Past Events

June 29, 2022 - IVCA Diversity Program Series, Part 2:  How to be an Upstander When You See Bias in Action
Missed it and would like to see the recording? IVCA members click HERE!

• Melissa Richlen of the MacArthur Foundation
• Keirsten Lawton of Cambridge Associates
• Shari Young Lewis of Aon Investments
• T. Bondurant “Bon” French of Adams Street Partners

Read all about it HERE! The audio recording is available for IVCA members HERE!

March 22, 2022 - IVCA Diversity Program Series, Part 1:  Why Inclusion Efforts Aren't Working in Workplaces Today and What You Can Do About It
Missed it and would like to see the recording? IVCA members click HERE!

December 6, 2021 - IVCA Annual Awards Dinner sponsored by Kirkland & Ellis LLP

• Venture Capital Portfolio Company of the Year recipient:  Factor
• Richard J. Daley Award recipient:  Linda L. Darragh, Kellogg School of Management Emerita
• Private Equity Portfolio Company of the Year recipient:  Option Care Health
  
• IVCA Fellows Award recipient:  Rocco J. Martino, OceanM19
  

Read all about it and see the pictures HERE!

• Curtis Young, Thompson Flanagan, Moderator
  
• Steve Kaye, Counsel in Ropes & Gray’s liability risk management group,
• Meg Gardiner is General Counsel and Claims Officer at Euclid Transactional
• Toria Lessman,  SVP, Underwriting Leader, Transactional Liability
• Bill O’Neill, Litigation Partner, Winston & Strawn

• Dan Malven, 4490 Ventures - Moderator
• Joanna Rupp, Managing Director, Private Equity · ‎University of Chicago, Office of Investments
• Tobias True, CFA, FRM - Partner, Adams Street Partners
• Prof. Steve Kaplan, Chicago Booth

 View the event recording here.

• Shari Young Lewis, Aon Investments
• Karen Derr Gilbert, FTV
• Constance Freedman, Moderne Ventures

December 7, 2020 - Virtual 2020 IVCA Awards

Please click here for event writeup and Awards videos.

September 3, 2020 IVCA Webcast - "Illinois’ fiscal and pension crisis: what you need to know and what can (and cannot) be done about it".
 
How did we get here...how do we get out?!  Even before COVID, Illinois’ ballooning pension obligations have crowded out spending on virtually every other category of spending in the state. Illinois is now in a more severe crisis and all of us will be affected by the looming disaster.
 
All is not lost!   Three individuals who are working tirelessly to suggest solutions to the Illinois Pension disaster will discuss what they’ve learned about the scope of the problem AND some potential solutions

• Ira Weiss, Hyde Park Venture Partners
  
• Laurence Msall, The Civic Federation
  
• Marin Gjaja, BCG
  

June 12, 2020 - IVCA Webcast - Return to Office Considerations

• Carolyn Flanagan, Partner, Head of Human Resources, Adams Street Partners
• Kevin McLennan, Senior Vice President, CBRE’s Advisory & Transaction Services Group
• Jesse Sellers, Midwest Solution Leader, CBRE | Space Enablement

• Alex Abell, Partner, RCP Advisors
• Harisha Koneru Haigh, Managing Director, Northwestern University
• Jerry Quandt, Senior Investment Officer, Illinois TRS
• Jennifer Steans, President & CEO, Financial Investments Corporation

• Summary of recent developments in the CARES Act and how it may be impacting transactions:
• Pending
• New
• Discussion of the transaction implications of:
• Net operating losses
• Maximizing deductions and losses
• Impact of payroll tax incentives on tax due diligence
• Form of purchase price payments and installment reporting
• Debt workouts

April 22, 2020 IVCA Webcast - “Main Street Lending Program for Companies Backed by Private Equity and Other Private Investors”

2020 IVCA Luncheon - Terms, Trends & Launch Considerations for Venture Capital and Growth Equity Funds

2019 IVCA Awards Dinner

December 9, 2019
The Four Seasons Hotel Chicago

Each year, IVCA honors individuals of the VC/PE industry as well as the successes of our Portfolio Companies of the Year at the IVCA Annual Awards Dinner, sponsored by Kirkland & Ellis LLP. On December 9th, IVCA celebrated the accomplished careers of Keith L. Crandell, ARCH Venture Partners and F. Oliver Nicklin, First Analysis, while also recognizing our Portfolio Companies of the Year, Evans Food Group (Private Equity-backed) and Livongo (Venture-backed).

More than 400 people enjoyed the evening which included a Cocktail Reception, sponsored by White & Case, followed by dinner and the Awards presentation, and closing with the Dessert Reception, sponsored by Greenberg Traurig, LLP.  This event was emceed by Rocco Martino, IVCA Vice Chairman.

IVCA also thanks our Platinum Sponsor, KRD - Kutchins, Robbins & Diamond, Ltd. and our Gold Sponsors: Adams Street Partners, Andersen Tax, ARCH Venture Partners, Baker Tilly, Frontenac, Growth Catalyst Partners, GTCR, Locke Lord LLP, Madison Dearborn Partners, McDermott, Will & Emery, Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg, LLP, Northern Trust, OCA Ventures, Origin Ventures, Paul Hastings, Plante Moran, Pritzker Group Venture Capital, Pritzker Private Capital, RSM US LLP, Shore Capital Partners, Thoma Bravo, Winston & Strawn LLP

Please enjoy the thoughts and comments of our presenters and awardees in the video links (click on the Awardee's name) below.

Stanley C. Golder Awardee - Keith Crandell, ARCH Venture Partners

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IVCA Luncheon - An Update on Healthcare Technology Investing

September 17, 2019 The Conference Center at UBS Tower

“An Update on Healthcare Technology Investing,” took place on September 17th, 2019 as three experts presented a comprehensive perspective on current investments in the Healthcare vertical, through a focus on M&A markets and the associative type of investments. The panel included:

• John Hennegan, Partner and Founding Member of Shore Capital Partners
• Joe McIntyre, Senior Vice President at William Blair & Co. (Healthcare focus)
• Ryan Moseley, Vice President at Cressey & Co. (Healthcare focus)

Read more here.

IVCA Baseball Event

August 9, 2019 Guaranteed Rate Field

Sponsored by Pacific Western Bank and Baker Tilly, more than 100 IVCA members and their guests watched the White Sox and Oakland A's, while enjoying the Upper Terrace Suite at Guaranteed Rate Field.

IVCA Luncheon - Investing in HR Tech Today

July 17, 2019 The Conference Center at UBS Tower

• Chloé Rada, Director of Talent Administration, Technology & Branding for Sodexo USA
• Adam Robinson, Co-Founder & CEO of Hireology
• Jason Weingarten, Co-Founder & CEO of Yello

2019 IVCA Spring Luncheon

April 16, 2019 The Chicago Club

The IVCA Annual Spring Luncheon is the opportunity for members of the association to hear the latest on issues in the industry, and this year’s event – which took place on April 16th, 2019, at the Chicago Club – was of particular importance. Entrepreneur Chris Gladwin (Cleversafe, Ocient) and Penny Pritzker, a Chicago entrepreneurial, civic and philanthropic leader who served as Secretary of Commerce under President Obama, are co-founders of the new Chicago Tech and Industry “Cluster” initiative, “P33.”

The name refers to the 1933 World’s Fair of Chicago, where the gathering focused on Chicago as the “World’s Brightest Spot” for technological discovery. P33 seeks to regain that signature by 2033, the city’s bicentennial, by bringing together Chicago’s tech, business and civic communities to supercharge innovation and leadership for the Windy City by promoting/strengthening specific clusters of technologies and industries.

The 2019 Spring Luncheon was sponsored by accounting/advisory firm Baker Tilly and the law firm of Ropes & Gray. The moderator for the event was IVCA Executive Director Maura O’Hara, and the following is the highlights of her conversation with Chris Gladwin and Penny Pritzker regarding P33.  Read the full write up here.

IVCA Luncheon - ‘Disruptions in Logistics and Supply Chain and Their Impact on Mature Companies’

Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg Conference Center

The first IVCA educational luncheon of 2019 was a real cause and effect exploration. The modern realignment of delivery systems to consumers and B2B, motivated by Amazon and their competitors, has changed the game significantly in the last five years. “Disruptions in Logistics and Supply Chain and Their Impact on Mature Companies” was the topic of the luncheon, which took place in downtown Chicago at the Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg Conference Center on April 3rd, 2019. The event was moderated by Saurabh Sharma, Partner at Jump Capital, and featured the following panelists ....

