Seeding your Web 2.0 Company

MITX and K&L Gates sponsor a panel discussion on obtaining small seed investments for startups focused on Web-based software, with speakers including Christian Heidelberger, CEO, Nexaweb; Sim Simeonov, partner, Polaris Venture Partners; Michael Spataro, vice president of partnerships, Visible Technologies; and Austin Westerling, partner, Charles River Ventures.

From MIT’s event description: “Web 2.0 startups are fast becoming an integral part of every company’s online strategy. Web 2.0 products, which include those facilitating user participation, podcasting, social networking and blogging, have become integrated into all aspects of business. This allows a continual interaction between brands and consumers, companies and clients. VCs are taking notice. Many of these web-based startups require smaller levels of capital. VCs, who previously may not have funded any companies for less than $3M, want to be involved. For example, larger cap firms are offering seed investments such as ‘Quick Start’ loans for $250K and programs for entrepreneurs coming out of college offering $7.5K to $15K grants. The benefits of getting even small amounts of VC money are huge. It allows startup companies to recruit top-level talent while raising money for future rounds of funding. Seed money IS coming into New England and IS going toward web 2.0 and emerging technology companies. Find out how to get your piece of this pie.”

MITX members get in free; non-members, $35. Register here.

Author: Wade Roush

Between 2007 and 2014, I was a staff editor for Xconomy in Boston and San Francisco. Since 2008 I've been writing a weekly opinion/review column called VOX: The Voice of Xperience. (From 2008 to 2013 the column was known as World Wide Wade.) I've been writing about science and technology professionally since 1994. Before joining Xconomy in 2007, I was a staff member at MIT’s Technology Review from 2001 to 2006, serving as senior editor, San Francisco bureau chief, and executive editor of TechnologyReview.com. Before that, I was the Boston bureau reporter for Science, managing editor of supercomputing publications at NASA Ames Research Center, and Web editor at e-book pioneer NuvoMedia. I have a B.A. in the history of science from Harvard College and a PhD in the history and social study of science and technology from MIT. I've published articles in Science, Technology Review, IEEE Spectrum, Encyclopaedia Brittanica, Technology and Culture, Alaska Airlines Magazine, and World Business, and I've been a guest of NPR, CNN, CNBC, NECN, WGBH and the PBS NewsHour. I'm a frequent conference participant and enjoy opportunities to moderate panel discussions and on-stage chats. My personal site: waderoush.com My social media coordinates: Twitter: @wroush Facebook: facebook.com/wade.roush LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/waderoush Google+ : google.com/+WadeRoush YouTube: youtube.com/wroush1967 Flickr: flickr.com/photos/wroush/ Pinterest: pinterest.com/waderoush/