RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK — Seven RTP executives representing several different firms are joining forces to play matchmaker between entrepreneurs and early-stage investors.
The Triangle Accredited Capital Forum is already on track to host its first event on Oct. 19th when up to three firms will be invited to make presentations to a select group of potential financial backers. There are no fees charged.
“These are send and angel round private investors,” says Bill Warner of Paladin and Associates. He is one of the seven founders. “The companies are looking for their first private investor round after the friends and family money has been exhausted.”
In these days of fewer venture capital deals, early stage money is at a premium. Especially hard to find is angel money, entrepreneurs say, since so many angels were players in the technology boom of the late 1990s and 2000 and where burned badly when the “dot com” and telecom balloons burst.
Warner, who also is a contributor to Local Tech Wire as a guest columnist, says the seven organizers will be on the lookout for promising startups and will control who attends each event. The first event will beat the First Flight Center in RTP.
:The directors invite the investors, and only invited investors may come to the event,” Warner says. “Yes, they can request an invitation as well.”
In looking for companies, Warner adds, “We tap into local sources to learn about new businesses, and our website is a place to send business plans.”
In addition to Warner, the other members are:
For details about the group, see: www.capital-forum.com