2018 IVCA Awards Dinner

December 3, 2018
The Four Seasons Hotel Chicago

IVCA celebrated the accomplished careers of Walter C. Florence, Frontenac and Christopher B. Galvin, and recognized the successes of our Portfolio Companies of the Year, The Stepping Stones Group and Aptinyx at our Annual Awards Dinner, sponsored by Kirkland & Ellis LLP, on December 3rd at The Four Seasons.

More than 400 people enjoyed the evening which included a Cocktail Reception, sponsored by White & Case, followed by dinner and the Awards presentation, and closing with the Dessert Reception, sponsored by Greenberg Traurig, LLP.  Emceed by Rocco Martino, IVCA Vice Chairman, the program featured the presentation of four Awards.

Please enjoy the thoughts and comments of our presenters and awardees in the video links (click on the Awardee's name) below.

• Begin with the welcome from Tony Palcheck, IVCA Chairman
• Fellow Award recipient:  Walter C. Florence, Frontenac
• Richard J. Daley Award recipient:  Christopher B Galvin
• Venture Capital Portfolio Company of the Year:  Aptinyx
• Private Equity Portfolio Company of the Year:  The Stepping Stones Group

Click here for pictures from the event!

IVCA Luncheon ‘PE and VC Firms Playing in the Sandbox Together’

 
July 24, 2018
The Conference Center at UBS Tower
 
The IVCA Educational Luncheon series is a significant perk of membership for the association, and another vital one took place on July 21st, 2018, at the UBS Conference Room in Chicago. The topic was topical: “PE and VC Firms Playing in the Sandbox Together” and was discussed by a distinguished panel of industry professionals. The event was moderated by Ira Weiss, Founder and Partner at Hyde Park Venture Partners, and included the following panelists...

• Dan Connolly, William Blair, Managing Director (Technology)
• Doug Grissom, Madison Dearborn Partners, Managing Director
• Jim MacDonald, First Analysis, Managing Director
• A.J. Rohde, Thoma Bravo Discover Funds, Partner

Read more here.

2018 IVCA Spring Luncheon with Featured Speaker T. Bondurant French

May 3, 2018
The Chicago Club

Bon French, Chairman of Adams Street Partners share his insights into "The State of Private Equity and Venture Markets".

Read more here.

See pictures here.

Uncovering & Addressing Cyber Risks (with Limited Time & Resources)”

• how to evaluate the potential costs of a Cyber security flaw
• operations downtime
• breach notification
• fines
• customer losses
• how to implement a recovery plan to limit the impact when (not if) a Cyber attack does happen
• what every firm should know about their hardware, software, and the people processes the manage them

Unraveling Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain

• Barbara A. Jones:  Shareholder - Greenberg Traurig LLP
• Omkar Naik – leads Microsoft Blockchain Strategy
• Matthew Roszak:  Founder – Chicago Blockchain Center and Co-Founder - Bloq
• Ari Studnitzer:  Managing Director - CME Technology, Architecture & Product Management
• Moderated by: Saurabh Sharma, Jump Capital

See pictures here.

Tax Reform Update & Action

• Saul Rudo, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
• Kevin Burns, Andersen Tax, LLC
• Brad Rode, Andersen Tax, LLC

The demonstration of the issues in Tax Reform was split into three sections... one, a general overview (Mr. Rudo). Two, a closer look at key provisions impacting Private Equity and M&A transactions (Mr. Burns). And finally, International Provisions and what you need to know (Mr. Rode).  Read more...

See pictures here.

2017 IVCA Awards Dinner

Talent, Culture, Chemistry: The Right Team at the Right Time

• Michael Liang, Partner at Baird Capital
• Melissa Mounce Mithal, Principal at Baird
• Ira Weiss, Founder of Hyde Park Venture Partners
• Sam Yagan, CEO of ShopRunner

IVCA/CALPA LP Event with featured speaker Scott Malpass, University of Notre Dame Vice President and Chief Investment Officer

August 1, 2017
Union League Club


The traditionalism of the Union League Club of Chicago was the perfect setting for Scott Malpass, Chief Investment Officer (CIO) and Vice President of the University of Notre Dame, to talk about the Private Equity strategies of the institution’s endowment fund. Malpass talked about the planning and policies the University uses for its investments, and how the nature of investing has changed since he joined Notre Dame in the late 1980s. 

Read more here.   See the picture here.

2017 IVCA Spring Luncheon

May 16, 2017
The Chicago Club

The mahogany halls of the Chicago Club, in the traditional Burnham Room, was the setting for the annual Spring Illinois Venture Capital Association (IVCA) Luncheon, a centerpiece for the year, that took place on May 16th, 2017. The event was sponsored by accounting/advisory firm Baker Tilly (their 10th year) and the legal firm Ropes & Gray (their 8th year). The luncheon program featured a panel discussion on “Will Carried Interest Get Carried Away?: How the Trump Administration Could Affect Venture Capital and Private Equity,” followed by a session entitled “The Son of ‘G’ Interviews the ‘C,’” which was a celebratory back-and-forth between David Golder – the son of Private Equity pioneer Stanley Golder – and one of Golder’s PE pioneer partners, Bryan Cressey.

View video shorts from the event here:
Video #1: David Golder (Golder Investment Management) and Bryan Cressey (Cressey & Company)
Video #2: David Golder and Bryan Cressey
Video #3: David Golder and Bryan Cressey
Video #4: David Golder and Bryan Cressey
Video #5: Panel including Lee M. Mitchell (Thoma Bravo), Mike Sommers (AIC), Bobby Franklin (NVCA)
Video #6: Panel including Lee M. Mitchell, Mike Sommers, Bobby Franklin

2016 IVCA Annual Awards Dinner

December 5, 2016
Four Seasons Hotel Chicago

IVCA celebrated the accomplished careers of Paul Carbone, Pritzker Group Private Capital and Ellen Rudnick, Polsky Center, Chicago Booth, and recognized the successes of our Portfolio Companies of the Year, Cleversafe (now known as IBM Cloud Object Storage) and Sage Products at our Annual Awards Dinner, sponsored by Kirkland & Ellis LLP, on December 5th at The Four Seasons.

More than 400 people enjoyed the evening which included a cocktail reception, followed by dinner and the Awards presentation, and closing with the Dessert Reception, sponsored by Greenberg Traurig, LLP.  Emceed by Walter Florence, incoming IVCA Chairman, the program featured the presentation of four Awards.

Click here for event write up which includes videos of the Awards presentation.Click here for pictures from the event.

Closing a Growth Financing Round

Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg conference center

 
Sponsored by Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP, Michael Gray (Partner, NGE) led a panel discussion with four startups and their experiences securing Series B growth financing.  The panel included:

• Talia Mashiach, Eved, Provider of an online marketplace to communicate with vendors and event management companies.
• Aashish Dalal, ParkWhiz, The company develops an online platform that allows customers to reserve parking in real-time.
• Justyn Howard, Sprout Social, The company offers a suite of scalable software products
• Jason Weingarten,Yello, Provider of web and mobile recruitment software and services.

 
IVCA Small Toolkit - Managing Diligence

Tuesday, September 20, 2016
The Conference Center at UBS Tower

The target group for this event was new vc/pe firm hires and those new to the vc/pe industry.  The discussion focused on:

• Sourcing
• Detailed Diligence
• Negotiation
• Extensive Diligence
• Closing

 
Structuring and Negotiating Rollover Equity

Tuesday, September 13, 2016
The Conference Center at UBS Tower
 
“Structuring and Negotiating Rollover Equity,” gave investors a deeper understanding of how to best structure rollover equity to minimize tax issues.  Sponsored by Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, the event featured Saul Rudo, national head of Katten’s Tax Planning practice and member of the firm’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee; and Steve Jarmel, founder of Periscope Equity, who added context from the transaction side of the topic.

Review the presentation here.

Navigating the Dynamic Regulatory Landscape of Private Equity

Wednesday, May 4, 2016
The Union League Club

Please review the "takeaway" from this program here.

See pictures here.

 
Protecting the Value of Your Investment: How to Use Communication Planning to Mitigate Franchise Risk

Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Conference Center - Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg Offices

Please read the event review here.

