Michigan Angel Summit
Investing in Michigan’s economy.
Monday, October 4 | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Thanks to everyone who joined us for the fourth annual Michigan Angel Summit. We hope everyone left with valuable, actionable information to begin angel investing or to elevate their investments.
We also want to acknowledge the fantastic presentations by our keynote guests, Scott Shane of Comeback Capital and Commissioner Hester M. Peirce of the U. S. Security and Exchanges Commissions.
- Scott Shane is an economist at Case Western, an angel investor, and the managing director of Comeback Capital.
- Prior to joining the SEC, Commissioner Peirce conducted research on the regulation of financial markets at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University.
“Angel investment activity in Michigan has continued to increase in recent years, both in terms of companies attracting angel investment and individuals choosing to invest their wealth in emerging businesses. The Michigan Angel Summit is the opportunity to hear about that activity and also to learn about how angel investing works, both for early stage companies as well as people interested in learning about why it’s an attractive investment activity.” — Skip Simms, Ann Arbor SPARK senior vice president and managing director of the Michigan Angel Community
This event is presented by Ann Arbor SPARK.
2021 Keynote Speakers
Scott Shane
Comeback Capital
Biography
Scott Shane
Comeback Capital
Scott Shane is managing director of Comeback Capital, a pre-seed stage venture capital fund that invests across the Midwest, now on its second and third funds. He is also a deal flow partner for Right Side Capital Management, a San Francisco-based pre-seed stage micro VC fund, and an advisor to Ivy Cap Ventures, a $150M Indian venture capital fund. He is an active angel and limited partner and mentor at the Iconyc, Acceleprise, and gener8tor accelerator funds, and an LP in Refinery Ventures and Illuminate Ventures.
He was the A. Malachi Mixon III Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies at Case Western Reserve University from 2006-20021. The author of 92 scholarly articles and 12 books, Dr. Shane was the 2009 winner of the Global Award for Entrepreneurship Research, the most prestigious award in this academic field. According to a study by John Ioannidis at Stanford University, published in PLoS Biology, Dr. Shane is the 1,137th most impactful scientist out of seven million living scientists.
Dr. Shane has also written extensively for popular audiences, penning regular columns for Bloomberg Businessweek, Inc., Entrepreneur, and the New York Times. Dr. Shane has served on the faculty at the University of Maryland, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Georgia Institute of Technology, and as a visiting scholar at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. He serves currently as an advisor to the Youngstown Business Incubator, the Veale Institute for Entrepreneurship, and several startup companies. Dr. Shane received his Ph.D. in Applied Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Commissioner Hester M. Peirce
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Biography
Commissioner Hester M. Peirce
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Hester M. Peirce was appointed by President Donald J. Trump to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and was sworn in on January 11, 2018.
Prior to joining the SEC, Commissioner Peirce conducted research on the regulation of financial markets at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. She was a senior counsel on the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, where she advised Ranking Member Richard Shelby and other members of the Committee on securities issues. Commissioner Peirce served as counsel to SEC Commissioner Paul S. Atkins. She also worked as a staff attorney in the SEC’s Division of Investment Management. Commissioner Peirce was an associate at Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering (now WilmerHale) and clerked for Judge Roger Andewelt on the Court of Federal Claims.
Commissioner Peirce earned her bachelor’s degree in Economics from Case Western Reserve University and her JD from Yale Law School.
Panelists, Guests, and Moderators
John Abrams
Venzee Technologies Inc.
Biography
John Abrams
President and CEO, Venzee Technologies
John Abrams, president and CEO of Venzee Technologies, is a digital supply chain veteran, bringing more than two decades of experience building high-volume, consumer-relevant digital supply chains in regulated and globally distributed industries. Prior to Venzee, he ran the largest regulated medical products supply chain on the planet at Cardinal Health. John’s work with brands including the McDonald’s Corporation has helped reduce cost, improve processes, and transform the customer experience on a global scale.
Dawn Batts
Commune Angels
Biography
Dawn Batts
Comune Angels
Dr. Dawn Batts has over two decades of experience, analyzing business opportunities, developing and implementing strategic plans, and managing their subsequent operations and compliance processes. Her diverse professional experiences and extensive research have led to her solutions-based approach in addressing the myriad of factors causing the economic disparity between women and men. Dawn’s research investigates how macro narratives influence women’s perceptions and experiences of gender equality in the United States and China.
