Angel investors, business groups to host investment ‘summit’

<p>ROHNERT PARK – Five local public and private groups are working up a stimulus package of their own to keep the entrepreneurial spirit and investment dollars flowing in the North Bay.</p><p>The Sixth North Bay Growth & Innovation forum put on by the city of Santa Rosa, the Santa Rosa Chamber and the North Bay Angels in May will be followed almost immediately with the first North Bay Investors Summit in June.</p><p>The innovation forum, to be held on May 13 at the Hyatt Vineyard Creek, is open to the public and offers new and established companies a chance to pitch their business plans to a panel of investors for evaluation and critiques.</p><p>The summit, produced by the Sonoma Mountain Business Cluster with the Keiretsu Forum and the North Bay Angels on June 10, is open only to selected startups and established companies’ accredited investors. “We’re working hand in glove with the Growth and Innovation organizers,” said business cluster Executive Director Michael Newell.</p><p>The Investor Summit will become an annual or biannual adjunct event to the Growth and Innovation Forum, intended to offer broad, concrete investment opportunities to members of angel groups from all over the greater Bay Area. About 150 will be invited to attend.</p><p>Of 10 companies chosen to present, four will be selected from the best of the companies screened at the six Growth and Innovation Forums. Six will be selected from companies already funded by the North Bay Angels and Keiretsu for portfolio fortification opportunities.</p><p>All presenting companies will be located in the North Bay, and all will be technology companies. SEC regulations prevent the summit from being open to the public, said Mr. Newell.</p><p>According to David Hehman, chairman of the North Bay Angels, the summit will give North Bay entrepreneurs a broader range of opportunity.</p><p>“The more angels involved, the greater the specialized knowledge of each potential investor, and the larger the network of business contacts,” he said.</p>