See pictures here.

 
2016 IVCA/NVCA Luncheon

• MODERATOR: Lee Mitchell, Managing Partner of Thoma Bravo, and current IVCA-PAC
• Chairman Chris Gladwin, Founder and former CEO of Cleversafe
• Peter Barris, Managing General Partner of New Enterprise Associates
• Chris Galvin, Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder of Harrison Street Capital, LLC
• Jim Dugan, Co-founder, CEO and Managing Partner of OCA Ventures

2015 Annual Awards Dinner

Monday, December 7, 2015
The Four Seasons Chicago

IVCA members and their guests were treated to an amazing set of speeches that included insights on success in private company investing, observations about how the industry has changed and how we are perceived by some in the media.  IVCA Chair Bob Fealy kicked off the evening with some thoughts about IVCA’s impact and importance in advocating for private company investors.

The 500 guests at IVCA’s Fourteenth Annual Awards Dinner paid rapt attention to the presenters and recipients of the Portfolio Company of the Year Awards as they shared personal observations about the business of investing private dollars into private companies from Paylocity’s growth from zero to IPO to Sterigenics transformation into a fully integrated medical device sterilization company.  The common thread: teamwork and shared vision between management team and investor.

Click here for the event write up which includes videos of the presentations in the narrative.

Click here for the pictures.
 

Private Equity GP/LP Relationship: Dynamics of the Future

Tuesday, September 29, 2015
The Conference Center at UBS Tower
 
A luncheon co-presented by the Chicago Area Limited Partner Association (CALPA) and the IVCA, and sponsored by the legal firm of Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg on  the important topic of “Private Equity GP/LP Relationship: Dynamics of the Future” had an attentive and packed room at The Conference Center in the UBS Tower in Chicago. Moderator Michael Gray, Partner at Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg, moved the panel through a variety of topics in 3 categories:

• Strategic shifts in private equity fund economics
• End of Fund life issues
• Spin-off funds

The expert panel included:

• Joanna Rupp, CFA, Managing Director of Private Equity, University of Chicago Office Of Investments
• Greg Uebele, Director - Private Equity, The Boeing Company
• Kelly M. Williams, President, GCM Grosvenor Private Markets

Read the highlights here.

See the pictures here.

2015 Annual IVCA/NVCA Luncheon

Tuesday, May 19, 2015
The Chicago Club

The 2015 IVCA/NVCA Luncheon took place on May 19th, 2015, in the Burnham Room of the Chicago Club, and the large gathering was part of the annual the coming together of the Illinois Venture Capital Association (IVCA) and National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), The Small Business Investor Alliance (SBIA) and the Private Equity and Growth Capital Council (PEGCC) for the annual overview of Venture Capital and Private Equity issues.  Read more about the panel discussion here.

The luncheon was sponsored by legal firm Ropes & Gray, LLP and accounting/advisory firm Baker Tilly.

The second part of the program for the luncheon was a special meeting of two leaders in the industry. “A Conversation with Bon French” (Adams Street Partners) was moderated by John A. Canning, Jr. of Madison Dearborn Partners. The two longtime colleagues spoke of the changes and challenges of their industry over the years. Both men were founding members of the IVCA.

Read the interview here.

See the pictures here.

Representations and Warranties Insurance: A High-Level Summary and Market Update

Tuesday, March 10, 2015
The Conference Center at UBS Tower

The topic of Representations and Warranties (R & W) Insurance, as a back end assurance for both buyers and sellers in transactions, was in the spotlight at the first IVCA luncheon of 2015 which took place on March 10, 2015. Sponsored by the international law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP, the luncheon featured a comprehensive presentation and a panel discussion.

Read more about the event here.

See the pictures here.
 

IVCA Public Policy Roundtable webinar

Tuesday, February 24, 2014

The first IVCA Public Policy Roundtable webinar was held at 8 AM on February 24, 2015.  The primary topic for this discussion was Governor Rauner’s budget and the issues it will face in the legislature.   The webinar featured:

• David Stricklin of Stricklin & Associates (IVCA Government Relations consultant)
• Republican Illinois State Senator Chris Nybo
• Democrat Illinois State Senator Daniel Biss

Topics included:

• Public Employee Unions
• Diversity in Building Trades
• Worker’s Compensation
• Minimum Wage

2014 IVCA Awards Dinner

Monday, December 8, 2014
The Four Seasons Chicago

More than 400 attendees enjoyed an evening of networking and socializing with the IL venture capital and private equity community at The Four Seasons.  As part of the evening's festivities, the VC/PE industry honored the following individuals and companies:

    Darren M. Snyder, Prairie Capital - Fellows Award
    Steven N. Miller, Origin Ventures - Daley Award
    GrubHub - Venture Capital Portfolio Company of the Year
    Fieldglass - Private Equity Portfolio Company of the Year

Click here for the write up and pictures!

 
Trends in Debt: Providers, Terms & Structure

Tuesday, November 4, 2014
The Conference Center at UBS Tower

Sponsored by William Blair, this event provided an overview of market terms, providers and structure followed panel of experts who shared information and insights from recent market transactions

• Jim Hickey, Principal, Vista Private Equity
• John Hoesley, Group Head - Technology Banking, The PrivateBank
• Craig Nickerson, CFO, SAVO
• Mark Solovy, Monroe Capital
• Dave Tuttle, CFO, bswift
• Moderated by Kelly Martin, William Blair

Read more here.

 
Building a Career in Private Equity: Different Routes to Partnership

Tuesday, September 9, 2014
The Conference Center at UBS Tower

Intended for VPs and Principals and private equity firms, this luncheon discussed what the profile of the “new” private equity professionalis.  Recently firms have differentiated themselves by touting operational expertise.  Does this change the conventional career path of investment bank to private equity?   How are operating experience and investment experience weighted for hiring and advancement?

Ted Martin, Martin Partners, led the panel of very different backgrounds to get their thoughts on how to best position yourself for the partnership track.

• Ted Martin, Martin Partners, Moderator
• Justin Ishbia, Managing Partner, Shore Capital Partners
• Jeffrey Moss, Director at Susquehanna Growth Equity
• Sean Cunningham, Managing Director, GTCR

Read about the discussion here.
 

Board Excellence Toolkit Event: Developing Top C-Suite Talent

Thursday, June 5, 2014
The Conference Center at UBS Tower

One of the seminal issues for both private company investors and company management is the assessment, recruitment and retention of the talent necessary to deliver results. The IVCA presented a Toolkit Event on June 5th, that addressed this vital topic, “Developing Top C-Suite Talent”, sponsored by Lantern Partners.  Lantern Partners’ Michael Wyman assembled a panel of industry experts with an outstanding list of discussion questions for a lunchtime assembly of IVCA members and invited guests to delve into the subject.

Moderated by Michael Wyman, Lantern Partners, the expert panel included:

• CEO Michael Alter of The Tie Bar, and former President of SurePayroll
• Veteran CEO Jim Gagnard, most recently at SmartSignal
• Operating Partner Steve Stubitz of The Riverside Company
• Managing Partner David Chandler of Chicago Growth Partners

Read the about this topic here.

 
2014 IVCA/NVCA Luncheon

Wednesday, May 21, 2014
The Chicago Club

"The Case for Outsized Returns from Venture in the Midwest” presented by Mark Kvamme, Drive Capital.
The topic of the keynote talk at the Illinois Venture Capital Association (IVCA) and National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) Luncheon on May 21st, 2014 was “Let’s Hear it for the Midwest”. The featured speaker was Mark Kvamme of Drive Capital which is based in Columbus, Ohio. In accordance with the theme, Kvamme remarked, “...there was a study that looked at successful investments in companies. It turned out that the Midwest tech companies had the highest rate of return of any region. We have the GDP, the customers and the success.”  Read write up here.

Brand Building for VC & PE Professionals

Thursday, March 20, 2014
The Conference Center at UBS Tower

How can VC & PE professionals use social media to create a presence that benefits their individual careers and their firm’s returns?

• Be seen as a subject matter expert
• Attract proprietary deal flow
• Identify strong management talent
• “Sell” the firm’s expertise to prospective partners

We will review the strategy for social media and the basics of building an online presence, present some real-life examples of how VCs are using social media and evaluate how Registered Investment Advisors can safely participate.

Read about the discussion here.

