Funding: Will Venture Capital Event Connect MSPs With Money?
TheBDEvent, a networking mixer to be held January 25-27 (2011) in Palo Alto, Calif., could offer educational — and financial — opportunities for MSPs seeking funding. Here are some preliminary details about the gathering.
According to a press release, representatives from VCs like Valhalla Partners, Highland Capital Partners, Intel Capital, Jafco Ventures, and Lightspeed Venture Partners will be participating in a kind of “speed dating” event where attendees will be able to spend 5 minutes with each and make their pitch.
That’s in addition to the usual kind of things like VC workshops designed to help perfect the pitch and meet-and-greets. Event organizers say it’s a great opportunity for executives from IT companies large and small to meet with movers and shakers of the financial world — in fact, it’s only open to senior executives from data storage, virtualization and data center-focused businesses and financial analysts, experts, and VCs.
Where the Money Is
No doubt, numerous organizations are trying to help established and emerging MSPs with funding or M&A strategies. A few examples include:
- Several MSP veterans launched Cogent Growth Partners, a consulting firm that assists buy-side MSPs during and after M&A activity.
- The MSPAlliance, an association serving MSPs, recently launched the MSPAlliance Angels Network to potentially connect MSPs with investors.
- The Utility Company recently launched MSPXchange, a “marketplace for small managed service providers (MSP) to monetize their business through either a structured merger or acquisition strategy.”
- Weaver & Associates Ltd., run by MSPAlliance President Charles Weaver, also offers M&A guidance to MSPs.
Looking Ahead
Meanwhile, TheBDEvent could be a great opportunity for service providers who want to talk funding — without the distractions that come along with the usual trade show experience. And if you don’t make it — well, I hear the resident blogger over at The VAR Guy is putting together a report — The VAR Guy’s Channel Finance 25 — to help hook the channel up with funding, leasing and small business loans.
Additional reporting by Joe Panettieri. Sign up for MSPmentor’s Weekly Enewsletter, Webcasts and Resource Center. And follow us via RSS, Facebook, Identi.ca; and Twitter. Plus, check out more MSP voices at www.MSPtweet.com. And read our editorial disclosure here.