As a Capital Strategist for Tech Town — Detroit’s entrepreneurship hub — Dawn secures and aligns resources that help Detroit-based entrepreneurs achieve the vision and goals of their businesses. She extends that work as co-founder of Commune Angels, a diverse community of investors who seed scalable consumer, enterprise, and life science companies that transform lives.
Dawn received a B.A. in Accounting from Michigan State University, her MBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, and her Ph.D. in Anthropology from Wayne State University.
Matt Bower
Varnum Law
Biography
Matthew Bower
Matt is a partner with Varnum LLP and serves as outside general counsel to a wide range of emerging and middle market companies. His particular industry concentrations include software, SaaS, information technology, IoT, data analytics, and other technology-based companies, as well as manufacturing, automotive, advanced materials, pharma, medical devices, publishing, digital advertising and media, retail, and food and beverage.
Matt’s emerging companies practice focusses on capital fundraising, including SAFE financing, convertible debt, preferred equity financing, as well as securities law compliance. He works closely with companies from cradle (formation and organization) to liquidity (sale or merger) and all stages of development in between. Matt’s experience in the early-stage capital markets includes fund representation, fund formation, and investments.
Matt is a member of Varnum’s Business and Corporate Services Practice Team and participates in the Intellectual Property, the Data Privacy and Cybersecurity, and the Startup and Emerging Companies practice teams. He is also the lead partner of the firm’s Ann Arbor office.
Diane Durance
Michigan Capital Network
Biography
Diane Durance
Michigan Capital Network
Diane Durance joins Michigan Capital Network as Executive Vice President. Immediately prior to joining MCN, she was the director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of North Carolina in Wilmington. She began her career as an entrepreneur launching and growing three companies, including a telecommunications engineering firm, a contract publishing company, and a residential construction business. She founded an aquaculture startup and was a finalist in the global Fish 2.0 venture forum for sustainable seafood. Prior to her work in North Carolina, she was president of Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest, a Michigan non-profit organization supported by MEDC to connect early stage technology ventures with funding opportunities through support services, competitions, publications, and events. She was the executive director of Mi-Light, Michigan’s photonics industry association; served as an officer and board member of Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association and New Enterprise Forum; on the MTEC SmartZone board of advisors in the Upper Peninsula; active in MichBio; and served as the Michigan chapter chair for the global Women Presidents’ Organization. She began her work with technology startups in Ann Arbor and with faculty spinouts from the University of Michigan in 2005 as president of the Ann Arbor IT Zone. She holds a BBA and MPA, both from Southern Methodist University.
Jill Johnson
Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership Inc
Biography
Jill Johnson
Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership Inc
Jill Johnson is the co-founder and CEO of the Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership (IFEL), based in Newark, NJ. IFEL, founded in 2002, is an independent, not‐for‐profit organization that supports economic development through entrepreneurship. With over 30 years of experience as a business strategist, Jill is a pioneering voice for inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems and is especially focused on creating a new paradigm for the access to capital conversation. Most recently, Jill conceived and launched the Women of Color Connecting initiative to change the way we think about building the capacity of Women of Color entrepreneurs for the grow-scale-exit trajectory. She is also spearheading The Making of Black Angels movement to drive diversity and inclusion within the angel investing sector.
Jill started her career as a financial analyst at Goldman, Sachs & Co in mergers and acquisitions where she worked across industries groups to help clients execute deals at a minimum transaction value of $100 million. Following her time at Goldman, Sachs, she joined the family business, City News Publishing Company. There she was responsible for advertising, sales, and strategic partnerships for YES Magazine, a national youth magazine circulated in schools and organizations in over 30 states. After being promoted to Associate Publisher of YES Magazine, she added production oversight to her list of management responsibilities. In her next professional experience and immediately prior to launching IFEL, Jill was the President of On Point Consulting, a strategic business planning consultancy. In that capacity, she advised early-stage businesses through a variety of strategic planning and growth issues.
In her capacity as CEO of the Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership, Jill is responsible for the strategic direction of the organization and capacity building. She is especially focused on creating earned revenue opportunities and strategic partnerships. She has led the organization in successfully winning contracts with the New Jersey Department of Labor, the Newark Urban Enterprise Zone, Rutgers Center for Urban Entrepreneurship and Economic Development, and Greater Newark LISC to provide entrepreneurial training and support services.
