Exit Accelerator will take part at Mass Challenge Deep Dive on Growth and Exits
Join us on Wednesday October 4 15:00, for a highly interactive session where you, the audience, and the panelists co-create the discussion through buzz groups around topics such as :
- Time, costs, and risks involved in the exit process
- The emotional impact of an exit for entrepreneurs
- Lessons learned, what could have been done differently, and the surprises
- Negotiation experience, working with advisors, and dealing with the stakeholders
Some sample questions from earlier buzz groups :
- VCs, Angels, Funds, how does the exit strategy change?
- How to maximize the company value through strategic partnership?
- How many advisers one has to contact to get a good feel for what needs to get done?
- What is the main deal killer?
- How early do I need to think about exit? My investors are expecting me to answer this question, what do I say?
- How do I talk to my co-founders about exit strategy? They may have a different idea of timing.
Agenda
- Introduction about Exit Accelerator and presentation of the panelists
- Buzz groups and interactive panel discussions
- Buying startups and SMEs in Switzerland: M&A perspective
- Exit experience in Switzerland: Entrepreneurs perspective
- Networking Apéro
Event partner and host: Mass Challenge Switzerland
Facilitated by:
Sanja Fabrio, Rodney Reis, David Butler
Panelists
Michael Friedrich
Michael is a serial entrepreneur and currently serves as investor and CEO of DistalMotion, an EPFL spin-off developing next-generation surgical robots. Previously, he was CEO of Aïmago which he led from start to the successful exit to Novadaq Technologies in 2014. Aïmago was an EPFL spin-off, too, and developed medical cameras to easily and non-invasively visualize blood flow in skin. During his studies at EPFL (2001 to 2007), he led various projects including the development of a solar powered race car. Michael incorporated his first company while still in high-school, and sold it directly after graduation
Colin Turner
– 20 years’ Professional Investing in Start-ups
– Extensive Mentor and Angel Investor
– Numerous Exits : most recently managed a significant sale to US corporation of an Australian start-up
20 years of experience in venture capital, operations, fund-raising and as legal counsel. Colin has worked across 5 continents on over 200 investments, acquisitions, listings and divestments in companies operating in high-tech, health-care and bio-technology. Colin worked for Inventages, the “Nestle Fund”, (Geneva, Switzerland), Intel Capital (Swindon, UK, Silicon Valley, USA and Munich, Germany) and Motorola (London, UK and Chicago, USA) after earning an MBA from INSEAD (France) and qualifying as a lawyer (solicitor) with Clifford Chance (London and Kuwait).
www.risingstaraccelerator.ch
Jean de Wolff
Jean spent his entire 25 years long career in technology oriented companies, active domestically and internationally. He experienced the various development stages of companies; alternatively creator of new ventures that have been later successfully sold, senior Manager in large multinational companies (Kodak / Alcatel-Lucent) or board member. Jean de Wolff is currently serving as a board member of several technology oriented enterprises (idmobile.ch / switchplus.ch / tmconcept.ch / saphetor.com). Throughout his career he has participated in the successful exit of several companies (mnc.ch sold to Alcatel and homedia.ch sold to Sky) but has also in the liquidation of 2 start-ups.
Michel Jaccard
Michel is the founder of id est avocats, an award winning boutique law firm located in Switzerland focusing on delivering strategic and expert advice to successful startups, innovative companies and global brands in the fields of technology, media, intellectual property, privacy and cybersecurity.
Michel is also a widely respected corporate law specialist and has acted with his team on some of the most significant rounds of financing, strategic investments, acquisitions and divestitures in the technology sector in recent years in Western Switzerland, including several exits to major US buyers.
Michel was listed among the “300 most influential personalities” in Switzerland by Bilan Magazine and has received top rankings in tech | media | IT | IP and corporate | M&A by leading guides such as Chambers, Legal500 and Best Lawyers.
Marco Brunazzo
Investment Manager, PM Equity Partner
Marco used to be a professional swimming coach in his native Italy. He is an engineer versed in classical languages and combines deep financial and business planning expertise with solid all-round technical understanding.
After completing his MSc in Industrial Engineering from the University of Padova, he moved to the UK to join a tech start-up in the high-speed computing space.
He then decided to trade his favorite Guns N’ Roses T-shirt for an elegant suit and joined Philip Morris International (PMI), where he held several positions in financial management, with a focus on the European business.
Prior to joining PM Equity Partner, Marco was Manager M&A and Strategic Planning at PMI, where he was involved in a number of high profile business development projects, until he joined PM Equity Partner in 2015.
