEO of Traverse Biosciences, commented, “We sincerely appreciated the opportunity to present at the LICA Healthcare Forum, and we compliment the organization on attracting a number of exciting bioscience companies from the region with high-quality presentations.” He added, “We are grateful for LICA’s ongoing efforts to identify and engage active members of the investment community to more seriously consider a growing deal-flow from Long Island across a range of high-technology industry sectors.”
Healthcare Capital Forum Presenting Companies
The following companies made presentations at the Long Island Capital Forum:
AdMedDev: Affiliated with Stony Brook University, AdMedDev provides advanced sensors and wireless medical electronic devices used in tracking and analyzing data associated with medical specimens. The market size for this business is estimated at $3 billion and may service over 7,500 hospital and large health care providers.
Anschel Technology: Founded in 2011, Anschel produces the SightSaver™, a patented FDA approved device for eliciting visual evoked physiological responses. There are over 2 million operations performed annually that can cause post-operative visual loss. SightSaver provides a hygienic, safe, comfortable, and effective alternative to current solutions.
PAXmed: As creator of four venture backed medical device companies, the company is a vehicle to accelerate the development of device start-ups utilizing capital efficiency strategies to enhance value creation and return on invested capital.
Symbiotic Health: Develops powerful microbiome-based therapeutics to cure and prevent infection caused by the depletion of symbiotic microbes due to antibiotics, addressing a $4.8 billion market.
Traverse Biosciences: Based out of Stony Brook University’s Center for Biotechnology, Traverse is commercializing a proprietary pipeline of drug candidates to treat inflammatory diseases and age‐related conditions affecting humans and companion animals. FDA approval is being sought for a lead drug intended to prevent canine periodontal disease.
Healthcare Capital Forum Panel of Industry Investors
The following investment professionals participated in the panel discussion at the Long Island Capital Forum:
David Calone, Jove Equity Partners: David Calone is the CEO of Jove Equity Partners, LLC, a firm that manages private equity and venture capital investments. He serves on the Board of Directors of eight privately-held companies. Mr. Calone previously served as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Honors Program where he received a 2003 Attorney General’s Award for his work in fighting terrorism-related and corporate international crime. Mr. Calone also served as a Special Assistant Attorney General in the New York State Attorney General’s Office and was an associate at Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison in New York. He has a degree in economics from Princeton University and received a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
William Ho, AlephPoint Capital: William Ho founded AlephPoint Capital, a healthcare equity hedge fund, in 2014. Prior to AlephPoint, in 2010 he joined New Leaf Venture Partners, a leading healthcare venture capital fund, to launch the firm’s efforts in the public equities markets. Previously, he has held senior positions on a derivatives trading desk of ICAP plc, as an equity research analyst covering the biotechnology industry at Bank of America, and at Piper Jaffray & Co. covering the biotechnology and life-sciences tools sectors. Earlier in his career, Mr. Ho held an operational role at CuraGen Corporation, a genomics biotechnology company, where he twice restructured the company, and was an associate in the healthcare investment banking group at SG Cowen. He holds an MBA from the University of Notre Dame and a BS in Biochemistry from McMaster University in Canada.
Antony E. Pfaffle, M.D., CorMedix Inc.: Dr. Antony E. Pfaffle is Chief Scientific Officer of CorMedix, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company. Dr. Pfaffle is the Advisory Chief Medical Officer at ParagonRx, which creates pharmaceutical safe programs. He has been the Director of Healthcare Research at Bearing Circle Capital, L.P., an investment fund, since May 2007. He was a Managing Director at Paramount BioCapital, Inc. and Senior Vice-President of Business Development at Paramount BioSciences, LLC from December 2005 to May 2007. Dr. Pfaffle was a Principal and Founder of Black Diamond Research, an investment research company, from July 2001 to December 2005. He is an internist who practiced nephrology at New York Hospital, Lenox Hill and Memorial Sloan-Kettering, and received his M.D. degree from New York Medical College in 1989.