Jill is a member of the Women’s Forum of New York, the Women Business Collaborative, and Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs. She also serves on the board of the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey. She recently served on the NJ Restart & Recovery Advisory Council Main Street Committee. In the past, she served on the Red Tape Commission created by New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer and was an appointee of Mayor Cory Booker to the Board of Trustees of the Newark Public Library. She has also served as a co-chair of the South Orange Main Street Economic Development Committee.
Jill has a B.A. in economics from Harvard University and is married with four amazing sons.
Priya Gogoi
Celsee
Biography
Priya Gogoi
Celsee
Priya Gogoi is an entrepreneur, social change-maker, and author with published work in national media. She co-founded Celsee, Inc., in 2010, a life-science tools company developing products for cancer research and single-cell sequencing. In April 2020, BioRad Laboratories acquired Celsee for $165MM. Priya recently graduated with an Executive MBA from Ross, UofM, adding to her Master’s degree in Molecular Biology. She specializes in due diligence on Biotech startups, which involves technical due diligence, IP and competitive landscape, operations, and team efficiency. She also mentors several Ann Arbor area startups in preparing their Business Plans. Currently, Priya serves as a Board member in several local and international nonprofits and a contributing author in the national publication: Entrepreneur media.
Lee Gorman
Barton Consulting Services
Biography
Lee Gorman
Barton Consulting Services
Lee Gorman is the founder of Barton Consulting Services, LLC. She works with Ann Arbor SPARK’s Entrepreneurial Services to help high-tech startups commercialize their ideas and serves as an Expert-in-Residence at Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technological University.
Lee’s first career was in the automotive industry, with over 20 years in various aspects of product development, culminating with positions as vehicle Chief Engineer and Director of Product Planning.
She has done extensive work for local startups and early-stage companies, including serving as Director of the Automotive Business for Coherix, Inc., and COO for WriteSteps, LLC. In addition to being a frequent judge for business plan competitions, Lee enjoys mentoring and coaching entrepreneurs. She has served on the Boards of two start-ups, as well as many non-profits.
Lee holds both an MBA and a BBA from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business and a BSME from Lawrence Technological University.
Dr. Kalyan Handique
BioRad
Biography
Dr. Kalyan Handique
BioRad
Dr. Kalyan Handique is currently the Vice President, Advanced Technologies at BioRad, a billion-dollar company and a global leader in developing, manufacturing, and marketing a broad range of innovative products for the life sciences and clinical diagnostics markets. Kalyan joined BioRad through the acquisition of Celsee, an innovative start-up he joined in 2011 in single cell analysis and rare cell diagnostics. Celsee was based in Ann Arbor, Michigan and acquired by BioRad in April 2020. Prior to Celsee, Kalyan served as the VP of R&D Systems Development for BD Diagnostics from 2009-2011. Kalyan ended up working for BD because of the acquisition of HandyLab in 2009. Kalyan co-founded HandyLab out of his Ph.D. work at the University of Michigan in 2000. HandyLab developed integrated microfluidic platforms for “sample-to-real time PCR results” for a dozen of FDA-approved infectious diseases for the hospitals and clinical labs. Kalyan received his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 2000 and received a bachelor’s in chemical engineering from IIT Bombay in 1995. Kalyan is active in the entrepreneurial community and serves as an adviser and board member to many startups and technological organizations in the Michigan biotech region.
George Khalife
Toronto Stock Exchange
Biography
George Kahlife
U.S. Capital Formation
George is currently the Vice President of U.S. Capital Formation based in Chicago and leading the business development efforts for the TSX & Venture Exchange across the Midwest. In his role, George partners with and helps U.S.-based companies to access the Canadian capital markets and raise public venture capital. Previously, George led the marketing & business development for a growing FinTech startup called owl.co and before that led the business development for Canada’s #1 mid-market tech-focused M&A firm called Sampford Advisors. On the side, George hosts a top-200 entrepreneurship-focused podcast called Let’s Grab Coffee, with more than 100 episodes published to date.
Fredrick Molnar
Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Biography
Fredrick Molnar
Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Vice President of Entrepreneurism and Innovation at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the Executive Director of the Michigan Life Science and Innovation Center (MLSIC), a 70,000 ft2 incubator run by the MEDC in Plymouth Michigan. The Entrepreneurship team works with universities, tech service providers and early stage funding providers to support tech and innovative start-ups to help grow and diversify the Michigan economy. Oversee the 21 legislatively authorized SmartZones across the state.
