Moderator:
Bob Fesnak
Managing Partner, Fesnak & Associates
Robert Fesnak is the managing partner of Fesnak and Associates, LLP. Bob has developed an extensive background in audit, accounting, tax, valuation and financial consulting for many public and middle market companies. He has over 30 years of experience with concentrations in the manufacturing, technology, life science, service, real estate, wholesale, health care, private equity and leasing industries. His experience has included assisting clients in the registration of various debt and equity securities with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including various SEC filings.
Bob has presented seminars on mergers and acquisitions, business valuations, accounting and related fields for national accounting firms, universities, the PICPA, various trade and professional organizations, and has served as an instructor at a major financial institution. Bob has been quoted in the Business Week SmallBiz publication and has authored an article for the “Capital Growth Interactive’s Venture Guide” on valuing technology companies. Bob authored a chapter on valuing life science companies in the book “How To Start And Grow A Life Sciences Company”. Bob has also appeared on “Money Matters,” a financial-oriented cable program, discussing various financial planning strategies and “Venture Talk,” a radio program. He has been quoted in various publications including Business Week SmallBiz.
Expert Panelists
Catherine Cook
Co-founder & VP Brand Strategy, MeetMe.com
Catherine is the co-founder of MeetMe, the public market leader for social discovery. Catherine co-founded myYearbook with her brother Dave in 2005.
The company merged with the Quepasa Corporation in November 2011 and in June 2012 rebranded to MeetMe, Inc. Catherine is responsible for creating some of the most important applications on the site and has been instrumental in driving the site’s growth by conceiving of the next popular features. As part of MeetMe’s management team, Catherine continues to drive new features that deliver on our mission — to be the best place to meet new people.
Catherine graduated from Georgetown University in 2011, where she majored in OPIM and marketing. Catherine has been reported on extensively on CNBC, MTV, ABC News, Fox News, CosmoGIRL, BusinessWeek, the San Francisco Chronicle, and CBS.
David Horowitz
Partner, Genacast Ventures
David is a partner at Genacast Ventures. Prior to Genacast, David was Managing Director at Comcast Ventures, the venture capital arm of Comcast. David joined Comcast Ventures in 2000 as one of the first employees of the fund. David focused on investments in digital media, advertising technology, digital home, education and financial technology. David led investments in Entropic (NASDAQ: ENTR), Intellon (NASDAQ: ITLN), Invite Media (acquired by Google), LinkShare (acquired by Rakuten), Nuera Communications (acquired by Audicodes), and XOS Digital (acquired by JumpTV/Neulion.) David serves of the board of Riskive, a Genacast investment. David also is currently on the board or an observer of the following Comcast Ventures portfolio companies: BlackArrow, Integrate, JiWire, Perfect Market, SnagFilms, The Rubicon Project, UberMedia, Videology, and Visible World. Prior to Comcast Ventures, David worked in investment banking at Bear Stearns. David graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with highest honors from the University of Michigan.
Phil Sugar
Co-Founder and CEO of SmartButton
Philip Sugar has the ability to see opportunities. Philip is the Co-Founder and CEO of SmartButton, Inc., a SAAS loyalty solution for high volume consumer marketing decision makers. SmartButton, a previous Delaware Innovation Fund portfolio company when launched, exited in 2013 when it was sold to Aimia Inc. (TSX: AIM) a $2.5 billion global loyalty program company. He has extensive start up and management experience with a variety of software companies and sits on the board of other emerging technology companies such as Return Central. Philip built a successful sales and marketing infrastructure at EnviroMetrics Corporation before eventually rising to CFO. At National Business Services, he analyzed poorly performing companies and recommended the best course of action. Philip has also shared his expertise at industry events, most recently discussing database and loyalty systems for the sports, entertainment and leisure industries at the National Sports Forum, INTIX and PACnet. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Management and Technology Program, Philip received dual degrees with a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Wharton School of Business; Concentration in Entrepreneurial Management and a Bachelor of Applied Science, Engineering; Concentration in Systems Engineering from Moore School of Engineering.