Clayton Besch III, Empire State Development: Clayton Besch is Director of the Small Business Technology Investment Fund (SBTIF) at Empire State Development. The SBTIF provides early stage high-tech companies throughout New York with a potential source of venture capital to promote new job creation and economic growth. Previously, Mr. Besch worked at the New York State (NYS) Department of Economic Development, where he ran the Asian Office, introducing NYS companies to sales opportunities in Japan and Korea and introducing Japanese companies to strategic opportunities in NYS. He also spent a number of years at SOFTBANK INC. as development advisor, working with SOFTBANK’s worldwide VC network, including GrandBanks Capital, Mobius Ventures and SOFTBANK Capital Partners. Mr. Besch is currently an observer on the boards of e2e Materials and Float Tech Inc. Mr. Besch holds a BS from Hamilton College in NYS, an MS from Nagasaki University and a PhD from Tokyo University.
Next LICA Capital Forum
LICA is hosting a Technology Capital Forum on Friday, January 30, 2015 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at 68 South Service Road, Melville, NY. The capital forum provides 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 technology companies from the Long Island and the surrounding region.
For more information about the event, please contact LICA today or register online.
About the 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) 367-1866
jdarrow@darrowir.com
Melville, NY – October 16, 2014 – The Long Island Capital Alliance (“LICA”), Long Island’s leading non-profit capital formation and business development organization, today announced the presenting companies and investor panelists for its Healthcare Capital Forum to be held on Friday, November 7, 2014. The capital forum will help accelerate the growth of healthcare businesses on Long Island.
Five local healthcare products and services companies will present their business plans to an audience that will include venture capital firms, investment banks, private equity firms, angel and individual investors. Each of the companies LICA selected for presentation at the capital forum possesses unique intellectual properties with catalysts for significant growth.
Healthcare Capital Forum on November 7, 2014 – Participants
Panel of Investors
The following investment professionals will participate in the investor panel at the Healthcare Capital Forum:
Delphine Mendez de Leon, Huron Consulting: Delphine Mendez de Leon is Managing Director of Wellspring+Stockamp for Huron Healthcare at Huron Consulting Group Inc. She has extensive healthcare experience in operations, strategic and financial planning, and business development. Since 2001, she also has been a manager at Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, Inc., a healthcare strategy transformation consulting firm, where she manages healthcare system strategy transformation, ... span of control and overhead improvement efforts, and served in various capacities with The Brooklyn Hospital Center and Long Island-based American Medical Alert Corp. Ms. Mendez de Leon holds an MBA from Columbia University School of Business and a Masters in Public Health from Columbia University School of Public Health.
Presenting Companies
LICA is hosting the Healthcare Capital Forum on Friday, November 7, 2014 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at 68 South Service Road, Melville, NY. The capital forum provides 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 healthcare products and services companies.
Save the Date: Health Care Capital Forum on November 7, 2014
Melville, NY – August 4, 2014 – The Long Island Capital Alliance (“LICA”), the leading non-profit capital formation and business development organization serving regional companies, today announced the successful completion of its Consumer Products Capital Forum held on Thursday, July 24, 2014. The event provided an opportunity to bring together capital providers, entrepreneurs, industry executives and businesses seeking capital, as well as to hear a panel of industry experts discuss financing alternatives for consumer products businesses on Long Island which was moderated by LICA President and Board Member Corey Massella.
Five local consumer products companies presented their business plans to investors, including attendees from venture capital firms, early stage investors, investment banks, private equity firms, angel and other individual investors. Each of the companies LICA selected for presentation at the capital forum possesses unique consumer and brand appeal with catalysts for significant growth which will be attractive to investors.
“We are pleased to have showcased a strong group of companies for Long Island Capital Alliance’s second annual Consumer Products Capital Forum,” said Neil Kaufman, Chairman of LICA. “Although held during the summer when attendance is typically reduced, we are pleased to continue to exceed our target attendance expectations. This proves that our highly selective process for identifying attractive, growth-oriented businesses based in our region is attracting an audience.”
“I enjoyed speaking to an interesting and engaging audience. A lot of people came up to talk to me afterwards with suggestions for follow up and ideas for business development in ways I hadn’t expected. I'd like to express my appreciation to Neil Kaufman for his valuable preparatory comments on my PowerPoint presentation,” said Dr. Daniel Farb, CEO and presenter for Flower Turbines.
“As a presenting company at the July 24th LICA event, we found the process well worth the time and the people involved wonderful to work with. Each aspect, including the preparation process and the event, was well organized and provided useful feedback and advice. The panel of experts and the moderator Corey Massella provided specific direction that has already helped the company,” said Ellie Whalen, Founder/CEO and presenter for Sprayology.
