Tips for Start-up Pivoting

Entrepreneurs’ Network

Location: Online Webinar

This event is FREE, however, registration is required.

With the enormous changes wrought on business, the economy and everyone’s lives during the COVID-19 pandemic, pivoting has become all the more crucial to startup and early stage companies in these fast changing times.

For startup companies, it is important to understand the market for your products or services, the needs of your customers, the value you offer. It is critical to be able to make adjustments along your journey or even radical changes of direction, i.e. pivoting, as circumstances warrant.

For angel investors and VCs, the quality of the CEO and management team is as important as the products or services you offer, not only in executing your strategy, but also promptly making the needed pivot before too much time and money is lost – to find the right approach, and to do so as often as needed until the company is back on course and succeeding in its mission.

Tonight’s panelists will offer up tips and experience pivoting startups.

Event Schedule:

7:00 pm – Introduction – ENET Chairperson’s announcements
7:10 pm – eMinute Pitch – Up to 3 Startup pitches
7:25 pm – Expert Panel – 4 expert speakers on the night’s topic
8:10 pm – Q & A – Moderator and Audience Q & A with the speakers
8:30 pm – Networking – Panelists will be available afterward for responses to individual questions.

Speakers:

Benjamin Cavallari – CEO, Chariot Payments

Benjamin is the CEO of Chariot Payments – a fintech startup focusing on the transition between traditional fiat economies and the emerging spaces in DeFi (Decentralized Finance). Chariot experienced major disruption during the pandemic, resulting in the core leadership resigning before identifying a realistic product market fit or an achievable go-to-market strategy. The remaining members of the company refused to quit, reviewed the multitude of options in the landscape, and planned routes forward – eventually narrowing on the major opportunity they’re pursuing now. Through perseverance, creative problem solving, a trusting advisory board, and confidence in the team, Chariot is now stronger than ever and moving towards a Series A round – which will showcase their partnerships, their upcoming launch, and their unique opportunity for growth into multiple sectors.

Jason Kraus – Partner EQX fund, Boston Harbor Angel Investor, Founder & CEO prepare 4VC

Jason Kraus has been described as a “serial entrepreneur” by his friends and family ever since he opened his first business while still in college. He’s always been intrigued by how companies got their start and how products that are now household names came to be. This led him to found startup consulting firm Prepare4VC, to cofound an alternative investment group Equity Venture Partners and to later join as a partner on a micro-VC, EQx Fund.

To help others who share his passion, Jason is actively involved in Startup Grind and NextGen Summit, two notable startup communities developed to aid entrepreneurs in their endeavors.

Mark Kasdorf – CEO and Founder @ Intrepid Homes

Cambridge based entrepreneur. Found of Intrepid, a software development studio acquired by Accenture in 2017 as well as Timbre (live music discovery app) and Intrepid Labs (Kendall Sq based coworking studio). His career goals have been and remain to build successful companies in the thriving Boston/Cambridge community, and to help others do the same. His prior company from 2010 to 2020, where he was CEO and Founder was a software contracting firm, specialized in iOS development and have done a variety of projects, large and small, across the iPhone, iTouch, and iPad platforms.

Dakota Hamill – Founder and CEO at Prospective Research, Inc.

Dakota is founder and CEO of Prospective Research, Inc., a startup company building products to replace the use of antibiotics and medicated feed in the aquaculture industry. Prior to founding Prospective Research, he was a scientist at HepatoChem, working on high-throughput bio-mimetic catalysis screening.

Moderator & Organizers

Dan Skiba – Managing Director Skiba Advisory Associates, VP Printed Electronics Chasm Advanced Materials, Vice-Chair Meetings Boston ENET

As a Product Development Company Executive, I provide strategic leadership in product innovation, and managing global teams, delivering award-winning products to the international market. My ability to problem solve, direct the entire product development lifecycle, and gain commitment to a common goal have driven faster release of products and market penetration. By building synergies across all Product Life Cycle disciplines, we have delivered products that result in 100% product utilization and seamless integration into customer environments. My skills in optimizing international resources have significantly reduced costs and streamlined production, delivering product excellence.

Kristin King – MBA. Boston Harbor Angel Investor; VP, Corporate Development, Defibtech

Kristin is an accomplished MedTech executive, serial intrapreneur, investor and strategic advisor to startups developing biotech solutions. With over 20 years spanning technical, marketing, and proud member of Boston Harbor Angels, she offers multi-discipline expertise transforming technologies from early concept to successful global divisions at leading Medical Device companies and startups.

This event is FREE, however, registration is required – https://bostonenet.org/events/tips-for-startup-pivoting/