35 years of experience working in the private sector with life science companies both large and small. Before MEDC, was COO at iCyt Mission Technology, a life science startup spun-off from the University of Illinois that successfully exited when acquired by Sony Corporation of Japan. Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Service at Sony Biotechnology. Also founded, operated, and successfully sold a local small business – Champion Gymnastics based in Ann Arbor, MI.
Education: AS in Electronics – Henry Ford, BS in Biology – Wayne State University, MBA – Eastern Michigan University
Joe Morrison
Bodman PLC
Biography
Joe Morrison, Jr.
Bodman PLC
Joseph R. (Joe) Morrison, Jr., represents high-growth companies in an outside general counsel capacity. He focuses on emerging companies that leverage technology to build their business and brand. He also represents venture capital firms and high net worth individuals that invest in high-growth companies. His business and technology background gives him the ability to deftly advise ambitious entrepreneurs facing legal and business challenges.
Joe has experience negotiating a wide range of financing transactions, including venture investment rounds, and company sale transactions. He also assists companies with their general operational concerns ranging from negotiating leases and customer or supplier contracts to intellectual property licensing to employment issues. He represents dozens of companies that have licensed technology from University Tech Transfer offices.
Before joining Bodman, Joe worked for Accenture as an information technology consultant in Washington, D.C. He also served as corporate counsel and consulting manager for a Michigan-based IT startup, where he helped scale the company to 50+ employees and $3 million in revenue.
Joe is active in the Ann Arbor startup scene and regularly presents to student and local startup groups and University of Michigan classes on legal issues facing young, high growth companies .
Joe serves on the board of directors of New Enterprise Forum in Ann Arbor. He is a member of the Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) Business Law Advisory Board and New Lawyers Advisory Board. He is listed in Michigan Rising Stars 2021 under Business/Corporate.
Roger Newton
Espervita Therapeutics, Inc.
Biography
Roger Newton
Espervita Therapeutics, Inc.
Roger Newton has worked for 40+ years in the pharmaceutical and biotech life sciences industries. He is formerly the executive chairman and CSO, and also founder, president/CEO, and director of Esperion Therapeutics, Inc., which has its business offices in Ann Arbor. Prior to these appointments, Roger was senior vice president, Pfizer Global R&D, and director, Esperion Therapeutics, a Pfizer, Inc. company.
He was co-founder, president/CEO of the original Esperion founded in July 1998. Under Roger’s leadership and the team’s effort, Esperion built a portfolio of mechanism-based biopharmaceuticals focusing on HDL therapy and small molecule lipid regulating agents. Esperion was acquired by Pfizer for $1.3 billion in February 2004 (13x cash on cash return) and operated as a separate unit within Pfizer until its closure in May 2007. Pfizer then divested Esperion in May 2008 and Roger restarted the company as an independent enterprise.
Roger and the Esperion team raised enough equity financing and venture capital to develop Nexletol (bempedoic acid) from preclinical to FDA approval in February 2020. Nexletol is a novel, oral LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering drug, which lowers LDL-C by an average of 18% without an increased risk of muscle pain and weakness as observed with statin drugs. Nexletol can be used with statins in patients who cannot reach their LDL-C goal because of muscle pain and weakness at higher doses. Bempedoic acid in combination with ezetimibe (Nexlizet), which also received FDA approval in February 2020, can be used to produce an average of 38% lowering of LDL-C. Prior to founding the original Esperion, Roger was with Warner Lambert/Parke-Davis from 1981-1998. As a Distinguished Research Fellow and Chairman of the Atherosclerosis Drug Discovery Team, he co-discovered and was the product champion of what is now the largest selling and most prescribed cholesterol-reducing drug in the world, atorvastatin (Lipitor®).
Roger began his career as a translational basic scientist with a focus on treating and preventing atherosclerosis (Cholesterol and Lipoprotein Metabolism) during his postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California San Diego at LaJolla. Roger has a Ph.D. in Nutrition Science (Lipid Metabolism) from the University of California, Davis, a Master of Science degree (Nutritional Biochemistry) from the University of Connecticut, and a Bachelor of Science degree with honors in Biology from Lafayette College. During his research career, he has co-authored over one hundred peer-reviewed scientific articles and chapters.