“I found each of the companies to be interesting in its own way. I liked the fact that the companies were each in different industry subsectors. The panel was helpful with its incisive questioning and perceptive opinions. The panel provided the managements with suggestions for making their respective presentations clearer and more effective,” commented Harris Berenholz, a panelist and portfolio manager with Carpe Diem Advisors.
“A quality event. Very well organized and very well run. The panel and attendees were professional and knowledgeable and the feedback was helpful,” noted Bill Maier, CEO of Digital Impact Group.
Consumer Products Capital Forum Presenting Companies
Admiral Tech: SpaceMaker Outdoor Flooring extends your outdoor lifestyle by creating dry living areas and useful storage zones while protecting your foundation from water damage. Digital Beverages: Digital Beverages’ revolutionary and eco-friendly product, MyFountain, is a digitally controlled beverage dispensing machine which allows users to create their own personal beverages and with one touch, dispensable at work, at home or commercially. Digital Impact Group: Digital Impact Group creates, produces and distributes digital content for all forms of media and specializes in seamlessly integrating branding and products with digital content to create “media brands.”
Flower Turbines: Flower Turbines has unique aerodynamic designs for small vertical axis wind turbines with advantages that facilitate mass production, a mass sales model and a growth model similar to solar.
Sprayology: Sprayology is a unique and modern health & wellness brand that develops and markets a broad range of FDA-regulated homeopathic & vitamin oral sprays.
Consumer Products Capital Forum Panel of Industry Investors
Harris Berenholz, Carpe Diem Advisors LLC: Mr. Berenholz is the founder of investment management firm Carpe Diem Advisors LLC. Mr. Harris's career spans over 35 years on both the buy-side and sell-side, with significant experience in the consumer product and retail sectors. In addition to making investments in small public and private companies, Carpe Diem provides and markets investment ideas, research and analytical services primarily to independent investment managers, hedge fund managers and family offices.
Michael Felman, MSF Capital Advisors: Michael Felman is President and CEO of MSF Capital Advisors, a global multi-family office/merchant bank. His firm represents family offices and high net worth individuals in their investing activities.
Mark I. Lev, Aracle Capital: Mr. Lev is Co-Founder and Managing Director of Aracle Capital and has raised capital for emerging growth companies for over 30 years.
Steve Warsaw, Miller Tabak: Mr. Warsaw oversees the firm's investment banking efforts and has nearly 15 years of investment banking, private equity and corporate finance experience, concentrating in consumer products and retail businesses.
LICA is hosting a Health Care Companies Capital Forum on Friday, November 7, 2014 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at 68 South Service Road, Melville, NY. The capital forum provides 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 health care companies from the Long Island and surrounding region.
darrow@darrowir.com
Melville, NY – July 17, 2014 – The Long Island Capital Alliance (“LICA”), the leading non-profit capital formation and business development organization serving regional companies, today announced the presenting companies and panelists for its Consumer Products Capital Forum to be held on Thursday, July 24, 2014. The capital forum is being held in an effort to facilitate raising capital to accelerate the growth of consumer products businesses on Long Island.
Six local consumer products companies will present their business plans to investors, including attendees from venture capital firms, investment banks, private equity firms, angel and other individual investors. Each of the companies LICA selected for presentation at the capital forum possesses unique consumer and brand appeal with catalysts for significant growth which will be attractive to investors.
Consumer Products Capital Forum on July 24, 2014 – Participants
The following investment professionals will participate in the investor panel at the Consumer Products Capital Forum:
Admiral Tech: SpaceMaker Outdoor Flooring extends your outdoor lifestyle by creating dry living areas and useful storage zones while protecting your foundation from water damage.Digital Beverages: Digital Beverages’ revolutionary and eco-friendly product, MyFountain, is a digitally controlled beverage dispensing machine which allows users to create their own personal beverages and with one touch, dispensable at work, at home or commercially. Digital Impact Group: Digital Impact Group creates, produces and distributes digital content for all forms of media and specializes in seamlessly integrating branding and products with digital content to create “media brands.”
Kitchen Table Bakers: Kitchen Table Bakers manufactures a line of 100% Baked Parmesan Crisps that are wheat-free, gluten-free, sugar-free and low in carbs, which have become a staple of both the specialty food and health food market.
