What does it take to be a regional force in investing? Join Venture Connectors on Wednesday, Aug. 3, to find out! Our featured speaker will be Ned Schwartz, partner in Columbus, Ohio-based Drive Capital, a private investment firm that works with Midwest entrepreneurs to build long-term, sustainable businesses.
Schwartz will discuss why Drive Capital believes the Midwest region is the best place in the world to build a business and how entrepreneurs can launch a great company right here. He will share what Drive Capital looks for in a company, examples of businesses that make Louisville and the Midwest region a major hub for entrepreneurial growth, and how communities like Louisville can encourage the creation of venture capital firms like Drive Capital.
There will be a Q&A with the audience following his presentation.
Drive Capital’s founders, Mark Kvamme and Chris Olsen, came from the Menlo Park, Calif., venture capital firm Sequoia Partners, which has investment stakes in Apple Inc., Google Inc. and Cisco Systems Inc., among other tech giants. They relocated to Ohio in 2014 to launch a $250 million Midwest-focused venture capital fund. Drive Capital focuses its investments on innovative technology, health care and consumer companies.
A Columbus native, Schwartz predominately focuses on investments in healthcare IT and services. Before joining Drive Capital, he spent five years as an investor at Norwest Venture Partners and General Atlantic, where he invested in MedExpress, Align Networks, Health Catalyst, RiverMend Health, iCardiac and others.
Schwartz got his start as an investor after making copies for the Google IPO as an intern at Credit Suisse. He decided he'd rather help build big companies than read about them. He earned a bachelor’s degree in politics from Princeton University.
An important purpose of our organization is to help facilitate and encourage the expansion of business and commercial investment activities in the Kentuckiana region. Our events include monthly luncheons and our annual Venture Sharks™ competition. And, we participate in many other regional, entrepreneurial events such as the Idea Festival, Startup Slams, and the Vogt Awards. If you are interested in making valuable contacts, exchanging information, or pursuing mutual business opportunities, please join us at one of our events or our monthly luncheons. Luncheon meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month in downtown Louisville from 11:30 to 1:15 PM EST.Each meeting features:
- 30-second open mic announcements by about upcoming new companies, activities, and programs relevant to our members.
- Five-minute presentations by entrepreneurs interested in obtaining capital to start up or support growth and expansion of their businesses.
- A guest speaker with an entrepreneurial success stories or one who discusses venture or financing issues or trends affecting today’s entrepreneurial climate.