Strategies for Incentive Compensation at Private Companies, sponsored by Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg

Tuesday, January 21, 2014
The Conference Center at UBS Tower

On January 21st, In the midst of another blast of cold in Chicago, the IVCA kicked off 2014 with the first Educational Luncheon of the year. “Strategies for Incentive Compensation at Private Companies” was the topic, sponsored by Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP. The moderator for the event was Michael Gray, Partner at the firm. Mr. Gray felt that the topic was timely because, “So much of the key value driving a company’s success is by its CEO and Senior Management Team. Making sure they are incentivized in a fair manner is a critical element of every deal – and their incentives should be aligned with investor interests in the success of the company.”  Read more here.

 
2013 IVCA Annual Awards Dinner presented by Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Monday, December 9, 2013
The Four Seasons Chicago

Click here for the featured writeup!

2013 IVCA/NVCA Luncheon -  Sponsored by Baker Tilly and Ropes & Gray

Thursday, May 30, 2013
The Chicago Club

IVCA's Annual IVCA/NVCA luncheon featured perspective on the local investment climate as seen by Managing General Partner of New Enterprise Associates, Peter Barris who has been investing in Chicago since 1992.  Peter is a Chicago native, whose firm, New Enterprise Associates (NEA), has expanded dramatically during his tenure – beginning in 1992 – from $1 billion in assets to over $13 billion is one the most notable national and international technology investors.

Barris was interviewed at the event by David Greising, the Midwest Bureau Chief of Reuters and their Americas Services, a client-based news file. David was particularly well suited for this event as he co-authored with Robert Finkel “The Masters of Venture Capital & Private Equity” which shares the investing and management wisdom leaders in the industry have gained by investing in and transforming their portfolio companies.

Read more here.

View event pictures here.

IVCA luncheon -  Implementation of Illinois' Health Insurance Exchange

Tuesday, April 23, 2013
The Conference Center at UBS Tower

On April 23rd, the IVCA presented an educational luncheon with the subject, “ Overview and Implementation of Illinois’ Health Insurance Exchange,“ presented by Kevin Scanlan, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council (MCHC). The presentation focused on the upcoming phases of the Affordable Healthcare Act (ACA), which was signed into law on March 23rd, 2010. These next important phases are regarding the implementation of a “healthcare insurance marketplace” that will emerge in Illinois and all states on October 1st of this year. After that date, individuals in each state will be able purchase healthcare insurance, to begin coverage in 2014.

The luncheon emphasized the facts of the ACA, in association with the next phase. Kevin Scanlon gave an overview of these facts, in connection with his new ‘Land of Lincoln Health,’ which is a consumer operated and oriented plan that is explained below. The following seven facts were highlighted in the presentation, along with attendee Q&A and website destinations for more information.

Under ACA, the movement is toward payments based on the outcome of care.

Read more here.

View event pictures here. 

IVCA luncheon - Running an Efficient Investment Process

Tuesday, April 9, 2013
The Conference Center at UBS Tower

On April 9th, the IVCA presented, “Managing an Efficient Purchase Process.“ which was moderated by Mark Glennon of Ninth Street Advisors and a panel that included Benedict Rocchio (Partner, Baird Capital), Mike Sands (CEO, BrightTag), Chuck Templeton (Serial Entrepreneur, Managing Director of Impact Engine) and Jamie Wildman (Managing Director, Financial Sponsors Group of William Blair & Co.) The four panelists discussed many relevant themes including working effectively with management in a buying situation, directing service providers and building a reputation that creates attraction for entrepreneurs and sellers.

Read more here.

View event pictures here.

 

IVCA luncheon - Best Practice Use of Transaction Insurance

Tuesday, January 22, 2013
The Conference Center at UBS Tower

Despite the frigid Chicago temperatures on January 22nd IVCA members gathered for the latest IVCA Toolkit luncheon. The luncheon provided a deep dive into the features and benefits of Representation and Warranty Insurance for M&A Indemnities. The Toolkit was sponsored and presented by Lockton Companies, an international insurance broker, and the McDermott Will & Emery law firm. As with all our toolkit events, the highly experienced panelists were able to cover a tremendous amount of information – with audience participation – in a short period of time.

The event moderator was Lockton’s Casey Zgutowicz and the panel consisted of:
    •    Ryan Harris of McDermott Will & Emery
    •    Troy Phillips of Beecken Petty O’Keefe & Company
    •    Henry Jennings of Lockton Companies

Read more here.

View event pictures here.
 

2012 IVCA Annual Awards Dinner

Monday, December 3, 2012
The Four Seasons

Nearly 460 attendees enjoyed an evening of networking and socializing with the IL venture capital and private equity community at The Four Seasons.  As part of the evening's festivities, the VC/PE industry honored the following individuals and companies:

Stanley C. Golder Award - T. Bondurant French, Adams Street Partners
Richard J. Daley Award - James A. Johnson, Apex Venture Partners
The Fellows Award - James P. TenBroek, Wind Point Partners
IL Portfolio Company of the Year (Venture capital-backed) - SurePayroll
IL Portfolio Company of the Year (Private equity-backed) - Flexera Software

Read Event Write-up here.

View Event pictures here.

Excerpts from Awardee acceptance speeches can be found here.
 

IVCA luncheon - How Entrepreneurs are Addressing Gaps in US Education

Tuesday, November 13, 2012
The Conference Center at UBS Tower

One of the benefits of membership in the IVCA is the opportunity to attend the many luncheons throughout the year, with timely and valuable topics set forth and discussed. Last month, the topic “How Entrepreneurs are Addressing Gaps in Education” was organized and moderated by Lon Chow of Apex Venture Partners.

The topic refers to how entrepreneurs are addressing unmet needs in today’s education. Each of these entrepreneurs on the panel created businesses that offer instructional programs.

The panel included
•    Neal Sales-Griffin of Starter League (software development training),
•    Howard Tullman of Kendall College and Tribeca Flashpoint Academy (digital media)
•    Shegan Campbell of Kids Science Labs.

Read more here.
 

2012 IVCA CFO Summit

Thursday, October 18, 2012
University of Chicago Gleacher Center

Presenting sponsor Silicon Valley Bank and content sponsors Kirkland & Ellis LLP and PricewaterhouseCoopers participated in the all day educational program directed at financial professionals of venture capital and private equity firms.  Topics included an economic outlook for vc and pe investors, accounting developments, tax matters, fundraising trends and issues, LP reporting, preparing for an SEC Exam, SEC audit best practices, and the outlook for changes in tax and regulation.

IVCA Luncheon - Affordable Healthcare Act's Impact on Healthcare Investing

Tuesday, July 10, 2012
The Conference Center at UBS Tower

The decision by the Supreme Court regarding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to uphold the law with a 5-4 vote, has not quieted the debate about the viability of implementation. The IVCA wanted to put the Act under another sort of microscope, as in how it will affect healthcare investments. The education luncheon on July 10th – “Affordable Care Act’s Impact on Healthcare Investing” – brought together legal analysis, provider representation and investors.

Sponsoring the event was the law firm of Greenberg Traurig with the firm’s own Gary Silverman moderating the discussion. The discussion began with expert overview of the ACA, provided by Eric Hargan – also of Greenburg Traurig – who served in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the Bush II administration.

The panel participants included the investors –Kerry Byler of BlueCross BlueShield Venture Partners, Eric Larson of Linden LLC and Aaron Lillybridge of Baird Capital Partners. The healthcare provider side was ably represented by Dr. Larry J. Goodman, CEO of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

Read more here.

2012 Annual Baseball event

Cross-town Classic - Sox v. Cubs
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Time:  7:00 game start (5:30 event start time).
Location:  Miller Lite Extra Base Terrace Suite

Sponsored by: Cendrowski Corporate Advisors, McGladrey, McGuireWoods LLP, and Square 1 Bank

 
2012 IVCA/NVCA Luncheon

Wednesday, May 2, 2012
The Chicago Club

The annual NVCA/IVCA Luncheon was on May 2nd at The Chicago Club, a historic setting which has been a center for the business community in Chicago since 1869.  Membership of the IVCA was there to get a perspective on the state of the venture capital and private equity industry, through the presence of the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), the Small Business Investor Alliance (SBIA) and Professor Mitchell Petersen, with the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Professor Petersen spoke on the subject “Beyond the Soundbites: The Real Impact of Venture Capital and Private Equity Investing in America.” His remarks were an answer to public perceptions of media’s coverage in the current presidential campaign.