LICA is hosting the Consumer Products Capital Forum on Thursday, July 24, 2014 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at 68 South Service Road, Melville, NY. The capital forum provides 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 consumer products companies.
Save the Date: Consumer Products Capital Forum on July 24, 2014
Melville, NY – May 15, 2014 – The Long Island Capital Alliance (“LICA”), the leading non-profit capital formation and business development organization serving regional companies, today announced the successful completion of its Biotech Capital Forum held on Friday, May 9, 2014. Held in collaboration with North Shore-LIJ Health System’s Feinstein Institute for Medical Research and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, the event provided an opportunity to bring together capital providers, entrepreneurs, industry executives and businesses seeking capital, as well as to hear a panel of industry experts discuss financing alternatives for biotechnology companies on Long Island which was moderated by LICA Board Member Michael A. Lane.
Seven local biotechnology companies presented their business plans to investors, including attendees from venture capital firms, investment banks, private equity firms, angel and other individual investors. Each of the companies LICA selected for presentation at the capital forum possesses unique technologies and catalysts for significant growth which are attractive to investors.
“The Long Island Capital Alliance’s second annual Biotech Capital Forum was a resounding success on multiple fronts, and we thank North Shore-LIJ Health System’s Feinstein Institute for Medical Research and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory for their contributions,” said Neil Kaufman, Chairman of LICA. “Over 100 attendees joined us for the three hour event. 14 follow-up dialogues with potential investors have already been reported to us by five of the presenting companies, and we are confident that many more will follow. Another benefit of the capital forum is the opportunity for networking, which in this case resulted in one of the presenting companies considering engaging a highly experienced business leader in attendance at the event for its CEO position.”
“This was my first time at a LICA event. I found the presenting companies to be involved in breakthrough research, their presentations were engaging and the presenters well prepared. These companies are definitely worthy of funding. This is a real tribute to LICA,” said Doug Jamison, a panelist and Chief Executive Officer of biotech investment fund Harris & Harris Group.
“The quality of the presenting companies was excellent, as was the quality of the discussions after the event. It is clear that Long Island will continue to be a source of major innovation for a long time to come,” said James Ryan III, a panelist with seed investor and venture capital firm Scout Ventures.
“The presentation at LICA was a great experience and I enjoyed meeting with a number of like-minded entrepreneurs,” said Pavel Osten, who presented for Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s Certerra, Inc.
“As an early-stage company seeking to raise capital, CirrusHealth was pleased to be part of LICA's Capital Forum. The opportunity has led to a number of high-potential follow-up conversations and was an excellent networking opportunity,” commented Thomas Thornton, who presented for Feinstein Institute for Medical Research’s CirrusHealth.
“The LICA forum gave us a great opportunity to showcase our company and network with qualified investors. The forum provides start-up companies with an invaluable source of connections, promoting fruitful partnerships,” added Isabel Aznarez, Ph.D., who presented for Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s ASOThera.
Biotech Capital Forum Presenting Companies
ASOThera: Developing new therapies for orphan diseases based on technology developed at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and already proven by Big Pharma.
Autoimmune Therapeutics, Inc.: Developing orally-available drug candidates to treat autoimmune disease, with initial focus on rheumatoid arthritis, based on proprietary small molecule scaffolds and pharmaceutical leads that inhibit macrophage migration inhibitory factor.
Certerra, Inc.: Contract research organization specializing in central nervous system with technology based on single neuron-level monitoring of mammalian brains.
CirrusHealth: Electronic discharge system to improve doctor patient communications.
DepYMed: Joint venture between CSHL and Ohr Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: OHRP) to develop a drug for obesity, diabetes and HER2 cancer based on trodusquemine and related analogs.
Envisagenics, Inc.: Big data software solution that significantly reduces uncertainty and time to market for drugs under development.
TheraSource, LLC: Developing protein/peptide-based drugs based on MFG-E8 for inflammatory diseases, including sepsis, hemorrhagic shock, ischemia/reperfusion-induced injury, stroke, acute radiation syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease.
Biotech Capital Forum Panel of Industry Investors
Doug Jamison, Harris & Harris Group: Doug Jamison is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Harris & Harris Group (NASDAQ: TINY), a leading early stage biotech investment fund. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Ancora Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and a Board observer in ABS Materials, Inc., Mersana Therapeutics, Inc., Solazyme, Inc., Nextreme Thermal Solutions, Inc., and Metabolon, Inc.
