Minnov8

After yesterday’s post, “Is Perception the Reality with MN Venture Funding?” we received a lot of email and some comments about the state of angel and venture investing in Minnesota. There is a lot of buzz amongst startups (and wannabees) who feel like this State is risk averse and a place where angels and VCs focus on the ‘easy’ spaces: medtech and healthcare.

Pete Birkeland

Is that true? We talk with Pete Birkeland, CFO at RAIN Source Capital, the largest network of Angel Investment Funds in US. Pete is part of a team that manages 23 funds in 6 six states with $40 million under management and is a guy who has worked in this area for 10 years on both the entrepreneurial and investor side.

Hosts: Steve Borsch, Tim Elliott & Graeme Thickins (Phil Wilson is off this week).
Music by The Varatones and their song, “Surf Blaster” from Music Alley.

Discussed During the Show:

• Apple’s “Antennagate” press conference video; RIM’s (Blackberry) response
• Rainsource Rainmakers Conference, September 23-24 with early bird discount good until the end of July and this year is open to everyone
• On the podcast our guest Pete Birkland mentioned:
  • Crowdpitch and Funding Universe;
  • Jon Coudron and his startup MinuteBids;
  • Lisa Foote and her startup MixMobi;
  • Matt Bauer and his startup PedalBrain;
  • Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) releases the signup forms for startups & individuals to get certified (which then leads to angels being able to take the 25% Angel Tax Credit)
  • Also mentioned other venture capital models like TechStars and YCombinator
  • New York VC Fred Wilson.
• Social Media Breakfast Minneapolis/St. Paul (SMBMSP) “Small Business Gets Social” next Friday, July 23, 2010

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