Los ‘business angels’ de Keiretsu cierran su primera operación
Publicado el 12/04/2008, por Noemí Gómez. Barcelona

La sociedad inversora Edap 2007, que entró en contacto con la empresa granadina 3DVista a través del fondo, le ha inyectado 300.000 euros.
La mayor red de inversores privados de EEUU, Keiretsu Forum, aterrizó en Barcelona el pasado octubre de la mano de La Caixa, el bufete Roca Junyent, la Cámara de Comercio de Barcelona y el Parque de Innovación de La Salle.

Desde eLCntonces ya se han celebrado en la capital catalana cuatro foros, que son un punto de encuentro entre inversores y emprendedores. En cada uno de estos foros se presentan cinco proyectos –seleccionados de un total de 40– ante los miembros inversores de Keiretsu. A partir de entonces, si a algún business angel le interesa el proyecto de algún emprendedor, empiezan las tomas de contacto.

El primer fruto de la labor de celestina de Keiretsu en España ya se ha producido. La sociedad de inversores privados Edap 2007, que crearon hace un año ocho directivos que se conocieron en un programa del IESE, invertirá 300.000 euros en la empresa granadina de software para la creación de visitas virtuales 3DVista y tomará una participación del 25%. El resto se repartirá entre el fundador José Luis Ruiz (70%) y un empleado (5%). Costa, que está convencido de que acudirán a más ampliaciones de capital porque 3DVista está en pleno crecimiento, asegura que “hemos invertido en ella porque tiene un producto innovador y único, que permite cosas como ver la visita a pantalla completa o hacer unos retoques de fotos sensacionales”.

El directivo quiere dejar claro que su participación en el proyecto no se limita a poner el dinero: “Aportamos contactos, experiencia empresarial y capacidad de planificación estratégica”. Es precisamente ese plus estratégico lo que ha animado al emprendedor José Luis Ruiz a dar entrada por primera vez a un socio inversor en la compañía que fundó en 2000. “Nuestro software permite convertir varias fotos en un panorama inmersivo o visita virtual que hace que otro lo vea como si estuviera allí”, dice Ruiz. Hasta ahora sus clientes eran empresas de los sectores turístico e inmobiliario, que pagaban entre 200 euros y 800 euros por el software. Ahora quiere abrirse al gran público con una aplicación más sencilla y gratuita que se podrá utilizar desde el PC y desde el móvil. Más del 90% de sus 3.000 clientes, como Intel y Microsoft, se encuentran en EEUU. Por eso, la inversión de Edap les va a servir para reforzar allí su red comercial, donde abrirán una oficina en Filadelfia, y para crecer en España. 3DVista facturó 300.000 euros en 2007 y en 2008 espera llegar a los 2 millones.

Keiretsu Forum and the State of California

The California Small Business Board advises the Governor, the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, and Marty Keller, the state's Small Business Advocate, regarding issues and programs affecting California's small business community, including business innovation and expansion, export financing, state procurement, management and technical assistance, venture capital, and financial assistance. Judith Iglehart, Keiretsu Forum Vice President, International, serves on the 11 member Board.

The Board is charged with holding public hearings to carry out the objectives of the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency with regard to its responsibilities as a legislative advocate and ombudsman for the state's small business community. In addition, the Board approves the establishment of new financial development corporations.

Board membership includes the California Secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing, six members appointed by the Governor from the California small business community, two persons from the business or agricultural communities, one appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly and one appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, and two Members of the Legislature or their designees, one appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly and one appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. Iglehart is the Senate Rules Committee appointee.

Her goal as a Board member is to keep Sacramento informed as to equity gap funding issues and issues that affect California companies moving into international markets. In February, Marty Keller, Governor Schwarzenegger's Small Business Advocate and his Deputy, Michael Gonzalez visited the Keiretsu Forum East Bay to meet K4 Founder/CEO Randy Williams and participate in the K4 process.

California small businesses interested in learning more about state efforts to foster economic development and assist small businesses should visit: http://www.sba.ca.gov/index.php?a=smallbusiness/index.html or contact judith@keiretsuforum.com.

London Chapter Opens at Home House

Under the leadership of Lord Beaverbrook, Keiretsu Forum London met at Home House yesterday to review companies seeking business angel funding in the UK. Prospective members and sponsors reviewed business plans and shared their expertise with the emerging companies. For more information about the companies presented and to request information about Keiretsu Forum London, please contact mbeaverbrook@keiretsuforum.com or log on to www.keiretsuforum.com/London.

Keiretsu Forum London

The Keiretsu Forum London team led by Lord Beaverbrook hosts the first full meeting April 2, 2008. To apply to present your business, or to inquire about attending the meeting, which is by invitation only, please contact dborrero@keiretsuforum.com. Please check the K4 London calendar at www.keiretsuforum.com/london.


Keiretsu Forum London members join 750 K4 members worldwide with access to business flow generated in Barcelona, London, Beijing, Paris, East Bay (Founding Chapter in California), San Francisco, Silicon Valley, North Bay, Westlake Village, Orange County, San Diego, Los Angeles, Seattle, Bellevue, Boise/Sun Valley, Portland, and Denver.

In 2005, 2006, and 2007 the Keiretsu Forum was a business angel leader in providing equity gap funding for emerging companies. Today, emerging businesses who receive Keiretsu funding are eligible to participate in our global financial syndication process.