James Ryan III, Scout Ventures: James Ryan is Controller at Scout Ventures, a technology seed and venture fund. In addition, he is the Founder and CEO of The IllumiFi Group, an ‘Outsourced CFO’ for entrepreneurial firms.
Joe Proto, Windham Venture Partners: Joe Proto is a founder and general partner of Windham Venture Partners, a leading life sciences technology venture capital firm. He also is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Transactis Inc., sits on the Board of Directors of BillMyParents, and is a limited partner and advisor in Metamorphic Ventures.
Steve Winick, Topspin Partners: Steve Winick is a principal of Topspin Partners, one of Long Island’s leading venture capital firms. He presently serves as a Director of Thermolift, Inc., Celmatix, Inc., Setpoint Medical, Inc., Mirimus, Inc., GenDX, Inc. and Certerra, Inc.
LICA is hosting aConsumer Products Capital Forum on Thursday, July 24, 2014 from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at 68 South Service Road, Melville, NY. The capital forum provides 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 consumer products companies.
About The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
Headquartered in Manhasset, NY, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research is home to international scientific leaders in many areas including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, psychiatric disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, sepsis, human genetics, pulmonary hypertension, leukemia, neuroimmunology, and medicinal chemistry. The Feinstein Institute, part of the North Shore-LIJ Health System, ranks in the top 6th percentile of all National Institutes of Health grants awarded to research centers. For more information, visit www.FeinsteinInstitute.org.
About Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Founded in 1890, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) has shaped contemporary biomedical research and education with programs in cancer, neuroscience, plant biology and quantitative biology. CSHL is ranked number one in the world by Thomson Reuters for impact of its research in molecular biology and genetics. The Laboratory has been home to eight Nobel Prize winners.
Today, CSHL’s multidisciplinary scientific community is more than 600 researchers and technicians strong and its Meetings & Courses program hosts more than 12,000 scientists from around the world each year to its Long Island campus and its China center. Tens of thousands more benefit from the research, reviews, and ideas published in journals and books distributed internationally by CSHL Press. The Laboratory's education arm also includes a graduate school and programs for undergraduates as well as middle and high school students and teachers. CSHL is a private, not-for-profit institution on the north shore of Long Island. For more information, visit www.cshl.edu.
LICA Collaborates with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research on the Event
Melville, NY – May 1, 2014 – The Long Island Capital Alliance (“LICA”), the leading non-profit capital formation and business development organization serving regional companies, today announced the presenting companies and panelists for its Biotech Capital Forum to be held on Friday, May 9, 2014. The capital forum is being held in collaboration with North Shore-LIJ Health System’s Feinstein Institute for Medical Research and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in an effort to facilitate raising capital to accelerate the growth of biotech businesses on Long Island.
Seven local biotechnology companies will present their business plans to investors, including attendees from venture capital firms, investment banks, private equity firms, angel and other individual investors. Each of the companies LICA selected for presentation at the capital forum possesses unique technologies and catalysts for significant growth which will be attractive to investors.
“We are pleased to be collaborating for a second time with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and welcome The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research in participating in our Biotech Capital Forum,” said Neil Kaufman, Chairman of LICA. “These two world-class research institutions have developed seven very promising companies which will present at our Biotech Capital Forum. The volume and magnitude of research being conducted there continues to produce compelling growth companies, enabling LICA to present its Biotech Capital Forum for the second consecutive year, and we hope to continue to do so annually. We are also excited to have an extraordinarily accomplished investor panel provide their insight on these presenting companies and on biotech industry investment trends.”
Biotech Capital Forum on May 9, 2014 – Participants
The following investment professionals will participate in the investor panel at the Biotech Capital Forum:
Cirrus Health: Electronic discharge system to improve doctor patient communications.
LICA, in collaboration with The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, is hosting the Biotech Capital Forum on Friday, May 9, 2014 from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at 68 South Service Road, Melville, NY. The capital forum provides 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 bio tech companies.
For more information on LICA and its next event, please LICA today or register online.
Save the Date: Biotech Company Capital Forum May 9, 2014
in collaboration with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and
Feinstein Institute for Medical Research at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Medical System
Melville, NY – March 25, 2014– The Long Island Capital Alliance (“LICA”), the leading non-profit capital formation and business development organization serving regional companies, today announced the successful completion of its Technology Company Capital Forum held on March 7, 2014. The capital forum provided an opportunity bring together capital providers, entrepreneurs, industry executives and businesses seeking capital, as well as to hear a panel of industry experts discuss financing alternatives for technology companies which was moderated by LICA President Corey Massella.