Read more here.
 

IVCA luncheon - Scaling Fast Growth Enterprises: CEO Succession Best Practices

Wednesday, March 14, 2012
The Conference Center at UBS Tower

There are many reasons for CEO succession, and many ways it can be done, both on the senior executive, board director and investor level. On March 14th, the IVCA and Korn/Ferry International presented an educational luncheon on the “best practices” for CEO succession and transition, focusing on the particular sensitivities surrounding an officer who also happens to be the founder of the company.

Moderating the event was Bill Westwood, Senior Partner of the Korn/Ferry Leadership and Talent Practice in Chicago. The experts on the dais included: John Aiello, Founder and former CEO of the SAVO Group, and his successor, Mark O’Connell, current CEO and President of SAVO;  Jim Heising, President of Red Foundry; and with an investor perspective, Jim Macdonald, Managing Director, First Analysis.

Read more here.

2011 IVCA Annual Awards Dinner

Monday, December 5, 2011
The Four Seasons

On December 5th, 2011, IVCA hosted the 2011 Annual Awards Dinner presented by Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Recognition this year went to: Portfolio Company success stories Accretive Health and Great Kitchens and industry veterans Brian Simmons and Scott Meadow.  IVCA also announced that SPSS, Inc. joins Archipelago Holdings, Inc., Bakery Chef, Inc., CCC Information Services, Inc., DeVry, Inc. and Levy Restaurants in the IVCA Portfolio Company Hall of Fame.

Over 450 attendees jammed the Four Seasons Chicago ballroom for the Tenth Annual event which has been supported by Kirkland & Ellis every year. Emceed by IVCA Vice-Chair Darren Snyder of Prairie Capital, the event included a cocktail party, dinner and awards ceremony with an update on IVCA’s activities by IVCA Chairman Jim TenBroek of Wind Point Partners. As has historically been true, the evening moved along crisply and ended, as planned, just before 8:30 PM. A large crowd of people stayed and mingled at the dessert reception held immediately after the awards presentation.

Read more here.

IVCA Toolkit Luncheon

Tuesday, November 15, 2011
The Conference Center at UBS Tower

Negotiating the sale of a portfolio company has always been complex and time consuming with terms being revisited even post-sale. Contractual obligations ensuring that things are as presented backstopped by escrow accounts or third party apparatuses. The IVCA Toolkit presented on November 15th shed some light on buyer behavior post-sale to provide insight on how these complex negotiations ultimately were resolved through the escrow process.  This event was sponsored by SRS | Shareholder Representative Services and Sidley Austin LLP.

Three stakeholders of those selling points came together at the Toolkit event a Shareholders Rep, Paul Koenig – Managing Director of SRS | Shareholder Representative Services, an attorney Rob Verigan – Partner at Sidley Austin LLP and a venture capitalist, Chris Girgenti – Managing Partner of New World Ventures.. These representatives presented a comprehensive overview of many situations that must be negotiated during and after the sale of a company.

Read more here.

2011 IVCA CFO Summit

Thursday, October 27, 2011
University of Chicago Gleacher Center

Presenting sponsor Silicon Valley Bank and content sponsors Kirkland & Ellis LLP and KPMG LLP participated in the all day educational program directed at financial professionals of venture capital and private equity firms.  Topics included an economic outlook for vc and pe investors, accounting developments, valuation developments, tax matters, fundraising trends and issues, and healthcare reform.

 
IVCA Luncheon - Healthcare Investing

Tuesday, September 28, 2011
The Conference Center at UBS Tower

Sponsored by GE Financial Healthcare Services, the panel discussion included:

• How changes in Federal healthcare laws has affected investing decisions
• Emerging opportunities in healthcare investing
• Views on corralling the spiraling costs of healthcare in the U.S.
• Investing in healthcare: venture focus v. private equity focus

It was moderated by Brian Pottinger, GE Financial Healthcare Services, and the panel included Matt Downs, Sandbox Industries; David Koo, RoundTable Healthcare Partners; David Katz, GTCR, LLC and Jim Pavlik, Baird Venture Partners.

2011 Annual Baseball Event

Wednesday, June 22, 2011
U.S. Cellular Field

170 fans, both Cubs and Sox, watched the evening's Crosstown Classic from the Miller Lite Extra Base Suite where the Sox won 4-3.  No matter who wins, it was a great evening with food, drinks, networking and watching the game on the TVs or outside on the balcony terrace!

IVCA Luncheon:  Homegrown Successes: Serial Entrepreneurs

Tuesday, June 14, 2011
The Conference Center at UBS Tower

For some entrepreneurs, a successful exit or a company buyout is not the end of the career. Serial entrepreneurs are the innovators that start up another venture (or several additional ventures) after an initial success. The IVCA luncheon on June 14th put the spotlight on four such serial entrepreneurs, as they talked about the risks, rewards and compelling paths to beginning another new initiative.
The event was sponsored by the Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg law firm, and moderated by Michael Gray, a partner at the firm. Lon Chow of Apex Venture Partners helped to coordinate the event, and the entrepreneurs featured were Brian Hand (current company: Timelines), Eric Lunt (BrightTag), Al Warms (Appolicious) and Alex Zoghlin (VHT).

Read more here.

2011 Annual IVCA/NVCA Luncheon

Wednesday, May 11, 2011
The Chicago Club

175 people gathered at The Chicago Club to hear then Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel give is thoughts about the venture capital/private equity industry in IL.  Also speaking were Mark Heesen, National Venture Capital Association and Doug Lowenstein, Private Equity Growth Capital Council.

Read more here.

 
IVCA Luncheon: Liquidity Through Private Markets

Wednesday, March 9, 2011
The Conference Center at UBS Tower

At the March 9th Luncheon IVCA hosted a discussion on new opportunities for liquidity for shareholders of private companies via private shares marketplaces.  Moderated by Michael Gray, Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg, panelists included Danielle Hughes of Divine Capital Markets and Jeremy Smith of SecondMarket.

Read more here.

Download the presentation.  Click on "Research, Resources & Statistics" on the left nav bar, then scroll to the March 9 event presentation.
 

IVCA Toolkit Luncheon

Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Webinar

Over lunch on Tuesday, February 15th, IVCA hosted a webinar with Reed Smith. This event was part of IVCA's Toolkit series; programs that are intended to provide immediate value to investors at VC/PE firms.  The Executive Comp program certainly did that for any investor currently serving on a portfolio board by providing insight how best to approach C-Level:

    The Employment Agreements
    The Components of Compensation
    Equity Compensation Alternatives & Corporate Structure (Carry v. Stock)
    Negotiation Techniques and Pitfalls

IVCA members view the presentation.  Click on "Research, Resources & Statistics" on the left nav bar then scroll to the February 15 presentation.

2010 IVCA Annual Awards Dinner

Monday, December 6, 2010
The Four Seasons Hotel

On Monday, Dec. 6, the Four Seasons Chicago was the location for more than 500 IVCA members and their guests who attended the Ninth Annual IVCA Awards Dinner. The annual event honored stellar members of the local venture capital & private equity industry as well as two Illinois companies that achieved outstanding results for private investors. The event was emceed by Jim TenBroek of Wind Point Partners, currently IVCA Vice-Chairman.

IVCA presented the Richard J. Daley Award to Robert L. Fealy, President of the Duchossois Group and founder of Duchossois Technology Partners; the Stanley C. Golder Award to Lester B. Knight of RoundTable Healthcare Partners; and the Fellows Medal to Mark Glennon, Ninth Street Advisors.

Read more here.
  

2010 IVCA CFO Summit

Thursday, October 21, 2010
The University of Chicago Gleacher Center

On October 21, 2010, IVCA and Silicon Valley Bank presented the 10th Annual IVCA CFO Summit. Thanks to our sponsors, including Ernst & Young LLP and Kirkland & Ellis LLP, the content was rich and discussion engaging for the sold out venue. CFOs discussed many of the difficult issues facing our industry and agreed that opportunities to share best practices and information on enabling technologies will be key to success in the next year. Many of the participants remained until early evening to discuss the program content and key activities facing the group.
 

IVCA Toolkit Luncheon

Tuesday, September 14, 2010
The Conference Center at UBS Tower
 
Sponsored by: Winston & Strawn LLP

IVCA hosted its 8th IVCA Toolkit Luncheon with sponsor Winston & Strawn LLP's presentation,  "What Private Equity and Venture Capital Firms Need to Know About Dodd-Frank and New Investment Adviser Regulations".

