In October we held our first Experts Corner and can declare it a rousing success.  (Of course, you know we’ll be tweaking the format but overall, the offer to talk one-on-one with various experts was greeted with great enthusiasm.)  We’re going to keep it going.  This is your opportunity to ask experts in a variety of different areas, specific questions.   Of course, one of the best things about MassInno is that you find yourself surrounded by experts all evening.  Just ask!

And, thanks again to our “hosts” Navisite for onsite refreshments and CHEN PR is again offering to buy the first round at Biagio’s for the after-party. If you would like to be considered for an expert slot, please use the “Contact Us” form so we can get you on the waiting list for an open slot in your area of expertise.)

The November Expert Class:

Fresh Ground Communications — a new marketing firm with partners Chuck Tanowitz and Todd Van Hoosear at the helm.  Regular Mass Inno attendees will know Chuck who has been a regular “Friend of MassInno” and has previously supervised the demo pit and helped coordinate last month’s Expert’s Corner.  Todd is a founding member and interim director of the Boston Social Media Club.  They will be on hand to help you with your PR and social media challenges.

VC Ready Law is back from last month’s team.  For more information on the organization, check out their website or last month’s description.  (Editorial note:  Ben and Michael have been instrumental in organizing the Experts Corner chats, helping us connect with their VC-ready world and contacts, and working out schedules, as well as advising Dan and Bobbie on the whole starting a company process.  Thanks, guys!)

LaunchCapital is also coming back — they were in such high demand last month!  (Editorial note:  15 minutes probably isn’t really enough time for a full-on pitch but the LC team is open to questions, conversation and connecting.)

We’re adding Silicon Valley Bank to the list.  Pete McDonald is a Relationship Manager with SVB Silicon Valley Bank’s Emerging Technologies practice.  Pete leads SVB’s efforts in New England, providing banking services to hundreds of early-stage technology and life science start-ups.  A majority of his portfolio consists of companies working towards raising their first round of equity.  As part of his role, he acts as a resource for these companies as they begin the fund raising process, including business idea feedback, plan/slide deck review, and insight into the current investment climate.  Pete has been with SVB for over 15 years beginning as an analyst in the Bank’s Boston office and relocating to Virginia as part of the founding team in the Mid-Atlantic region.   Pete moved back to Boston in 2000.

How about an entrepreneurial coach?  Elli St.George Godfrey has always been passionate about supporting people to find a way to be their best. Combining a background in psychology and her work with entrepreneurs, she has developed a 3 Keys model that incorporates where each client is in the entrepreneurial life cycle. It utilizes her clients’ abilities which build on success to propel business and personal growth. By utilizing short-term coaching cycles, Elli and her clients focus on how and who runs the business by integrating the coaching with a process that measures results that can be seen in the bottom line and in each person.

By partnering with her clients, it is easier to take risks, transform organizations, and build successful businesses with accountability as an integral piece. Her clients feel confident in identifying and developing strategies to be more effective leaders, plan more creatively, innovate, and overcome the fears and obstacles that interfere with building their businesses according to their vision.

In the finance department, we are lucky to have Dick Woodrich joining us this month.  Woodrich has more than three decades of senior accounting and financial management experience, having served as Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President, and Senior Vice President at a number of life sciences companies.  Before joining his current employer, Accounting Management Solutions, he most recently served as acting CFO for an early-stage, publicly-traded biopharmaceutical company where his accomplishments included managing a $58 million public follow-on offering, disposing of $1.4 million in excess assets, implementing a strategic planning process for information technology, and strengthening the finance and accounting departments.

Earlier, he helped to raise $36 million in venture capital and private equity in a Preferred C round and oversaw the in-licensing of more than 30 patents from government and corporate sources for another company. Richard also had served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for a biopharmaceutical company, as well as President, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Director for an early stage developer of ophthalmic drugs.  His experience also includes serving as CFO of a telecommunications company where he participated in the turnaround of the company leading to a successful acquisition by a publically-traded high tech company.

