New Jersey Enterpreneur - Small Business, Entrepreneurs and Venture Capital

Charles Crockett, Partner, Ascend Venture Group

Headquarters Hyatt Hotel (note new hotel name), 3 Headquarters Plaza, Morristown, NJ 07960

Directions:  http://morristown.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp

 What Your Mother Never Told You About VCs

Entrepreneurs often make mistakes in their interactions with venture capitalists simply because they do not know about certain aspects of the venture capital business.  From sending business plans to every partner in a venture capital firm to insisting on the execution of confidentiality agreements, Charles will highlight these common, but avoidable, mistakes and explain why venture capitalists view these actions negatively.  In addition, Charles will share information on the venture capital industry generally including sources of capital, annual deal flow and typical compensation structures

Charles is a Co-Founder and Partner of the Ascend Venture Group, a venture capital firm headquartered in New York City.  With approximately $135 million under management, Ascend targets investment opportunities in the applied technology and for-profit education industries.  Charles was responsible for Ascend?s investments in the network management and storage industries including Snap Appliance (sold to Nasdaq: ADPT), AEP Networks and GridApp Systems.  Other investments with which Charles has been involved include SafeRent (sold to NYSE: FAF) and The NewsMarket.

Before Co-Founding Ascend, Charles was a Director with The Beacon Group, a $2 billion private equity firm.  At The Beacon Group, Charles worked on leveraged buyout and management buyout transactions in a variety of industries.  Charles started his career in the Structured Finance Group at Goldman, Sachs & Co.  Charles received his JD from Stanford Law School and his BS from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.  Charles is a member of the Board of Directors of the New York Software Industry Association (NYSIA) and of the Board of Visitors of Stanford Law School.

Please preregister; an attendance list is distributed at the meeting.  Send your check payable to VANJ (charge for members is $35 and $55 for nonmembers), along with this form to be received no later than Monday (12 noon) before the meeting to VANJ,

Yes, I will attend the January 24^th Luncheon

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