On July 21st, 2010 the “Private Fund Investment Advisers Act of 2010” was passed as part of the Dodd-Frank Reform Bill. This Act requires registration with the SEC for many funds not previously required to do so. As part of the IVCA Toolkit Luncheon Series, attendees got a breakdown of the new registration law and suggestions for how firms can best manage the process of compliance.

Read more here.

IVCA Breakfast Event

Thursday, June 24, 2010
The Conference Center at UBS Tower
 
Sponsored by: Blackman Kallick LLP

On June 24, Blackman Kallick LLP presented ""Back to the Future--Strategies in a Rising Tax Environment" at this IVCA breakfast event.  Mark Blumenthal, partner at Blackman Kallick spoke about the hot button topic of the current evolution of tax rates and legislation.

Read more here.

IVCA/NVCA Luncheon

Our featured speaker this year is Steven N. Kaplan, University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
The Chicago Club

Sponsored by:  Baker Tilly Virchow Krause and Ropes & Gray

On May 19, 2010, 160 attended Steve Kaplan's presentation "Venture Capital and Private Equity: Where Have They Been and Where Are They Going?" at The Chicago Club.  Prof. Kaplan spoke about the background of the VC/PE industry, the reaction of the marketplace in the recent boom/bust cycle and the future growth potential.

Read more here.

Online Companies:  "Chicago's Home Grown Successes"

Tuesday, April 20, 2010
The Conference Center at UBS Tower
 
Sponsored by:  Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg
 
On April 20th, IVCA hosted the educational luncheon "Online Companies: Chicago's Home Grown Successes" sponsored by Neal Gerber & Eisenberg. The event was moderated by Michael Gray, Neal Gerber & Eisenberg and featured panelists: Brent Hill; Head of Financial Services-Midwest, Google, Inc.; Eric Lefkosky, Blue Media, LLC; Matt Moog, Viewpoints Network; Lon Chow, Apex Venture Partners; and Matt McCall, New World Ventures and Portage Venture Partners.
 
Read more here.

IVCA Toolkit Series:  Building a High Impact Board

Tuesday, March 23, 2010
The Conference Center at Willis Tower
 
Sponsored by:  Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
 
On Tuesday, March 23rd, the IVCA hosted the latest in the IVCA Toolkit Series: "Building a High Impact Board".  Sponsored by Kelley Drye & Warren, LLP, the event had the tone of a roundtable discussion and covered a broad array of topics that surround the attributes and focus of a well functioning, high impact board. Thom Ferguson, Kelley Drye & Warren led the discussion with participants Harry Kraemer and Rick Crandall two highly accomplished and experienced board members.
 
Read more here.
  

Masters of Private Equity and Venture Capital

Monday, January 18, 2010
The Tower Club
 
Sponsored by:  Ernst & Young LLP, J.P.Morgan and Mayer Brown LLP
 
IVCA celebrated the book launch of The Masters of Private Equity and Venture Capital: MANAGEMENT LESSONS from the Pioneers of PRIVATE EQUITY INVESTING written by IVCA member Robert Finkel, Prism Capital with co-writer David Greising, Chicago News Cooperative.
 
The standing-room-only crowd on Monday, January 18th, was treated to a panel discussion that included three luminaries in venture & private equity investing moderated by co-author David Greising.  The panel's "masters" included:  John A. Canning, Jr. of Madison Dearborn Partners,Patricia Cloherty of Delta Private Equity Partners and Carl  Thoma of Thoma Bravo LLC.
 
Read more here.

2009 Eighth Annual IVCA Awards Dinner, presented by Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Monday, December 7, 2009
Four Seasons
 
On Monday, Dec. 7, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley joined more than 470 IVCA members and others who attended the Eighth Annual IVCA Awards Dinner. The event, held at the Four Seasons Chicago, honored members of the local venture capital & private equity industry and highlighted the civic-mindedness and philanthropy of our community.
 
IVCA presented awards to J.B. Pritzker of The Pritzker Group and New World Ventures, Danny Rosenberg of Sterling Partners, Bryan Cressey of Cressey & Company and John L. Hines, founder of Continental Illinois Venture and Equity Corporations, for their outstanding contributions to the industry.
 
Read more here.

9th Annual IVCA CFO Summit for Finance Professionals of Venture Capital & Private Equity Firms

Thursday, October 22, 2009
The University of Chicago Gleacher Center
 
Presented by Silicon Valley Bank
 
Almost 100 people participated in this annual event for CFOs and finance professionals of venture capital and private equity firms.  The day long program featured educational presentations for accounting, tax, legal, federal outlook, industry overview and CFO "hot topics".  Topics were presented by sponsors:  McGladrey & Pullen, LLP; WTAS LLC; Kirkland & Ellis LLP; with contributions by Thomson Reuters and NVCA.
 
Exhibiting sponsors were LeverPoint Management LLC and Thomson Reuters. 

 
IVCA Toolkit Series:  "D&O Coverage: An Important Topic for Troubled Times"

Thursday, September 17, 2009
The Conference Center at UBS Tower, 2nd floor
 
Sponsored by Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg and Thompson Flanagan & Company
 
Moderator Michael Gray, Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP led panelists:  Angela Elbert, Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP; Brian Flanagan, Thompson Flanagan & Co.; Chris Geneser, CIVC Partners; and Roy Sroka, Wynnchurch Capital, Ltd. in a discussion about the need to understand and manage D&O Insurance.  Discussion areas included:
 
Coverage Benchmarks for VC/PE Fund Firms
Procuring Your Policy: Key Provisions & Pitfalls to Avoid
Insights for Due Diligence and M&A Integration
Making A Claim: Optimizing Coverage
Insurance Industry Issues that May Affect Policies

2009 Annual Baseball Event with Family & Friends 

Thursday, June 25, 2009
U.S. Cellular Field
Miller Lite Extra Base/Lower Terrace Suite
Game time 1:05 p.m.
White Sox 6, L.A. Dodgers 5
 
The event was sponsored by RSM McGladrey, Inc. Supporting sponsors were the NASDAQ OMS Group and ITA.  More than 120 IVCA members, friends and families enjoyed the 2009 IVCA Annual Baseball event on June 25, 2009 watching the White Sox beat the Dodgers! 

 
IVCA's Outlook on Healthcare Reform

Sponsored by Houlihan Smith & Company
Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009
The Conference Center at UBS Tower, 2nd Floor
 
Moderator:   Pete Shagory, Baird Venture Partners
 
Panelists:
 
Reginald McGaugh, Houlihan Smith & Company
 Tony Davis, Linden LLC
Eric Hargan, McDermott Will & Emery
John Rex-Waller, National Surgical Hospitals  

2009 Annual IVCA/NVCA Luncheon

Wednesday, May 27, 2009
The University Club
 
Sponsored by Virchow, Krause & Company and The German Private Equity and Venture Capital Association
 
"The Impact of the New Administration on Venture Capital & Private Equity" -panel discussion
 
Moderator, David Greising, Chicago Tribune
Panelists: Robin Painter, Proskauer Rose
Bill Welke, Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Mark Heesen, NVCA

IVCA Toolkit Series: Developing an Action Plan to React to the Economic Downturn

Wednesday, February 11, 2009
The Conference Center at UBS Tower, 2nd Floor
 
This toolkit was sponsored by Alvarez & Marsal and included both a presentation and panel discussion.  Participants were:
 
Daniel Galante, Managing Director, A&M Transaction Advisory Group
Richard Jenkins, Managing Directory, A&M Transaction Advisory Group
George Varughese, National Practice Leader, A&M Corporate Finance
Kent Willetts, National Practice Leader, A&M Transaction Advisory Group

Forecast For 2009: A Political, Economic & Markets Perspective

Tuesday, January 6, 2009
UBS Conference Center
 
The IVCA and NASDAQ OMX co-hosted a luncheon entitled “Forecast For 2009: A Political, Economic & Markets Perspective” that was moderated by David Greising of the Chicago Tribune.  
The panel discussion sponsored by NASDAQ OMX Group included participants:
 
Dr. Frank M. Hatheway, Chief Economist, NASDAQ OMX
Paul L. Kasriel, Chief Economist, Northern Trust
Professor Steven N. Kaplan, Chicago Booth School of Business
Dr. Bob Froehlich, Vice Chairman & Chairman Investor Strategy Committee, DWS Securities

2008 IVCA Awards Dinner

Monday, December 8, 2008
Four Seasons Hotel Chicago
 
Despite the “very tumultuous year” for all industries, more than 500 IVCA members and others attended the 2008 IVCA Annual Awards Dinner on December 8 at the Four Seasons. Kevin Evanich of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, former First Chicago Chairman Richard Thomas and outgoing IVCA Chairman Keith Crandell were honored for their contributions to the industry.

