Ask an Angel: Raising Your First Round of Capital

Each angel investor is unique in how or what they invest in. How can you get an angel interested in your startup? What are they looking for and how do you succeed?

In this much anticipated event, Coast Capital Savings Venture Connection will get to the heart of how to get investment for your startup, especially when you have never done it before and are confused by the conflicting advice out there.

Our moderator and angel-in-residence, Bob de Wit will be joined by three panelists, Rasool Rayani, Andy Edelmeier and Paula Carey, to answer your questions.

Please submit your questions in advance as there will be limited time available for live questions at the end of the panel. You can submit your questions in the registration form.

Date: Thursday, December 3

Time: 4:00 - 5:00PM (40 minutes of pre-selected question with 20 minutes of live audience questions)

Location: Zoom (the link will be sent to you after registration)

Moderator: Bob de Wit

Panellists:

• Rasool Rayani
• Andy Edelmeier
• Paula Carey

Bob de Wit

Bob de Wit is a mentor, advisor and investor in start-up and growth-stage technology companies.

Bob’s career began in university technology transfer then, transformed by entrepreneurship, evolved into angel investing. Along the way Bob gained C-level leadership experience with start-ups, public companies, and not-for-profit societies. Areas of specialized knowledge include corporate development (M&A strategy and execution), corporate finance (raising equity capital) and corporate governance.

Bob has served on numerous boards and advisory boards of private and public companies as well as societies and foundations. He holds a BBA (marketing) and MA (economics) from Simon Fraser University, and lives with his family in British Columbia.

Rasool Rayani

In 2001, Rasool co-founded Metalogix Software, which won North America's largest new venture competition (2002), experienced triple digit organic and profitable growth and took on private equity financing (2008). Metalogix is the leading provider of enterprise collaboration and infrastructure solutions to the fortune 5000 (Inc 500 - 2011) and was acquired by Permira in 2014. In 2009, Rasool began investing in early stage technology firms including Backstage, Mediacore, Versly, and Unbounce. He has, to date, invested in over 50 firms.

He is an LP in iNovia, Garage Ventures, Goldcrest and Northleaf. He currently serves on the boards of Shift, Checkfront, and the Community Foundations of Canada. He is also a partner and president of a family office which operates Heart Pharmacy Group, Rumble Nutrition and Pomme Natural Markets.

Rasool is interested in working with start-ups and act as an advisor and investor in technology companies in Victoria, Vancouver and San Francisco.

Andy Edelmeier

Andy is President of Braemar West Capital and is an active investor in private and public companies. Some current and previous investments include Avigilon (sold to Motorola for $1Bn), Cake Gaming, Saltworks, Umbracity, Vancouver Computer Vision and Fable Home. He was a founding shareholder and director of Askott Entertainment (recently merged with Fansunite), M2 Cobalt (sold to Jervois Mining) as well as private companies Rift Copper and Mogul Mountain Mining. He is an active member of New Ventures BC where he has acted as a mentor and jury member.

Prior to investing Andy worked for over 16 years in investment banking in London and New York where he worked at Strata Partners, Credit Suisse First Boston and JP Morgan Chase (Chase Manhattan). At CSFB he was head of European Private Equity for the CSFB Technology Group. Prior to banking he was a Senior Consultant with Deloitte & Touche Management Consultants in Vancouver.

Andy has an MBA from London Business School, a BBA from Simon Fraser University and is a CPA, CMA.

Paula Carey

Paula Carey has an Honours Undergraduate Science Degree from University of Toronto and a 20 year career in industry and government. For many years she has channeled her passion and energy into supporting those who are vulnerable “at the edge” and need small, immediate, and unconditional assistance to remain educated, safe and in control of their lives. Paula is a founding member of the Women’s Equity Lab that won the 2019 Investor of the Year at the Viatech Awards.

Paula is a current Board Director of Craigdarroch Castle and the United Way of Greater Victoria, Board Member of Capital Investment Network, and Partner in Cindicate VCC Fund. She lives in Victoria, is happily married for 40 years and has 2 grown children which she calls her Vancouver Child and her Zurich Child. For fun she has taught yoga for the last 20 years.

About Coast Capital Savings Venture Connection

Western Canada's first university business incubator, Coast Capital Savings Venture Connection® is a university-wide incubator, entrepreneurship training program for students and recent alumni. From the initial business idea through to validation, Venture Connection® supports individuals exploring entrepreneurship possibilities. The program offers an early-stage business incubator, mentorship, co-op education terms, competitions, networking opportunities, workshops and seminars. Venture Connection® collaborates with all SFU faculties and departments, including the Beedie School of Business, the Faculty of Applied Sciences, the Faculty of Communication Arts and Technology, Work Integrated Learning and a wide-range of external partners. The program is supported by professional staff, including Mentors-in-Residence with substantial experience in a range of industries.