In our first class, I mentioned that I would try to assemble a panel of local angel investors and venture capitalists to critique your final group presentations. I now have enough commitments to confirm we will have this mentor panel.

Your comments and feedback do influence the approach I take to presenting the material in class. Thank you for making the time to share your thought in the first online survey.

As of Tuesday 3 June, only 3 people had not completed it, so we have a good sample. I won't use class time to review, but thought you might be curious to know how I read the pulse of the class and how I see I am meeting your expectations.

Organization of Class

During our last class, a couple of people asked for some scholarly readings to supplement the text. I was asked, if possible, to provide links to any supplementary readings rather than photocopies.

What follows is a wide range of excellent scholarly articles on entrepreneurship, new venture planning and new venture management. All are from the SFU online collection, so you can read them online or download a PDF copy if you login using your SFU account. Most references are between 7-10 pages.

I briefly mentioned VanTec (Vancouver Technology Angel Forum) in our last class during our discussion about angel investors. 

The next meeting is this coming Tuesday.  It promises to be a very good agenda with six (6) short pitches and five (5) longer ones.  All of the businesses that are presenting are software, wireless or Internet related.

I have managed to beg one guest pass for someone in the class.  This is an outstanding opportunity to see a variety of pitches in a true angel forum.

1st Annual
ACE/FVTN SmallBiz Mixer!

The Fraser Valley Technology Network (www.fvtn.org) and ACE SFU
(Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship) will be holding its first ever SmallBiz
Mixer!

Thought you might be interested in hearing a very successful entrepreneur speak about his company, GEOX Footware. This is sponsored by SFU and the Italian Consulate in Vancouver. It will be held at the Segal School of Business this Wednesday 28 May from 16:00 - 17:30. Details and formal invitation here.

Note:  RSVP at the coords on the invitation so they will be sure to have enough food and booze for all. 

I was asked a few questions about this assignment by one person in the class. For the benefit of all, here are the questions and my clarification:

Q: What format would you like to see me use for this paper?
A: I do not have a particular format for how you organize the paper in mind. The following format was put forward and it is acceptable:

I was asked if it was OK to do the Group Assignment #1 (the Board) as a team.

Yes. The intention of this assignment is that you complete it as a team. The grade of the team will apply to all team members. Your team is the team you chose to work in for this class as clarified in this forum.

Robin Chakrabarti made reference to the most recent Shareholder Letter when he spoke to the class last week. I promised to find it and share it with you in a digital form to save paper. Here is that letter in .pdf form

In our last class, we spoke briefly of the New Ventures BC (NVBC) business plan competition. Today, I spoke to the manager of the competition, Angie Schick, about our class.

Angie responded by offering everyone in the class the opportunity to attend the NVBC lecture at no cost tomorrow evening. (Don't bother with registration. Just mention that you are in "Jackson's Class" at the door.) Familiar venue. Details follow below.