Not every business should chase the same dollars. In this panel, three seasoned voices break down the real funding landscape, from bank loans and debt financing to friends, family, and angels, to venture capital and private equity. Each panelist shares which founders tend to succeed on their path and which should look elsewhere. Come with questions, submit them live, and leave with a clearer sense of your next financing move.
YOUR PANELISTS:
Jim Griggy: Jim is a business advisor with the Akron Small Business Development Center, where he guides founders through the financial fundamentals of starting and running a company. A longtime friend to the Akron entrepreneurial community, he regularly leads workshops on funding fundamentals, financial basics, and building a business on solid footing.
Harvey Nelson: Harvey is the retired CEO of Main Street Gourmet, a bakery manufacturer he helped grow into a nationally recognized brand. Drawing on decades of experience, he speaks to funding from individuals, including friends, family, and angel investors, and the real-world tradeoffs of each.
James Hilton: James is a serial entrepreneur and Entrepreneur in Residence at Bounce. He has spent years on both sides of the investment table and brings a candid perspective on venture capital, private equity, and strategic corporate investment, including who these paths are right for and who should think twice.