Each of the companies LICA selected for presentation at the capital forum possessed unique technologies and catalysts for significant growth which will be attractive to investors. These investment opportunities include companies that offer cloud-based software-as-as-service solutions, internet applications, digital media services, online advertising, manufacturing technologies, and mobile device and healthcare IT platforms.
“Our Long Island Capital Forum delivered an impressive lineup of exciting technology growth companies,” said Neil Kaufman, Chairman of LICA. “These companies had an opportunity to present their business plans the highest number of investors we’ve had in attendance since LICA has begun this industry-focused series of capital forums, highlighted by an outstanding panel discussion among four leading technology investors. The entire LICA board is gratified that our presenters and investors were significantly interested in each other.”
“As a presenter at the Long Island Capital Alliance Technology Company Capital Forum, I experienced a professionally managed forum with an opportunity to share our early stage company with a diverse group of potential investors,” said Douglas Schmohl, CEO of FlightPartner. “With guidance from Neil Kaufman, we were able to refine our pitch and gain the interest of two capital management groups.”
“I found the companies presenting at the LICA Technology Companies Capital Forum to be very interesting with tremendous potential. A few could be IPO ready in just a few months, which would create high tech and high paying job opportunities right here on Long island,” said Steve Lichaw, an investment banker for Stern Aegis Group and a panelist at the event.
“LICA was a great experience for me. As a start-up CEO, I pitch at many Angel events, but it's not often that I have such a quality experience speaking with audience members after the event,” commented Jenna Dreher Fernandes. “Everyone was excited about my company, CareBooker, and wanted to speak about how they could help and introductions they could make. LICA proves that there is a vibrant investor hub on Long Island! I look forward to attending again in the future.”
Technology Company Capital Forum Presenting Companies
RingLead, Inc.: provides its clients with powerful, affordable, and easy-to-use data quality solutions to clean, protect and enhance their customer and prospect data, driving increased ROI in sales and marketing investments.
Carebooker: A centralized platform to find, book, and pay for all types of in-home family care services, including child care, pet care, tutoring and lessons, sports and fitness, senior care, and more.
Dashbid: Increases publisher’s video advertising revenue using proprietary, data-driven, automated ad sales algorithms.
FlightPartner: A provider of a superior central reservations platform for the business and luxury travel industry that fully automates the booking method for private jet travel and facilitates the provisioning of travel services by its suppliers to its customers.
Imcosys: Designs, builds, and markets smartphones, tablets and eReaders offering customers maximum value through open customized product platforms.
Mobile Health One, Inc: Developer of a single sign-on system for securely accessing, consolidating and communicating healthcare information among care professionals, patients and data from unconnected locations.
Technology Company Capital Forum Panel of Industry Investors:
Michael Taglich, a capital markets veteran with more than 27 years of financial industry experience. He is the Chairman and President of Taglich Brothers, Inc., a New York City and Huntington, Long Island, New York based securities and private equity firm.
Swatick Majumdar, a Managing Director of Digital Entertainment Ventures, a startup and early stage capital investment firm focused on companies that transform media and entertainment.
John Ason, a professional investor for over 16 years, specializing in early stage pre-revenue companies.
Steve Lichaw, a Managing Director in the Stern Aegis Group of Aegis Capital, which focuses on assisting private growth companies to raise capital and eventually go public. About the 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.
30 Years of Promoting Local Capital Formation and Business Growth; Expansion Continues with New Affiliations and Programs after Three Decades
Education Initiatives Strengthened -- LICA Endorses Proposed Legislation for New York Education Investment Tax Credit
Technology Company Capital Forum Scheduled for March 7; Upcoming Capital Forums to Cover Biotech, Consumer Products
Melville, NY – February 25, 2014– The Long Island Capital Alliance (“LICA”), the leading non-profit capital formation and business development organization serving regional companies, is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2014. Recognized as the nation’s oldest venture capital group, in 2012 LICA undertook a transformation to extend into the investment community beyond traditional venture capitalists, which had been its primary investor constituency since its formation in 1984. Today, LICA’s reach includes private equity firms, financial advisors and high net worth individuals, as well as venture capitalists, reflecting the organizations mission to facilitate growth capital investments of over $1,000,000 in local companies. LICA’s presence and contributions to the local business landscape are more significant than ever.