Roger serves or has served as a member of the Board of Directors of Espervita, Esperovax, and Esperion Therapeutics, Celsee Diagnostics, Swift Biosciences, and Rubicon Genomics. He has also served as President and Board Director of the American College of Nutrition, and a member of the National Advisory Boards of the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center, Life Sciences Institute, and Taubman Medical Research Institute. Roger also currently participates as an Executive-in-Residence in the Center for Positive Organizations in the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan interacting with students, staff, faculty, and alumni.
Dr. Marlo Rencher
TechTown Detroit
Biography
Dr. Marlo Rencher
TechTown Detroit
Dr. Marlo Rencher is an entrepreneur, anthropologist, and educator with over two decades of experience in startup and small business development. Currently, she is TechTown Detroit’s director of technology-based programs. She is a co-founder at Commune Angels, an inclusive network of angel investors. She is the founder of Tech Founders Academy, which helps Black and Brown women reinvent themselves as Tech Founders. She has also founded or co-founded three other tech startups. Dr. Rencher was the co-author of digitalundivided’s 2016 #ProjectDiane report, which provided groundbreaking insight into the funding gap for Black women tech founders. She is currently engaged in research on developing inclusive tech accelerators, incubators, coworking spaces, and entrepreneurial hubs. Dr. Rencher previously served as vice president of innovation, entrepreneurship, and diversity at Cleary University. She also served as the faculty chair of the entrepreneurship department at the business-focused university.
Dr. Rencher earned an undergraduate degree in marketing from Michigan State University, an MBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, and a PhD in business and organizational anthropology from Wayne State University. She is a Certified Diversity Executive. She frequently speaks on technology entrepreneurship and inclusion and has been a presenter at TEDxDetroit, Princeton University, and SXSW. She is the co-author of Hard Reset: Framing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as the New Normal.
Lee Richards
BlueWater Angels
Biography
Lee Richards
BlueWater Angels
Lee spent most of his career in the automotive supply industry, including a long period as President/CEO of Avon Automotive, a supplier to the automotive powertrain sector. After leading the sale of Avon Automotive to MGI COUTIER, a French automotive supplier, subsequently renamed AKWEL Automotive, Lee spent nearly 10 years in various executive roles for the Group. Revenue for AKWEL in 2019 exceeded $1.3Bn. Lee retired in mid-2020 to focus on real estate development and the support of new business startups, through his membership in BlueWater Angels. Lee joined the board of BWA at the end of 2020 and was elected president in September 2021. Lee has a BS in marketing from Ferris State University and an MBA from University of Detroit Mercy.
BlueWater Angels has agreed to become an affiliate of Michigan Capital Network in 2021, and the group is looking forward to an expanded agenda and increased opportunities because of this affiliation.
During his 35-year career in the automotive industry, Mark first worked for Ford Motor Company in Product Planning developing Ford’s new line-up of compact trucks including the Ranger, Bronco II, and Aerostar vehicles as well as the introduction of Ford’s first light truck diesel engine. He then transitioned to the automotive supply base. His responsibilities most often revolved around working with advanced engineering to commercialize new electrical and electronics products including establishing joint product development partnerships with other companies. Ultimately, as Vice-President, Business Development for Lear Corporation, he led teams to evaluate and execute corporate transactions including mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. He was responsible for forming 10 new international joint ventures and for the oversight of a portfolio of 30 such ventures, including being a member of multiple boards of directors including 4 corporate start-ups.
Mark has an MBA from Harvard Business School, an MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan – Dearborn, and a BS in Aeronautical Engineering from Purdue University. Mark was recently named UM-Dearborn’s 2021 Alumni Difference Maker College of Engineering and Computer Science Alumnus of the Year.
Mark Ritz
Michigan Angel Fund
Biography
Mark Ritz
Michigan Angel Fund
Mark Ritz retired from a corporate career in the automotive industry in 2008 and is now pursuing an “encore career” serving Michigan’s entrepreneurial community as a consultant and an angel investor. He works closely with Ann Arbor SPARK assisting technology-based startup companies in accessing business accelerator funds to support execution of the company‘s growth plan. As a member of the Michigan Angel Fund’s Screening Committee, he evaluates investment opportunities. He is a member of the board of directors of Attune Medical, an early-stage medical device company. Previous entrepreneurial experience includes serving as Director of Business Development for Shepherd Intelligent Systems, an early mobility start-up, and being a member of the board of directors of several other startup companies.