Read more here.
   

IVCA Toolkit Series: Best Practices for Boards of Directors

Tuesday, November 18, 2008
UBS Conference Center
 
The Nov. 18, 2008 IVCA Toolkit series, which was sponsored by Winston & Strawn, included presentations on best practices for boards of directors by Winston & Strawn partner Brian M. Schafer.  Additional perspective was given by NASDAQ OMX Group managing director Tim Golomb, covering corporate governance.

8th Annual IVCA CFO Summit for Finance Professionals of Venture Capital & Private Equity Firms

October 16, 2008
The University of Chicago Gleacher Center
 
The IVCA presented the 8th Annual IVCA CFO Summit with presenting sponsor Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) on Oct. 16.
 
This annual event, which is offered for the benefit of venture capital and private equity firm CFOs and their staff, attracted almost 100 people in 2008. Bob Blee of SVB hosted a dinner the night before that was attended by out-of-state firms and some local CFOs.
 
The CFO Summit is designed to cover issues relevant for venture and buyout firms. The full-day event included presentations and panels covering:

    Tax and accounting issues - presented by Blackman Kallick LLP
    FAS 157 - Panel discussion with CFOs
    Fund formation issues and update - presented by Bruce Ettelson, Kirkland & Ellis LLP
    Issues in Current Fundraising Environment - panel discussion
    Industry Update - presented by Jesse Reyes - Bear Stearns Private Funds Group (A J.P. Morgan Company)
    Best Practices Panel - panel discussion led by Cindy Schatz, Silicon Valley Bank

Exhibiting sponsor was Worknet, Information Technology Systems, represented by Vincent Barrett.

 
Ernst & Young Survey Results:  How PE Firms Create Value

September 18, 2008
UBS Conference Center
 
Sponsored by Ernst & Young LLP, E & Y partner Brad Kuntz on Sept. 18, 2008 showcased how private equity transactions favorably compared to public deals in 2007 and explored how firms can best create value. The Ernst & Young 2007 global private equity study examines the year’s 100 largest private equity exits in Europe, North America and Asia.

 
IVCA Toolkit Series:  Outlook for Terms in Private Equity Investing

June 25, 2008
UBS Conference Center
 
Sponsored by Kaye Scholer LLP, this presentation focused on the importance of staying abreast of trends in market terms. Kaye Scholer's annual "What's Market?" survey has been maintaining data on private equity deal terms since 2002. The panelists presented information from the "What's Market" survey, data from Robert W. Baird's investment banking practice and Wind Point Partner's extensive deal experience to to analyze how these trends intersect with the current dislocation in the credit markets and where deal terms will evolve as the M&A market recovers.
   

2008 Baseball event - White Sox game in the Miller Lite Terrace Suite

June 19, 2008
U.S. Cellular Field
 
Mayer Brown LLP sponsored our first ever White Sox Suite event which was enjoyed by more than 170 members, friends and family.  Also attending were members of Chicago Private Equity Network and Wharton Private Equity Partners as well as IL IT Association (ITA), TiE Midwest, IL Technology Development Association (ITDA).

 
IVCA Toolkit Series:   Using Management Assessment Tools to Maximize IRR

May 28, 2008
UBS Conference Center
 
The second in our "IVCA Toolkit Series", sponsor, ghSmart's presentation focused on human capital best practices which allow investors to make better people decisions and improve the returns on their investments.

2008 IVCA/NVCA Luncheon

April 16, 2008
The Fairmont Chicago
 
Carl Tannenbaum, nationally recognized economic consultant discusses "A Pregnant Pause:  The Economic Outlook for the Remainder of 2008".  Sponsored by Virchow, Krause & Company, LLP

2008 Midwest Venture Summit

March 17, 2008 - The University of Chicago Gleacher Center
March 18, 2008 - The Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers
 
Attended by more than 400 VCs, angels, entrepreneurs and service providers, the 2008 MVS spanned 2 days and 2 venues.
 
Day one began with the University Business Plan Competition, where IL DCEO awarded its $50,000 grant to ReTel Technologies, University of Chicago GSB, one of 8 participating universities.  The afternoon session included 24 Early Stage companies whose presentations were viewed by more than 220 and judged for the 2008 Bob Geras Grant.
 
Day two included the awarding of the 2008 Bob Geras Grant to PatientImpact who was issued a check for $70,000 at the networking breakfast which began the day.  The morning continued with the presentations by the 18 Series A+ companies and followed by panel presentations hosted by Sonnenschein Nath and Rosenthal LLP and Reed Smith LLP.
 
The luncheon, hosted by KPMG, featured speaker John Gartner, author of The Hypomanic Edge.
 
The afternoon continued with a second round of presentations by each of the 18 Series A+ companies which were then followed by panels hosted by The Revere Group and Probitas Partners.
 
Link to Midwest Venture Summit website

IVCA Toolkit Series:  Strategic Due Diligence and Post-Investment Planning

February 28, 2008
UBS Conference Center
 
The first of the "IVCA Toolkit Series", sponsor Bain & Company's Private Equity Groupoffered methodologies and tools it employs to address typical post investment management opportunities using insights developed during due diligence.

2007 Annual Awards Dinner

December 3, 2008
The Four Seasons Hotel Chicago
 
This year's honorees:  Steven N. Kaplan, University of Chicago, GSB; John R. Willis, Willis Stein & Partners and Samuel B. Guren, Guren Capital Management, LLC were honored for their acheivements in IL's venture capital and private equity industry by more than 460 attendees during an evening which included dinner and networking.
 
Read more here.

Current Issues in Venture Capital & Private Equity Investing

October 23, 2007
The Union League Club
 
The IVCA hosted a luncheon for public pension funds to introduce the IVCA's mission of supporting the growth of the venture capital and private equity industry in Illinois and our shared fiduciary interests in an effort to forge a closer relationship with public funds.  A panel discussion of "Current Issues in Venture Capital & Private Equity Investing" was presented.  Topics covered were:  overall industry VC & Buyout Trends, current issues affecting VC and current issues affecting buyouts.

7th Annual CFO Summit for Finance Professionals of Venture Capital and Private Equity Firms

October 18, 2007
The University of Chicago Gleacher Center
 
The IVCA presented the 7th Annual IVCA CFO Summit with presenting sponsor Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) on Oct. 18.
 
This annual event, which is offered for the benefit of venture capital and private equity firm CFOs and their staff, attracted almost 100 people in 2007. Bob Blee of SVB hosted a dinner the night before that was attended by out-of-state firms and some local CFOs.
 
The CFO Summit is designed to cover issues relevant for venture and buyout firms. The full-day event included presentations and panels covering:

    Tax and accounting issues
    Fund formation structuring issues and market terms update
    Non-cash compensation
    How to decide when it’s time to implement IT

 
Financial Technology Investing - Chicago's Homegrown Successes

September 13, 2007
The Metropolitan Club
 
On Sept. 13, the Illinois Venture Capital Association and the Illinois Information Technology Association collaborated to present “Financial Technology Investing: Chicago’s Home-Grown Successes”. The event was sponsored by William Blair & Co. and cohesiveIT.
 
Following the presentation by Rob Metzger, William Blair & Co, founders and CEOs of leading and aspiring Chicago-area financial technology companies shared their insights and experiences with raising venture capital and private equity during a panel conversation. Featured panelists included:  Robert McCullen, AmbironTrustWave' Sam Mele, Firm58; Ajay Singhvi, Arroweye Solutions; and Tom Sosnoff, thinkorswim, Inc.  The panel was moderated by Devin Mathews of Baird Venture Partners.