K4 Founder/CEO Randy Williams interview on Bloomberg Asia

Please take a few moments to watch a recent interview with Randy Williams, K4 Founder, that was recorded while he was in Malaysia at the invitation of the government to discuss business angel investing. The link is http://instantdailypro.com/blogs/angel-investors/13128/bloomberg-interview-with-randy-williams/

New Team for K4 Paris

Shelley and Jack Bays, esteemed members of the Keiretsu Forum East Bay Chapter, were recently appointed co-Presidents of Keiretsu Forum Paris by K4 Founder/CEO Randy Williams. Both Shelley and Jack have extensive experience working internationally, and they have a home in Paris. Shelley was with Charles Schwab in London for many years, and Jack owned and operated an international beverage company. They will be joined at K4 Paris by another Schwab alumni with extensive EU experience.

The Paris Chapter will open in Q3 08, and more information will be available about the opening soon. Please reach out to sbays@keiretsuforum.com and jbays@keiretsuforum.com for more information about the Paris Chapter, to refer potential members, or to discuss potential sponsors.

Earthclass Mail featured on Start-up Junkies, a new reality show in the US

Earthclass Mail, a Keiretsu Forum portfolio company that has raised several million dollars for its international expansion, is the featured company on Start Up Junkies, a new reality tv show.

Click here for the link to the first episode featuring Ron Wiener and his team. http://www.mojohd.com/mojoseries/startupjunkies/about.jsf

The show illustrates the problems faced by entrepreneurs, and explains the growth process they face as they seek funding to grow their new businesses. Keiretsu Forum northern California members were invited to the initial screening of the show last week.

Ron Wiener's company, which started in the Pacific Northwest, also presented in California and Colorado and traveled to Spain to present in Barcelona to off-shore members of the K4 investment community. Let us know what you think of the show.

Keiretsu Forum Barcelona Chapter meeting January 29, 2008

If you are in Spain next week, consider attending the Keiretsu Forum Barcelona Chapter meeting that will be held at the Barcelona Stock Exchange on January 29 from 8 am to Noon. One company from the US, EvoOrganic, that presented in northern California will present to Spanish investors. This will be the third K4 US portfolio company traveling to the EU to meet our worldwide investors. EvoOrganic joins Earthclass Mail and Les Concierges as companies to watch in the EU as well as the US.

Keiretsu Forum Pacific Northwest creates blog for members

Please venture to the new blog created by the Pacific Northwest Chapters (Seattle, Bellevue, Portland, Boise) to share information about activities. Chapter President Todd Dean edits the blog and provides information about the community of investors in his region. You can find the blog at http://toddk4seattle.blogspot.com/. On January 12, Todd posted an article of interest to all business angel investors:

5 Key questions for Angels by Todd Dean

"I get asked a fair amount what does Keiretsu Forum and our K4 members look for in companies when be consider for investing. I've narrowed it down to 5 questions that allow me to cut the chase to if I want to learn more about a company or not.

An entrepreneur will always start to share about their company to the ninth degree because it is their passion and dream which can take a fair amount of time. So I try to always keep this in mind when I'm speaking with an entrepreneur as to not rain on there parade no matter where the company is at in the growth cycle.

When I encounter an entrepreneur I ask them if they mind if I ask a few questions first before I hear about them and there company. 1) I ask if the company has any revenues? This will let me know quickly as to where the company is at from a life cycle and growth stand point. If it's pre revenue the the caution flag goes up for me but again every company starts pre revenue. With this question I ask what is their valuation? If they say pre 10 million pre revenues I wish them luck with their venture. I could spend a great amount of time on this one but I'll leave at I look for valuations between 1-10 million. 2) I ask the question do you have any IP (intellectual property), any patents, and patents filed? 3)What is the CEO/Founders back ground. I was in a wine bar one night last year having a glass of wine before heading home and I'm sitting next a gentleman. He had a fedex jacket I said oh you work for fedex and he yes but that's not really what I'm doing. We are working on a bio diesel play. My reply was oh really? He said yes we are planning on building our bio diesel plant and really building this thing out which it's going to be huge! I said we? He said yes me an my buddy that works with me at Fedex. I said well what's your back ground? He said we've been reading up on this and worked out our plan to build this. I said do you have anyone with this expertise or background in clean tech or energy space working with you? He said no. I said have you built a company like this? His answer was no. I said how do you plan to finance this and how much. He said we plan to go after private investors and he rattled off a big number and that's when my eyes rolled back in my head. The guy asks me what I do? I really didn't have the heart to tell him so I lied I said I'm a garbage man. 4) I'll ask who else is out there in the market place doing anything close to what they are doing and if they are the first market mover. If they say there is no competition again another caution flag goes up. If they explain where they are at with the competition or where they see the market going then I'll listen. 5) I ask what does their board of directors and advisory board look like? A smart entrepreneur is going to surround themselves with the best people possible that have industry expertise and something to contribute to the growth of there company. So when an entrepreneur says let me share more about my company. I literally know whether I want to listen to more or not at this moment. If its a company I feel Keiretsu Forum would consider I then will give them a business card, direct them to our website to apply online, or send them to Paul Luce our Keiretsu Forum NW entrepreneur director".

If you have questions for Todd, please contact him at todd@keiretsuforum.com.

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays to our colleagues across the world, and best wishes for a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous 2008 as the Keiretsu Forum continues to expand globally thanks to you, our Members and Team, and particularly our EU Sponsors: La Salle University, Roca Junyent, La Caixa, and the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce.

With all best wishes from Randy Williams and Judi Iglehart.