Puneet Gangal, Principal at Aciron Consulting is a 14 year technology consulting professional with a major part of his career being with the “Big 4″ consulting firms. He has been providing consulting services in Business Strategy and technology innovation for a variety of clients of all sizes.  Puneet has earned an excellent  reputation in the marketplace with Aciron Consulting, providing advice that helps small businesses take advantage of today’s technology solutions to achieve and sustain growth in a competitive landscape.

So, don’t forget to RSVP now — it’s a great chance to “see and be seen.”  See you soon!

Part of the appeal of Mass Innovation Nights is the more than ample opportunity for networking.  With that in mind, starting in October, we’re adding a new feature to our event.  We’re setting aside a corner of the venue (the back room off the ballroom) for one-on-one conversations with a group of volunteer experts who have committed to helping out our innovators, entrepreneurs and prospective entrepreneurs.

One thing we’ve heard several times is that one thing the Massachusetts innovation community could do better helping out the newcomers.  There seems to be the perception (deserved or not) that we aren’t as free with our advice.  That young entrepreneurs don’t have  a circle of advisers whom they can call upon whenever they need a little guidance.  So, we’re going to create that network at Mass Innovation Nights, at least for some of you.  What do you need help with?

Our October 14 Experts (with thanks of course to the BIG group of people who helped to coordinate this gathering and to the people who have offered to be future experts):

• Teresa Kalinowsky, Accounting Management Solutions, Inc. has more than 20 years of hands-on experience in accounting and finance with in depth knowledge of core business operations and external reporting. Teresa has worked with early stage and publicly traded technology companies providing hands-on support with their financial reporting, budgeting, cash flow analysis, acquisition due diligence and integration analysis.
• VC Ready Law Group helps Boston-area entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses by providing legal and organizational guidance during the formative early stages of a company’s existence. We draw upon our experience working with dozens of start-up companies and venture capitalists to advise our clients on how to avoid many of the pitfalls start-ups face on their path from formation to obtaining venture capital financing.
• Branko Gerovac, CEO, Video in the Cloud, For over 25 years, Branko has led developments at the forefront of technology and market advances, and regularly produces game changing innovative products across the interplay of computing, communications, and media.  He has held senior executive positions, providing leadership in technology development, business planning, product development, and customer and partner relations.  Previous positions include: Chief Strategy Officer and Founding CEO, Blackwave Inc.; Vice President of Research and Chief Technology Officer, SeaChange Inc.; Associate Director, MIT Research Program on Communications Policy; Visiting Scientist, MIT Media Lab; FCC Advisory Committee on Advanced Television Service (ACATS); Consulting Engineer, Digital Equipment Corporation.
• The Square Roots team at Square 1 Financial, Mark Loranger  — partners with entrepreneurs and their nascent companies to form the foundation of a banking relationship built to last through the full lifecycle of a growth oriented startup. By combining startup-focused banking services with extensive early stage domain expertise, Mark plays a key role in the entrepreneurial ecosystem that drives these young companies towards their development goals and funding objectives.  Square 1 Bank is a full service commercial bank dedicated to providing tailored financial services to venture capital firms and the entrepreneurs that are seeking and have received venture capital investment. Backed by an experienced team, our knowledge and strong capital base provide a solid foundation to support our clients through all stages of growth.  Square 1 is active from coast to coast with offices in ten locations. For more information, we welcome you to our website,  or just give us a call—we’re here with answers.
• LaunchCapital — Heather Onstott and Tom Egan — LaunchCapital is dedicated to seed stage funding for all types of businesses. We combine the dedication, direct experience and organization of a traditional venture capital firm with added flexibility, focus and speed. Our industry agnostic investment approach includes two unique investment vehicles to address funding needs for a range of business models.
• Kevin Kosh — Based in Waltham and providing strategic media and analyst relations services for more than a decade, CHEN PR partners with companies ranging from rapidly growing startups such as Boston-Power and SpaceClaim to established market leaders that include Phase Forward and Sophos.

NaviSite will supply the onsite drinks and ice.  CHEN PR will be sponsoring the after-party at Biagio’s.  We’ll also have the team from the the MIT Enterprise Forum Auto-ID & Sensing Solutions group, who will have a table with info about their upcoming FREE event, the Auto-ID & Sensing Expo – Oct 27th at MIT, our media sponsor, Mass High Tech, AND our team of innovators for the month.