Hot Off the Virtual Press! The 2013 edition of "KU Finance" Special edition on KC's entrepreneurial finance scene

One of my pleasant duties is serving as faculty editor of "KU Finance." The current issue is out, and it focuses on the role played by KU alumni in Kansas City's vibrant startup community.  Kansas City has a long tradition of entrepreneurship illustrated by Marion Labs and Cerner. More recently, the growth of entities like ThinkBig Partners and the Pipeline Innovator program have added to the virtuous cycle. This publication is a bit KU-centric to be sure, but it captures what is going on. Check it out here:  KU Finance

Early-Stage Investing - the Video

The Kansas City entrepreneurial scene has been catching a wave.  This panel discussion with some leading regional entrepreneurs and investors brings to the fore some of the issues that arise when opportunity, energy and money mix. What does it take for entrepreneurs to be noticed by investors? Are there successful local entrepreneurs who can invest wisely and keep the virtuous cycle going? And a question you would think would be a yawner - are convertible notes a good thing? - generates lively debate, as well as insight into the roles of entrepreneurs, angels and VC's. Other tidbits: the Series A crunch is really two, one for Web 2.0 a sign of too much seed funding, and one for life sciences, a legacy of bad returns, long cycles and a dysfunctional exit ecology.  Plus some new thoughts on making early-stage investing more scientific and evidence-based, and much, much more. Enjoy!

My thanks go to Kauffman Foundation for its generous support and the panelists for their engagement. 

The video and list of presenters comes from the University of Kansas, School of Business web site (link below).  Also available here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NF4uviQ_xc

Early-Stage Investing

April 5, 2013, 8 am – 3:30 pm

Kauffman Foundation, 4801 Rockhill Road, Kansas City

Organized by George Bittlingmayer, University of Kansas

Supported by the Kauffman Foundation

7:30 am - Breakfast

8:00 - Panel on Current Trends

• Peter Brown, Grassmere Partners
• Dr. Nicholas Franano, MD, Novita Therapeutics
• Herb Sih, ThinkBig Partners
• Robert Wiltbank, Willamette University 

Moderator: Fred Coulson, Five Elms Capital

9:00 - 12:00 - Recent Research I

Robert Wiltbank, Willamette University, “The Role of Prediction in New Venture Investing,” (co-authored with Richard Sudek) Discussant: Joel Wiggins, Mid-America Angels Investments and Enterprise Center of Johnson County

9:50 - 10:10 - Break

Manuel Adelino, Duke University, "House Prices, Collateral and Self-Employment," (co-authored with Antoinette Schoar and Felipe Severino) Discussant: Robert W. Fairle, UC-Santa Cruz

Ann Kovner, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, "Doing Well by Doing Good? Community Development Venture Capital"? (co-authored with Josh Lerner) Discussant: Julia Sass Rubin,Rutgers University

Noon - 1 p.m. - Lunch

Vladimir Mukharlyamov, Harvard University, “The Cost of Friendship,” (co-authored with Paul Gompers and Yuhai Xuan) Discussant: Chris Rider, Emory University

Laura Lindsey, Arizona State University,"Economic Ties in Co-Investment Networks: Evidence from Venture Capital," (co-authored with Yael V. Hochberg and Mark M. Westerfield). Discussant: Anne Marie Knott, Washington University, St. Louis

https://businessdev.drupal.ku.edu/early-stage-investing