CEWIT and Sensor CAT are delighted to present the next in our series of “how to” workshops for entrepreneurs, early phase companies, inventors, and anyone thinking of becoming an entrepreneur. Our All-Star cast of speakers is ready to present technology agnostic information on topics such as seed funding, crowd funding, profile of a fundable company, intellectual property, types of corporate entities, and other relevant topics. Save the Date: April 21, 2015, 8:30AM-2:30PM
Presenters include Gavin Grusd of Silverman Acampora, Anthony Bennett of Hoffmann & Baron, Lori Hoberman of Hoberman Law Group, Gary Kane of Chimera Strategies, Alon Kapen of Farrell Fritz, Neil Kaufman of Abrams Fensterman, Russell Artzt of CA Technologies (Co-Founder), Andrew Hazen (Serial Entrepreneur), Leslie Whatley of START-UP NY, and with a special Welcome by Yacov Shamash, Vice President of Economic Development and Dean of CEAS at Stony Brook University.
Note: Registration for this Workshop is now fully subscribed. We thank you for your interest and hope to see you at our next event, UL Approval Seminar on May 21, 2015. Questions or concerns regarding the Workshop, or any upcoming CEWIT events, may be directed to info@cewit.org.
8:30 AM • Registration & Refreshments
9:00 AM-9:15 AM • Welcome • Dr. Yacov Shamash
9:15-9:30 AM • Overview of Workshop and NYSTAR/SBU Aid to Companies • Lawrence Weber
9:30-10:00 AM • Which Type of Corporate Entity is for You? • Gavin Grusd
10:00-10:30 AM • Protecting Your Edge: Your Intellectual Property • Anthony Bennett
10:45-11:15 AM • What is the Profile of a Fundable Company? • Lori Hoberman
11:15-11:45 AM • Seed Funding, Crowd Funding • Alon Kapen
11:45 AM - 12:15 PM • Considerations Pursuant to Licensing Contracts • Neil Kaufman
12:15 12:45 PM • Lunch
12:45-1:30 PM • Panel: Ways to Succeed Without Securing Investment Funds • Daniel Magnus & Andrew Hazen
1:30-2:00 PM • How to Form Your Exit Strategy • Gary Kane
2:00-2:30 PM • StartUP NY • Leslie Whatley
Yacov Shamash, Vice President for Economic Development & Dean, College of Engineering
and Applied Sciences, Stony Brook University
As Vice President, Dr. Shamash supervises the University’s four incubators, two New
York State Centers for Advanced Technology, the Center of Excellence in Wireless and
Information Technology (CEWIT), the Advanced Energy Center of Excellence (AEC), the
Small Business Development Center, the workforce development programs of the Center
for Emerging Technologies and the Strategic Partnership for Industrial Resurgence
(SPIR). During his tenure as Dean, College research expenditures have increased six
fold to $30M per year. He spearheaded the effort leading to formation and funding
of CEWIT, including its dedicated 100,000 s.f. facilities opening in 2009. CEWIT generated
over $150MM in corporate commitments, matching a $50MM state capital award, and has
completed over 500 industry and federal projects.
Anthony Bennett, Partner, Hoffmann & Baron, LLP
Anthony Bennett is a partner in the firm’s New York Office and has experience in a
broad range of matters concerning patents, trademarks, and copyrights. His practice
includes rendering patent validity and non-infringement opinions, and drafting and
prosecuting patent applications. Mr. Bennett also has significant experience in trademark
matters which include counseling clients on brand selection, conducting trademark
clearance investigations, and prosecuting trademark applications. He also has experience
in appeals before the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the United States
Supreme Court. Prior to earning his law degree, Mr. Bennett worked as an engineer
for Grumman Aircraft Systems and Festo Corporation. Fields of technology include mechanical
and electromechanical arts.
Gavin C. Grusd, Partner, Business Law Group, Silverman Acampora, LLP
Companies and business owners in almost every industry turn to Gavin for advice in
nearly every aspect of their businesses. He regularly assists clients with business
formation and structure, and provides sound advice regarding the relationship of business
owners in operating, shareholder and partnership agreements. When financing is sought,
Gavin shepherds new and established companies through the often complicated worlds
of angel financing, private equity, venture capital, loan transactions, and private
and public offerings. When a merger or acquisition is in order, he routinely represents
either side of a strategic and financial acquisition or sale. Gavin also represents
public companies in all aspects of securities regulation, compliance, and reporting
matters. His business acumen and experience enables him to effectively guide clients
through the most complex commercial, licensing, e-commerce, technology development,
distribution, and manufacturing contracts and transactions in a way that the business
aspects of a deal are not lost to the lawyers.
Andrew is a successful entrepreneur with 20+ years experience in Domain Name Investing & Development, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Paid Search (PPC), eMail Marketing, Social Media Marketing and Custom Bobbleheads (yes, bobbleheads!). In both 2007 & 2008 the company he founded was listed on the INC List of Fastest Growing Companies in the US. Thereafter Andrew sold the business in 2007 to private investors and again in 2011 to a public company. In 2012, Andrew founded Angel Dough Ventures (www.AngelDough.com), which is a startup accelerator for new business ideas and opportunities that are identified, internally developed, and launch new products & services. Angel Dough Ventures presently has a dozen Portfolio companies including AllBobbleheads.com (the world’s largest custom bobblehead retailer), BagelOfTheMonth.com (largest online retailer of NY bagels), eGifter, LaunchPad, BSafe Electrix, 4 Hour Protection & more.
