Model D Speaker Series & Rotman Reception

Model D Speaker Series & Rotman Reception

Topic: "Fueling Start-Ups"
Date: Wednesday,
October 13, 2010
Time: Doors open at 5:30pm, program begins at 6:00pm
Rotman MBA Information Reception begins at 7:15pm
Location: The Max M. Fisher Music Center, 3711 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201

"When it comes to U.S. job growth, startup companies aren't everything. They're the only thing."
(from a new study on U.S. job growth from the Kauffman Foundation)

 
Join Model D on October 13 at the Max M. Fisher Center to learn about innovative new initiatives fueling start-ups in Detroit and beyond. Mahendra Ramsinghani will talk about the First Step Fund, a unique partnership between Invest Detroit, TechTown and Ann Arbor SPARK to provide financing to emerging small businesses in southeast Michigan. We'll also hear from Richard Powers, an expert on entrepreneurial and start-up governance from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto.

Speakers:

Mahendra Ramsinghani joined the Invest Detroit team with over 12 years of experience in the areas of fostering the growth of early-stage technology and life sciences businesses, deal sourcing, due diligence, fundraising and portfolio management. He is experienced in identifying commercially viable businesses, managing investments and in building client/customer relationships that are critical for emerging businesses.

Richard C. Powers has been active in assisting entrepreneurial and start-up companies adopt best practices in governance to prepare them for financing options including IPOs. He has just completed a 5-Year term as the Associate Dean and Executive Director of the Rotman School of Management MBA and Master of Finance Programs at the University of Toronto. A recognized expert in both corporate and Not-For-Profit governance, Rick is the National Academic Director of The Directors Education Program and the Not-For-Profit Governance Essentials Program (in partnership with the Institute of Corporate Directors – ICD). He also teaches in Rotman’s Executive MBA, OMNIUM, MBA and Executive Education Programs. A recipient of numerous teaching awards, Rick’s areas of expertise include corporate governance, ethics, business and corporate law and sports marketing.

Moderator:

David Blaszkiewicz manages Invest Detroit, its subsidiaries and affiliated entities. Mr. Blaszkiewicz leads Invest Detroit’s economic development efforts and collaborates with the public, private and philanthropic sectors to develop partnerships and strategic plans to support community initiatives and job creation. Prior to his position as president of Invest Detroit, Mr. Blaszkiewicz served as Director of Finance, and Secretary/Treasurer of Detroit Renaissance, a non-profit organization now known as Business Leaders for Michigan, that brought the business community’s leadership and resources together to encourage and facilitate the physical and economic revitalization of Detroit. Mr. Blaszkiewicz joined the organization in 1990 and participated in the management of projects related to finance, transportation, the environment and technology. In 1994, he facilitated the creation of the Detroit Investment Fund by developing the operating and management plan, managing the capital campaign and coordinating its private placement offering memorandum. 

Information Reception:

Rotman School of Management will be hosting an MBA reception for those considering getting their MBA.  Light refreshments will be provided.

The Rotman School of Management is located in the heart of Toronto -- North America's third-largest financial capital and the world's most culturally-diverse city -- the School is developing a new way to think that leads to creative business solutions.

Registration:

https://spreadsheets0.google.com/viewform?authkey=CJbknccG&authkey=CJbknccG&hl=en&formkey=dHd0UkpnQzBZMjJZSzlnMDZ6cVBLU0E6MQ#gid=0


The Speaker Series is sponsored by Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Michigan State Housing Development Authority, Henry Ford Health Systems, Wayne State University and the Detroit Medical Center.