 
2007 Cubs Rooftop with Family & Friends

June 15, 2007
Wrigley Field Rooftops
 
Nearly 170 IVCA members, friends and family attended the annual Wrigley Field rooftop outing on June 15. In addition to an afternoon of networking and fun, the Cubs pulled off a convincing 4-1 victory over the San Diego Padres.  Food and refreshments were served and the facility offered inside viewing and air conditioning to combat the seasonably warm day. The IVCA thanks HSBC Bank NA for sponsoring the event.

2007 IVCA/NVCA Annual Luncheon

May 9, 2007
University Club of Chicago
 
Sponsored by Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Virchow, Krause & Company, LLC,  the annual IVCA/NVCA Luncheon brought 170 IVCA members and non-members to hear Jack Levin's presentation of "New Developments in Private Equity, Venture Capital, and Fund Formation".
 
For a .pdf copy of Mr. Levin's presentation click here.

Transitioning Fund Management

March 15, 2007
The Metropolitan Club
 
Madison Dearborn CEO John A. Canning, Jr., Code Hennessy & Simmons partner Brian P. Simmons and Thoma Cressey Bravo managing partner Carl D. Thoma convened on March 15 at the Metropolitan Club for a panel discussion on transitioning fund management. The panel, which was moderated by Kirkland & Ellis partner Bruce Ettelson, showcased three different approaches to managing succession. All panelists were founding members of their respective firms.

 
Are You Ready for Fair-Value Accounting?

January 22, 2007
The Metropolitan Club
 
On Jan. 22, the Illinois Venture Capital Association held a panel discussion that focused on fair-value accounting. The session, which was sponsored by Deloitte, was moderated by William Hupp of Adams Street Partners, LLC.  Held at the newly remodeled Metropolitan Club of Chicago at the Sears Tower, Bob Bartell of Duff & Phelps, LLC, Karen Fanelli of Frontenac Company, Lee Mitchell of Thoma Cressey Equity Partners and John Stomper of Deloitte contributed to the panel.

2006 IVCA Awards Dinner

December 4, 2006
The Four Seasons Hotel Chicago
 
More than 470 people enjoyed an evening of cocktails, dinner and networking as Keith Bank, KB Partners, Paul Finnegan and Sam Mencoff, Madison Dearborn Partners and Don Phillips, WP Global Partners were honored for their achievements in the Illinois venture capital and private equity industry.
 
Read more here.

2006 Midwest Venture Summit

MVS Website Link-http://www.midwestventuresummit.com
(Photo Gallery Updated 1/19/07)
 
November 1, 2006
Chicago Marriott-Downtown
 
More than 30 early and seed stage companies presented business plans and equity offerings to regional venture capital investors.  Investor members of the Illinois Venture Capital Association, which organized the event, worked with presenting entrepreneurs and executives on developing tighter, more focused presentations.
 
The morning presentations were divided between 17 companies raising Series A or later financing rounds as well as 15 companies raising angel and seed financing rounds. Presentations lasted 10 minutes each with opportunities for questions and answers, with five-minute intervals between each presentation.

 
6th Annual CFO Summit for Finance Professionals of Venture Capital and Private Equity Firms

An annual event, this year's CFO Summit was sponsored by Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Silicon Valley Bank and Willis Mergers & Acquisitions Group.  The attendees earned 8 continuing education credits as they covered the subjects of portfolio valuation, accounting & tax issues, market valuations, state of the industry, insurance strategies and contact management & reporting.

Complying with Illinois' Sudan Laws

October 5, 2006
The Tower Club
 
IVCA members were invited to attend a discussion of "Complying with Illinois' Sudan Laws".  Moderator Tony Abboud, Greenberg Traurig, led the panel which included Bruce Ettelson, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Malcolm B. Nicholls III, Proskauer Rose and Michael Rosenberg, Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal.

Evaluating the Market for Exits Luncheon

Sponsored by:

    Robert W. Baird & Co.
    William Blair & Company

September 19, 2006
UBS Conference Center
On Sept. 19 IVCA members attended a panel discussing the current markets for liquidity opportunities within the mergers and acquisitions, public offerings and alternative investment markets. The panel included Christopher Coetzee of Robert W. Baird & Co., Brandon Lower of William Blair & Co. and Deborah Quazzo of ThinkEquity Partners and was moderated by Michael Gray of Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg.
 
The event was recorded and is available via Podcast by clicking here.

Cubs Rooftop Game

June 16, 2006
Waveland Rooftop
We thank Deloitte & Touche, Quarles & Brady, and The Golder Center at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for hosting our event. Members watched the Cubs play Detroit, ate great food and enjoyed a beautiful afternoon in the sun.

Investor Confidential with David M. Rubenstein

May 15, 2006
The Tower Club

Members were treated to the wit and wisdom of David M. Rubenstein, The Carlyle Group.

 
2006 Annual IVCA/NVCA Luncheon

April 6, 2006
Union League Club of Chicago

An annual event, this luncheon is hosted by both the IVCA and NVCA. Featured speaker this year was Steven Kaplan, Prof. of Entrepreneurship and Finance, University of Chicago GSB, his discussion topic, Should You Bet the Jockey or the Horse.

Investor Confidential Breakfast with Promod Haque

March 20, 2006
University Club of Chicago

IVCA and TiE Midwest co-hosted a breakfast for their members which featured Promod Haque, Managing Partner of Norwest Venture Partners and named #1 venture capitalist in 2004. Mr. Haque discussed “Methods for Networking Success” and finished with a Q & A session.

March Madness

March 16, 2006
Poag Mahone’s

The NCAA March Madness provided the perfect backdrop for our members to socialize and network over drinks, eats and b’ball.

Networking Reception

February 23, 2006
The Tower Club

Drinks and hors d’ouvres are included as members drop by on their way to the train for an informal opportunity to network with other members.

Investing in Open Source Technology Companies Luncheon

February 14, 2006
Conference Center at UBS Tower

The IVCA will occasionally co-host an event, in this case with the Illinois IT Association. The educational luncheon, hosted by IBM and Sonnenschein Technology Partners offered discussion on Investing in Open Source Technology Companies by panelists: Lee Bliss, IBM; Christine Mason, SpringCM; Craig Mohan, Shopper Trak; Dan Phelps, Duchossois Technology Partners; and Steve Tuecke, Univa Corporation. The event was moderated by Samuel Fifer, Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal.

Sudan/Ethics Reform Panel Discussion

January 9, 2006
Metropolitan Club

An evening panel discussion highlighted two timely subjects in the private equity community. Attendees were able to participate in discussion regarding the Sudan and Ethics Reform with Bruce Ettelson, Kirkland & Ellis; Rep. Kurt Granberg; Sen. Don Harmon; Mike Jacobs, Adams Street Partners; Martin Noven, IL State Treasurer’s office; Philip B. Pool, Jr., Willis Stein & Partners; Sen. Jeff Schoenberg; Nick Yelverton, IL TRS; and Dan Slack,SURS.

2005 Annual Awards Dinner

December 5, 2005
Four Seasons Hotel Chicago

One of our premier events, over 400 attendees had the opportunity this year to network and honor three of private equity’s biggest names: Norm Bobins, LaSalle Bank; Gary Brinson, Brinson Investments; and Robert Finkel, Prism Capital. Thanks to our sponsors: Adams Street Partners, Apex Venture Partners, Ernst & Young, Frontenac Company, Jones Day, JPMorgan Private Bank, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Kutchins Robbins & Diamond Ltd., LaSalle Bank, LaSalle Investments, Madison Dearborn Partners, Mesirow Financial, MK Capital, Motorola Ventures, Prism Capital, Quarles & Brady LLP, Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal, Spencer Stuart, Svoboda Collins, The Plexus Groupe, Thoma Cressey Equity Partners, William Blair & Company, Wildman Harrold, and Willis Stein & Partners.

 
5th Annual Summit for CFOs of Venture Capital and Private Equity Firms

October 27, 2005
Swissotel Chicago

Sponsored by Charter One Bank, Ernst & Young, Kirkland & Ellis, Silicon Valley Bank and The Plexus Groupe this is a full day educational event earmarked to CFOs. The agenda for the day covered Tax and Accounting Issues, Cash Management Choices: Impact on IRR, Risk Management Processes: Before and After the Deal, Current Fund Terms, Best Practices in Foreign Exchange Management, and Fund Performance Benchmarks.

LP Panel Luncheon

• Bob Debolt, Mesirow Financial Private Equity
• John D. O’Malley, West AM Private Equity Group
• Richard A. Strait, Northwestern Investment Management Company LLC