During his 35-year career in the automotive industry, Mark first worked for Ford Motor Company in Product Planning developing Ford’s new line-up of compact trucks including the Ranger, Bronco II, and Aerostar vehicles as well as the introduction of Ford’s first light truck diesel engine. He then transitioned to the automotive supply base. His responsibilities most often revolved around working with advanced engineering to commercialize new electrical and electronics products including establishing joint product development partnerships with other companies. Ultimately, as Vice-President, Business Development for Lear Corporation, he led teams to evaluate and execute corporate transactions including mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. He was responsible for forming 10 new international joint ventures and for the oversight of a portfolio of 30 such ventures, including being a member of multiple boards of directors including 4 corporate start-ups.
Mark has an MBA from Harvard Business School, an MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan – Dearborn, and a BS in Aeronautical Engineering from Purdue University. Mark was recently named UM-Dearborn’s 2021 Alumni Difference Maker College of Engineering and Computer Science Alumnus of the Year.
Mahdi Shams
MLT Aikins
Biography
Mahdi Shams
MLT Aikins
Mahdi is an emerging industries lawyer with particular focus in the areas of technology (including e-sports and blockchain technology), mining and resources, cannabis and psychedelics, and plant protein. He advises entrepreneurs and growth-stage companies across Canada and helps businesses navigate legal and regulatory issues within new and rapidly advancing industries.
Mahdi employs a business centric and practical approach to solving business and legal needs from incorporation through exit. He acts for clients at all stages of the business life cycle, advising on investments, acquisitions, amalgamations, and reorganizations. Mahdi has experiencing assisting companies and investors secure debt and equity financing through private equity and venture capital opportunities.
Mahdi has been extensively involved in assisting clients in the emerging cannabis sector since legalization in Canada. He has helped companies clients successfully navigate new regulation and rapid growth in the industry including complex advertising, licensing, and consumer protection issues in British Columbia.
In the area of technology, Mahdi’s practice focuses on emerging blockchain technology businesses, including private equity investing, initial coin offerings, tokenization of products, and regulatory advice. His advice regarding emerging blockchain and cryptocurrency markets is grounded in experience with securities regulators and public mergers and acquisitions.
In addition to transactional work, Mahdi advises public issuers on continuous disclosure obligations, corporate governance, securities, financing, and general corporate law matters. He has extensive experience with corporate reorganizations, mergers, acquisitions, public and private equity and debt financing transactions, and Canadian and foreign stock exchange listings. He has participated in numerous cross-border and international corporate finance and merger transactions.
Mahdi was recognized as one of Lexpert magazine’s Rising Stars: Canada’s Leading Lawyers Under 40 in 2019 and also recognized as a leading lawyer in the agribusiness and cannabis industries in the 2020 Lexpert Special Edition: Agribusiness and Cannabis.
He is fluent in French and Farsi and has an intermediate level of Spanish.
Skip Simms
Ann Arbor SPARK
Biography
Skip Simms
Ann Arbor SPARK
Skip Simms joined Ann Arbor SPARK in 2006 as Director of Entrepreneurial Services and was its second employee. In 2011, he was named Senior Vice President. Skip oversees all the entrepreneurial activities including incubators, business accelerator programs, and all capital programs.
He was the architect of the Michigan Pre-Seed Capital Fund co-investment program, the multiple microloan programs managed by SPARK, and the MI Innovation Equipment Depot. His newest initiative is the Michigan Angel Fund.
Skip has nearly fifteen years of experience in financing and investments. Prior to joining Ann Arbor SPARK, he was the Managing General Partner at the Ralph Wilson Equity Fund, a $31 million fund-of-funds.
Skip was a charter member of the Michigan Venture Capital Association and currently serves on their Board of Directors. He is a past board member of the New Enterprise Forum. You may have seen him at an entrepreneur event or program, as he is often asked to serve on panels or make presentations regarding start-up funding.
Chris Sing
Rehmann
Biography
Chris Sing, CPA, CGMA, MBA
Rehmann
Chris is a principal in Rehmann’s Ann Arbor office. Chris also leads the firm’s emerging companies and cannabis practice groups and is a former member of the firm’s board of directors. She has 25 years of experience in public accounting at local and national firms, as well as executive experience in private industry. Chris serves as a close confidant and trusted advisor to her clients. She especially enjoys steering emerging companies through rapid stages of growth and partners closely with her clients through their critical milestones and transactions.
