Capital Call: Growth & Exit Strategies for Early-Stage Companies

Join us for an engaging and informative webinar designed specifically for early stage founders and decision makers. This 90-minute session will delve into the critical aspects of growth and exit strategies, providing you with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate these crucial phases of your business journey.

Topics Covered

Why Discuss Exits Early: Understand the importance of planning your exit strategy from the start and how it influences your business decisions.
Navigating Growth and Efficiency: Learn how to scale your business effectively while maintaining operational efficiency.
Key Terms and Concepts: Gain clarity on essential terms such as LOI (Letter of Intent) and due diligence, ensuring you are well-prepared for the exit process.
The Five Exit Strategies: Explore the different exit strategies available and determine which one aligns best with your business goals.
The Importance of Timing: Discover how timing plays a critical role in maximizing the value of your exit.
Revenue and Value Equations: Learn how to assess your business's worth and understand the financial metrics that matter.
Timing and Preparation: Get insights into the preparation needed for a successful exit, including when to start planning.
Identifying and Qualifying Potential Buyers: Understand the process of finding and vetting potential buyers for your business.
International Aspects and Regulatory Considerations: Navigate the complexities of international transactions and regulatory requirements.
Expertise and Advisor Team: Learn the value of building a strong advisory team early on and how they can support your growth and exit strategies.

Our panel of three subject matter experts will guide you through the session, each bringing a wealth of experience in their respective fields:

Systematic Growth: Insights on how to grow your business systematically and sustainably. – John Foster
Preparing for Exit: Strategies and best practices for getting your business exit-ready. – Elizabeth Hodgson
Exit Process: A step-by-step guide to the exit process, from initial discussions to closing the deal. – Ed Barone

Don't miss this opportunity to equip yourself with the knowledge and strategies to successfully navigate growth and exit phases. Register now to secure your spot and take the first step towards a well-planned and profitable future for your business.

This session is moderated by John Sider, Vice President of Business Development, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Central and Northern Pennsylvania.

Meet the presenter

John P. Foster is a seasoned executive with over 30 years of leadership and management experience across diverse industries including finance, healthcare, real estate, and publishing. As Managing Member of PathFinder Group, he specializes in growth and transition planning, process improvement, and leadership development for family businesses. John has served on several boards, including Flanigan’s Enterprises and BayCare Behavioral Health, and is a Founding Member of the Tampa Chapter of the Private Directors Association. He holds an MBA from the University of Tampa, where he also teaches as an adjunct professor, and is a Certified Professional Business Coach.

Meet the presenter

Ed is a seasoned Wealth Manager, Certified Business Exit Consultant and Certified Mergers & Acquisition Advisor. He has over 24 years experience in Wealth Management, providing holistic financial planning, and asset management to high-net worth families, entrepreneurs, and Institutions. The last 14 years, Ed has focused on advising business owners on all the life stages of a business from start up to selling their business. Ed leads an ensemble of experts providing a holistic plan encompassing all business, family, and legacy objectives. His team collaborates with tax, legal and M&A advisory teams through the exit of businesses to ensure family, financial and business goals are achieved.

Ed previously held the position of Vice President, Senior Client Advisor for Wilmington Trust, where he led a team of wealth and fiduciary professionals who provided institutional asset management, legacy planning for generational wealth, and business exit planning for privately held businesses.

Ed is Pennsylvania College of Technology alumni with an associate degree in Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts Certificate. Prior to changing careers in 2000, he worked in Washington DC for the Marriott Corporation and ARAMARK Corporation for 12 years as Executive Chef and Food Beverage Director managing $10+ million revenue businesses.

Meet the presenter

Liz Hodgson represents companies and their founders and investors in every stage of a company’s lifecycle from formation to exit. She works closely with clients to help them start, grow, and sell businesses and serves as outside general counsel on day to day matters to help align their business objectives with their legal needs. Her expertise includes: choice of entity; corporate governance; corporate finance; private equity and venture capital transactions; securities offerings; commercial contract preparation and review; intellectual property protection, licensing, and commercialization; mergers and acquisitions; restrictions on foreign investment and acquisition of U.S. companies and the review process conducted by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS); and day-to-day general corporate matters.

She has vast experience working with companies and closely held businesses in the life sciences, biotechnology, technology, health care, software, and information technology sectors, and is particularly passionate about working with female founders, investors, executives, and entrepreneurs. She combines her legal skills and own entrepreneurial spirit to identify with and deliver for her clients.

Meet the presenter

John Sider created "Capital Call", the Ben Franklin quarterly session he moderates that links entrepreneurs in the BF CNP ecosystem to active, early-stage investors in the region. John is an accomplished professional in private, public, and non-profit sectors. With a wide-ranging experience in debt and equity financing as well as senior-level management appointments. John is an expert in program development and execution for economic development activities focused on innovation, entrepreneurship, and redevelopment. He is highly skilled in communications, financial analysis and business development and a frequent presenter/moderator on early-stage capital formation issues at venues that have included: International Commercialization Forum, US Treasury, National Academy of Sciences, National Governors Association, State Science and Technology Institute and more.

Capital Call: Growth & Exit Strategies for Early-Stage Companies