“As we celebrate our 30th year as the most recognized voice for regional business funding and capital infusion, we acknowledge with gratitude the efforts of our volunteer Board of Directors and our growing number of members, partners and sponsors,” said Neil Kaufman, Chairman of LICA. “Our success and staying power honors the legacy of our founders, including the late Herman Fialkov, who established our course with a singularly focused, independent mission for funding local companies and promoting local economic development. Through our capital forums, networking events and educational endeavors, LICA has since its inception successfully aided dozens of local companies. Our results are unparalleled, as we have facilitated the funding of over $200 million of growth capital and the creation of many local jobs.”
Recent of Many LICA Success Story
In 2012, LICA held a Cyber Security Capital Forum in partnership with the Long Island Forum for Technology (“LIFT”), a LICA Sponsor, and Long Island Software & Technology Network (“LISTnet”), to showcase some of the region’s finest cyber security companies in need of private investment and other business development assistance. Among the expert panelists LICA hosted for this event were Russell M. Artzt, co-founder and former Chairman of CA Inc. (NASDAQ: CA) and an inductee of Long Island Technology Hall of Fame; Robert Brill, Founding Managing Partner of Newlight Management; James McIlree, a Wall Street equity research analyst specializing in cyber/defense technologies for nearly 20 years; and William Reinisch, a Partner at Palladin Capital Group, a leading venture capital firm. Among the presenting companies was A+ Technology and Security Solutions Inc., a surveillance systems company based in Bay Shore, NY.
A+ was started by David Antar in 1989 with a mission to take world-class customer service into the educational marketplace. Since that time, A+ has grown into a national and international provider of technology solutions to customers ranging from Fortune 500 companies nationwide to major city school districts locally and abroad, hospitals, government organizations and private corporations. To aid in this expansion, Mr. Antar presented at LICA’s Cyber Security Capital Forum.
As a result of the LICA event, an attendee introduced Mr. Antar to Westbury Partners, a Hauppauge-based private equity fund which has approximately $200 million under management. Westbury Partners invested $12 million in A+ in March 2013. Armed with this new capital infusion, A+ continues to hire staff and grow as a leader in IT, audio/visual, security and instructional technology.
LICA Capital Forums and Partnership Strategy
Throughout its 30 years of existence, LICA has evolved to meet the needs of a changing region while capitalizing on marketplace trends. LICA now presents quarterly capital forums that focus on significant local industries, while creating alliances with local professional organizations and utilizing social media to increase awareness and participation. The common denominator in LICA’s efforts remains sustainable job and wealth creation through private sector investments in growth businesses.
In recent years, LICA has pursued an aggressive strategy of forming alliances with major Long Island business organizations. This strategy leverages LICA’s legacy of facilitating financing activity on Long Island and the benefits from its position as a leading repository of information related to various forms of business financing. These alliances are intended to assist LICA in institutionalizing a united and organized effort to stimulate economic development and the creation of meaningful companies and jobs on Long Island. As a result, LICA’s highly regarded Capital Forums has seen record levels of attendees and presenting companies across a broad spectrum of industries.
In coordinating the Capital Forum series, LICA has partnered with local organizations including the Long Island Forum for Technology (“LIFT”), Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Long Island Software & Technology Network (“LISTnet”), Accelerate Long Island and Social Media Association, Inc.
Upcoming Events
LICA’s next event is its Technology Company Capital Forum on Friday, March 7, 2014 from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at 68 South Service Road, Melville, NY. The capital forum provides 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 technology companies. Each of the companies LICA selected for presentation at the capital forum possesses unique technologies and catalysts for significant growth which will be attractive to investors. These investment opportunities include companies that offer cloud-based software-as-as-service solutions, internet applications, digital media services, online advertising, manufacturing technologies, and mobile device and healthcare IT platforms.
After that, LICA’s next capital forum will feature Biotech companies. LICA will present this event in collaboration with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and the Feinstein Institute at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Medical System, both locally-based world-class institutions.
On July 29, LICA will host a capital forum for Consumer Products.
On November 7, LICA will feature healthcare companies at its final capital forum of 2014.