Erik Schumacher
Rehmann
Biography
Erik Schumacher, CPA
Rehmann
Erik strives to help his clients effectively manage their tax obligations, whether through effective annual tax planning or transactional assistance. His client-focused service approach centers on consistent communication, effectively managing deadlines, and providing proactive solutions.
As a member of Rehmann’s cannabis industry group and private equity practice, Erik provides insight and leadership to these teams.
Erik has experience serving a broad range of clients across multiple industries, including the cannabis, energy, manufacturing, and private equity sectors. He also has substantial experience serving clients with complex equity structures often associated with private equity or foreign ownership.
Prior to joining Rehmann in 2018, Erik provided tax services with a large national firm, providing tax consulting and compliance services to large companies with international and private equity ownership. He also served as the director of tax for the firm’s local office.
Jeff Wesley
Red Cedar Ventures
Biography
Jeff Wesley
Red Cedar Ventures
Jeff Wesley serves as the Executive Director of Spartan Innovations, Red Cedar Ventures, and Michigan Rise. All these entities are subsidiaries of the Michigan State University Foundation (MSUF). Prior to joining MSUF, in 2018, Mr. Wesley was the CEO of Two Men and Truck International, the largest international franchise moving company. During his tenure he and the company received an A plus ranking by Franchise grade, 93 CEO Glassdoor rating, “Crain’s Detroit Business Coolest Places to Work”, Inc. 5000 award winner, recognized nationally as a leading franchise system, a leading innovation franchise system, Franchise Times Top 200 Franchise System and Mr. Wesley received national recognition as a top franchise executive. Mr. Wesley also has served as the President of Accu Bite Dental Supply, an Inc. 100 company, that was acquired by a Fortune 500 company. Mr. Wesley led this early startup to a recognized leading national full-service dental distributor. Mr. Wesley began his career as an Audit Manager at Deloitte. Mr. Wesley has had significant experience in leading and scaling private companies to record success. Mr. Wesley has contributed to several startups throughout the state providing mentorship, coaching, operational experience and startup capital. Mr. Wesley has also been an Angel Investor for over 15 years and was a member of the Capital Community Angels and the Michigan Angel Fund. Mr. Wesley is a prior Vice Chairman for the Lansing Economic Area Partnership and has served on various economic and community boards. Mr. Wesley is currently an observer and Board Member of several boards including Greenmark BioMedical, AvidHrt, and AR Utility to name a few. Mr. Wesley is a frequent judge and speaker at events related to leadership, franchising and startups.
Walt Young
Serial Angel Investor
Biography
Walt Young
Director
Weathershield, L.L.C. (Chair), Eagle River Homes L.L.C. (Chair), Nanocerox, Inc. (Chair), and Muskingum University. Former Chairman, CEO & President, Champion Enterprises, Inc. and former President, The Henley Group
Walt Young has over 50 years of experience in leading organizations. For the first 36 years, he held senior positions at four public companies: BF Goodrich, The Budd Company, The Henley Group, and Champion Enterprises. As Chair and CEO of Champion (Fortune 500) Walt was recognized by Fortune as a “Superstar” and by the Harvard Business School as one of the 19 top business leaders of the 1990s. While at these four companies he completed 23 different turnarounds and over 75 mergers and acquisitions. Since 2003 Walt has focused on entrepreneurial start-ups, including as a lead investor and Director for Accuri Cytometers (acquired by Becton, Dickinson for in 2011), CelSee, Inc. (acquired by BioRad in 2020), and Swift Biosciences, Inc. (acquired by Danaher in 2021). He has led and assisted over 100 entities to raise more than $130M in capital. Walt is currently on the board of three early stage companies: Eagle River Homes, Weathershield, and Nanocerox, Inc.. From 2003 to 2018, Walt was a director at NRG Energy (NYSE:NRG, Fortune 200). Further, his non-profit boards have included Muskingum University, Oakland University and Gleaners Food Bank of Southeast Michigan.
Walt received a BA in History and Economics from Muskingum University, his MBA in Marketing and Management from Penn State University, and an honorary doctorate in Public Service from Muskingum University.
Michigan Angel Summit: Agenda
Doors Open & Breakfast
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Welcome
9:00 a.m. – 9:10 a.m.