Lori S. Hoberman, Founder, Hoberman Law Group
Lori S. Hoberman is a well-known force in the in the New York City venture community.
As a lawyer and mentor, she advises entrepreneurs and their investors on how to build
successful businesses and strategically guides them through the emerging, later stages
and exits of their companies. Lori works with client copmanies in a range of technology
industries, while counseling angel and institutional investors in their investments
and in the formation of investment funds. After years of leading startup company practices
at large firms such as Fish & Richardson and Chadbourne & Parke, Lori decided to become
an entrepreneur. Lori sustains Mentorship of 37 Angels and chairs the NYC Chapter
of the MIT Enterprise Forum. A co-founder of several companies, all of her clients
followed her to the new, Hoberman Law Group. Forbes has commented that Hoberman differs
from other lawyers in that -- “She not only knows people, she connects the dots between
the entrepreneur and the resources needed."
Gary B. Kane, MBA, CFA, Founder & Managing Partner, Chimera Strategies LLC
Gary B Kane, MBA, CFA has extensive experience both on Wall Street and on Main Street
in various roles such equity research, corporate development, business development,
consulting and corporate financial planning and analysis. Mr. Kane has a Bachelor’s
degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Finance. He also is a CFA
or Chartered Financial Analyst and 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. Currently, Mr. Kane is the Founder & Managing Partner of
Chimera Strategies LLC. [We provide strategic advisory services on 1) business sales & divestitures and 2)
business acquisitions using M&ALite™or traditional investment banking processes and procedures simplified and priced for
the Lower Middle Market.]
Alon Y. Kapen, Partner, Emerging Companies & Venture Capital, Farrell Fritz P.C.
Alon Y. Kapen is a corporate attorney who focuses on representing entrepreneurs, emerging
growth companies and their individual and institutional investors. He counsels entrepreneurs
and emerging growth companies in the formation of business entities, structuring agreements
among founders, negotiation of capital raising transactions, compliance with securities
laws, structuring employee incentive arrangements and development of effective corporate
governance. Alon also guides investors in the organization of private investment funds,
the negotiation of various stages of equity, debt and convertible funding transactions
and the planning and implementation of exit strategies.
Neil M. Kaufman, Partner & Chairman, Abrams, Fensterman, Fensterman, Eisman, Formato,
Ferrara & Wolf, LLP
Neil M. Kaufman is a partner and chairman of the corporate department at Abrams, Fensterman,
Fensterman, Eisman, Formato, Ferrara & Wolf, LLP. Mr. Kaufman represents public companies,
private companies and investment firms in their corporate, securities, financing,
borrowing, merger & acquisition and other legal matters. His clients range from early
stage growth companies to mature public companies in a wide range of industries, including
software, internet, manufacturing, distribution and services. He well known for advising
clients with respect to SEC regulation, public offerings, private placements and mergers
& acquisitions, as well as all types of commercial contracts. Mr. Kaufman, a frequent
speaker on legal subjects, is also Chairman of the Long Island Capital Alliance (LICA);
a director of Financial Executive International-Long Island Chapter (FEI); a member
of the corporate advisory board of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL); and formerly
served as Chairman of the board of directors of Vizacom Inc.; in addition to sustaining
many other affiliations.
Daniel Magnus, Co-Founder KLD Labs, Inc.
Dan, along with his brother Steve, began a railway journey 26 years ago based on the
development of laser imaging technology for the automated safety inspection of railways.
To date, KLD has deployed over 400 systems operating in 32 countries and has changed
how the world’s railways are managing their assets. Mr. Magnus’ extensive research
and business development experience acquired over the past two decades has enable
KLD Labs to organically grow and be self-funded. Dan received a bachelor’s degree
in applied mathematics from Stony Brook University and a master’s in computer science
from Polytechnic Institute of New York. He is an active member of the Transportation
Research Board’s Committee on Railway Maintenance, AREMA’s Committee 2 on Track Measuring
Systems and an Industrial Advisor to Center for Advanced Technology in Diagnostic
Tools and Sensor Systems (Sensor CAT)
Lawrence Weber, Business Development Manager and Entrepreneur in Residence for CEWIT
and the Sensor CAT at Stony Brook University
Lawrence Weber provides a portal to collaborative R&D opportunities at SBU, and to
associated resources and programs. He serves companies with a New York address in
his dual capacities with the Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology
(CEWIT), and the Center for Advanced Technology in Diagnostic Tools and Sensor Systems
(Sensor CAT), each sponsored by NYSTAR. His outreach includes companies at all stages.
For start-up companies and inventors, he provides an entrepreneurial resource in strategic
and funding matters. An award winning scientific researcher early in his career, Weber’s
background is also punctuated by his Ph.D. in physical chemistry, and new product
launches in the chemical process, electric power generation, and wireless devices
industries, together with goals accomplished in worldwide technical business development
in Fortune 1000 and multiple start-up company settings.
Leslie Whatley, Executive Vice President, START-UP NY
Ms. Whatley has had an accomplished career in Real Estate prior to joining New York
State as the Executive Vice President of the Start-Up NY program. Most recently she
served as Global Head of Corporate Real Estate at Morgan Stanley. Prior to that she
was the Global Head of Corporate Real Estate at JPMorgan Chase, and earlier in her
career she held several leadership positions in GM’s Real Estate staff. She has served
as the Chairman of the Board of CoreNet Global, the global real estate association,
and is currently a member of the Executive Board of the NYU Schack Institute of Real
Estate.