Educational Programs
In addition to providing access to capital and funding sources, LICA has in recent years expanded its initiatives to create an ecosystem of education, stewardship and consultation as part of its efforts to assist in the development of local emerging growth companies. To this end, LICA has strengthened its Board of Directors through the appointment of seasoned business executives, professional services providers and successful entrepreneurs.
LICA provides its presenting company management teams with presentation coaching for investment purposes, editorial review of collateral material, and recommendations for presenting company business plans and slideshows.
Among recent appointments to its Board of Directors to support its educational initiatives, LICA added
Further to its education efforts, LICA announced today that it is pleased to endorse the proposed legislation for a New York Education Investment Tax Credit. According to the “Invest in Education” campaign website (www.investined.org) which is supporting a New York Education Investment Tax Credit, the passing of this bill is intended to boost investment in New York’s public and nonpublic schools through an education investment tax credit so that every school and teacher has the resources necessary to provide the best educational opportunities for the students, families and citizens of New York State. The Investment Tax Credit legislation (Senate bill S.4099-A) passed the State Senate last year. Moving to the State Assembly, the bill (A.1826-B) has more than 100 sponsors in the 150-seat chamber. The bill is also supported by numerous labor, police and firefighter unions, an AFL-CIO affiliate, and other organizations. LICA’s Board of Directors views education as integral to future business innovation and workforce opportunities.
LICA Board of Directors
LICA and its initiatives are coordinated and managed entirely through the dedication of its exclusively volunteer Board of Directors. Board members include accomplished business executives, veteran members of the investment community, professional services providers and highly respected advisors in related professional service organizations. LICA’s Board of Directors include:
Neil Kaufman, Chairman
Partner and chairman of the corporate department at Abrams, Fensterman, Fensterman, Eisman, Formato, Ferrara & Wolf, LLP, one of Long Island’s largest full-service law firms.
Corey Massella, President
Partner at Citrin Cooperman, CEO of the firm’s SEC Solutions Group, Co-chair of the firm’s Technology Industry Practice and Transaction Advisory Service Group.
James Mattutat, Treasurer
Veteran finance department and investment management executive.
Irvin Brum, General Counsel
Senior partner at Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, where he is chairman of the firm’s Corporate & Securities Department.
Jeffrey L. Bass, Chairman Emeritus
CEO of Executive Strategies Group LLC, a strategic business advisory firm serving corporate executive management and boards of directors.
Jerry Allocca
President of CORE Interactive for over a decade, Mr. Allocca leads an award-winning team of Internet specialists and is a recognized Internet search engine marketing authority.
Argante Cappelli
Retired from Deloitte & Touche LLP with over 32 years of experience in all aspects of public accounting and business consulting.
Jordan M. Darrow
Founder and President of Darrow Associates, Long Island’s leading investor relations (IR) agency.
Sal Gervasi
Heads the New York City region for Insperity, a leading professional employee organization, and is an accomplished business leader who has helped small businesses succeed for over 25 years.
Ken Greene
Founder of Jericho Capital, which invests in public and private healthcare, Internet and B2B software companies, Mr. Greene also is a mentor at Launch Pad Long Island, a business accelerator, and LI Tech Comets, a start-up and tech incubator.
Michael Lane
With significant executive management and entrepreneurial experience, Mr. Lane’s career spans nearly 30 years in financial services.
George Likourezos
Partner at Carter, DeLuca, Farrell & Schmidt, LLP, one of the largest and most respected Intellectual Property law firms in the New York metropolitan area, and one that is nationally recognized for excellence.
Michael Violano
Member of the Audit practice at Grassi & Co., Mr. Violano focuses on accounting audits and reviews of both public and private companies ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500 Companies in the domestic and international markets.
LICA Sponsors
LICA acknowledges the following sponsors for supporting the organization with financial and in-kind contributions:
Platinum Level
Abrams, Fensterman, Fensterman, Eisman, Formato, Ferrara & Wolf, LLP
Carter, DeLuca, Farrell & Schmidt, LLP
Insperity
Long Island Forum for Technology (LIFT)
Gold Level
Citrin Cooperman
Deloitte LLP
Executive Strategies Group
MarketWired
Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C.
Grassi & Co.
Suffolk County IDA
The Corridor
About the Long Island Capital Alliance:
For more information on LICA and its next event, please contact LICA today or register online at http://www.licapital.org.
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