Skip Simms, Manager of the Michigan Angel Community, the Michigan Angel Fund and Sr. Vice President of Ann Arbor SPARK
Keynote
9:10 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Scott Shane, Managing Director | Comeback Capital
- Scott is an economist and was the A. Malachi Mixon III Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies at Case Western Reserve University from 2006-20021. The author of 92 scholarly articles and 12 books, Dr. Shane was the 2009 winner of the Global Award for Entrepreneurship Research, the most prestigious award in this academic field.He is an angel investor and Managing Director of Comeback Capital, a pre-seed stage venture capital fund that invests across the Midwest.
When is a SAFE Note Not a SAFE Note?
10:00 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.
Chris Sing, Partner | Rehmann
Erik Schumacher | Rehmann
Kaoru Suzuki | Attorney
- Let the debate begin. Which is better for the investor, a SAFE or traditional convertible note?
Raising Capital
11:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
George Khalife, Vice President of Capital Formation | Toronto Stock Exchange
John Abrams, CEO | Venzee Technologies
Mahdi Shams, Partner | MLT Atkins
- This panel will explain how U.S. companies can go public in Canada on TSX or TSX Venture Exchange, a unique funding platform for high-growth companies looking to raise Series A & beyond. The panel will also share best practices and considerations on what companies can do today to get prepared for a go-public event down the road.
Lunch
Keynote
Noon – 12:50 p.m.
Hester M. Peirce, Commissioner | U. S. Securities and Exchanges Commission (SEC)
- Hester M. Peirce was appointed by President Donald J. Trump to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and was sworn in on January 11, 2018. Prior to joining the SEC, Commissioner Peirce conducted research on the regulation of financial markets at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. She was a Senior Counsel on the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, where she advised Ranking Member Richard Shelby and other members of the Committee on securities issues. Commissioner Peirce served as counsel to SEC Commissioner Paul S. Atkin. Commissioner Peirce earned her bachelor’s degree in Economics from Case Western Reserve University and her JD from Yale Law School. The Commissioner will give a broad overview of current SEC rules and regulations as they relate to early stage investors and then ask questions of the audience as to what is important to them.
10 Mistakes Angels Make, from an Attorney’s Perspective
1 p.m. – 1:50 p.m.
Matt Bower, Partner | Varnum
Joe Morrison | Bodman
- When conducting their legal due diligence your attorney finds many mistakes that investors make leading up to a funding round or exit. This presentation is about the common mistakes angels make from investment structures to board responsibility, or IP ownership.
Diversity Boosts Returns
2:00 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.
Dr. Dawn Batts | Commune Angels
Jill Johnson | The Making of Black Angels
Dr. Marlo Rencher | TechTown Detroit
- Teams of diverse founders (more than one gender and/or more than one race or ethnicity represented) create more innovation and — on average — better financial outcomes, including 30 percent higher multiples on invested capital. Build a portfolio that will maximize your return through diversity of entrepreneurs and investors.
Michigan’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
2:00 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.
Fred Molnar | MEDC
Mark Ritz | Angel Investor
Lee Gorman | Angel Investor
Jeff Wesley | MSU Foundation
- Leaders from Michigan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem provide an overview of state resources for entrepreneurs and startups and share an angel investor’s journey through the system.
Celsee Case Study
3:00 p.m. – 3:50 p.m.
Kalyan Handique, Co-Founder | Celsee
Walt Young | Investor
Roger Newton | Esperion Therapeutics
Priya Gogoi | Celsee
- In April 2020, Bio-Rad Laboratories, a global leader of life science research and clinical diagnostic products, acquired Celsee, Inc., an Ann Arbor company that offers instruments and consumables for the isolation, detection, and analysis of single cells. Celsee was founded by serial entrepreneur Kalyan Handique along with Priya Gogoi, Chris Siemer, and Saedeh Sepehri.
Groups vs. Going it Alone
3:00 p.m. – 3:50 p.m.
Moderated by Dale Grogan, Executive Director | Angel Capital Network
Lee Richards | BlueWater Angels
Diane Durance | Michigan Capital Network
- This panel will review the benefits of joining and investing through angel groups.
Wrap
3:50 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Skip Simms, Senior Vice President | Ann Arbor SPARK
Cocktail Reception
Invest360: Information Technology
4:20 p.m. – 6 p.m.
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