All you ever wanted to know about venture capital. . .

Nov 11, 2005

It’s an area that to many is shrouded in mystery – but all will be revealed this month (Thursday 24 November) when an entrepreneur and a venture capitalist visit the University of Wollongong to explain venture capital funding and share their trade secrets.

The seminar will aim to explain how the venture capital industry works, how funds are established and who invests in them, the role of fund managers and what they look for and the information required to assist determinations.

Guest speakers David Landers and Jonathon Wolfe will also discuss the timing of returns and investments, expectations from investments and exit strategies. The seminar is part of UOW’s Centre for Staff Development education series organised in collaboration with the Research and Innovation Division.

“The presenters have extensive experience in the industry – one seeking funding and the other assessing ventures with respect to suitability for funding,” said event organiser and Manager of Innovation and Commercial Development, Mr Aapo Skorulis.

“David Landers has lead responsibility for Allen and Buckeridge’s ‘pre-seed’ and ‘seed’ stage investments into discriminated intellectual property arising from research and development efforts within major research universities, government research organisations and corporate research labs in Australia.”

A proven entrepreneur, David was executive vice president of sales and chief financial officer of AFL Ltd – a manufacturing business he co-created in Shanghai and Beijing from 1995 to 1998. Prior to this he was the Asia regional head of M&A for Pepsi Cola International where he completed close to $1 billion in acquisition and joint venture transactions.

“Jonathon Wolfe is a serial entrepreneur who has been involved in a number of start-ups from the university sector,” said Mr Skorulis. “He is currently CEO of VSAT Audio at the University of Sydney, a unit that is commercialising 3D Audio technology for hearing aids as well as CEO for UOW’s Enikos – a company focussed exclusively on MPEG-21 technology and solutions.”

Jonathon has a long track record of successful entrepreneurship in the IT sector and particular experience in the whys and hows relating to the challenges of getting organisations successfully set up within academic institutions. He has real world experience in the multitude of issues that need to be considered and dealt with along the road to commercialisation.

The seminar is open to the University community and the general public are also encouraged to attend.

When: Thursday 24 November from 4-6pm

Where: University of Wollongong Function Centre

RSVP: Email cduadmin@uow.edu.au by Friday 18 November or contact Vanessa Pagett on 4221 4929

For further information contact Mr Aapo Skorulis on 4221 4578.

For more information, contact:

media@uow.edu.au
University of Wollongong
Ph: (02) 4221 5942; fax (02) 4221 3128