Lecture

9/23/2010: Food Entrepreneurship: The Story of Two Local Companies

Greg Beattie, Partner, MBV Law LLP and Andre Marquis Executive Director, Lester Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, present presentations from John Foraker (MBA 94), CEO of Annie's Inc. and Laila Tarraf (MBA 97), Chief People Officer from Peet's Coffee & Tea discussing the challenges encountered and lessons learned in the food industry. The evening also included a special networking hour featuring displays from some of the Bay Area's most beloved, as well as up and coming food companies. (September 23, 2010)


Course Lectures
  • The Forum has a great lineup of speakers and stellar networking opportunities! Sign up now for the next session, or learn more about the Forum at: http://entrepreneurship.berkeley.edu/bef/ For 20 years the Forum has provided a place for students and professionals to learn from seasoned entrepreneurs and to meet the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders. The Haas School's Lester Center for Entrepreneurship provides a public venue where experts speak on important topics of entrepreneurship and innovation.

  • Co-sponsored by Gray Ghost Ventures and Omidyar Network Thursday, March 22, 2012 While starting any new company is challenging, there is a unique set of tough decisions for the entrepreneur working to solve the world's greatest social problems. After all, social ventures are often established to address issues that neither governments nor markets naturally seem to solve. Panelists addressed how they've managed decisions regarding raising capital, pricing, governance, market testing and other topics impacted by working to achieve both social and financial returns. Featured Panelists:Sean Blagsvedt, CEO-Babajob.comDaniel Hoffer, Co-Founder/CEO-CouchSurfing.org Ned Tozun, President/Co-Founder-d.light Moderator:Brian Cayce, Vice President-Gray Ghost Ventures

  • David Weild, former vice chairman of the NASDAQ Stock Market - and one of the world's top experts on equity capital markets, IPO management and aftermarket support - discusses developments in Washington, equity financing trends, and how entrepreneurs and management teams might adjust strategy to improve their chances for success. SpeakersWelcome: Jennifer Walske, Director of Social Entrepreneurship, Lester Center for EntrepreneurshipSpeaker Introduction: Donald Reinke, Partner, Reed Smith LLPKeynote Speaker: David WeildChairman & CEO, Capital Markets Advisory PartnersFormer Vice Chairman of the NASDAQ Stock MarketDirector of Capital Markets, Grant Thornton

  • The Lester Center for Entrepreneurship and UC Berkeley have partnered with Intel to create the premier global business plan competition focused on technology. The finals event featured short presentations by the eight finalist teams and keynote speaker Dr. Genevieve Bell, Director of User Interaction and Experience in Intel Labs whose team shapes and helps create new Intel technologies and products that are increasingly designed around people's needs and desires.

  • Event sponsor Pillsbury and our special guest speakers provided a preview of the energy technologies that will drive a new generation of data processing and storage systems. As an increasing number of business, consumer and social transactions are conducted virtually or stored in the cloud, more and more data center capacity is coming online. Even taking electricity costs as a constant, the expense of powering these data centers is growing rapidly so much so that companies are beginning to consider cutting data center costs as an avenue for competitive advantage. Luckily, a picture of the next generation data center is beginning to emerge, and at its heart are cutting-edge energy efficiency technologies.

  • Each year, new Bay Area food start-ups crop up at the ready to take their products to market. It is a notoriously competitive industry, made more difficult in a down economy. Come to this session sponsored by MBV Law LLP featuring Noah Alper, the Founder and former CEO of Noah's Bagels, and in-the-trenches executives of food companies as they discuss lessons learned in the challenges of a down market. PANELISTS:Noah Alper- Founder, Noah's Bagels and Bread & CircusJoel Gott- Owner, Gott's RoadsideBob Burke, President, Ovation Hospitality ConsultingGreg Beattie, Partner, MBV Law LLP (moderator)

  • The beginning of 2011 saw very strong growth in the level and strength of early stage financings, a trend which has continued throughout the year. 2011 is being viewed by some as the year of the founder/entrepreneur and by others as the year of the "tech bubble" and excess valuations. Against this backdrop, the VC industry is undergoing profound changes and seed/angel funds have become more active than ever before. Our panel of expert angel and venture capital investors took a look at early stage investing during the past year and what the future investment environment holds. SPEAKERS:Sam Angus, Fenwick & West LLP (moderator)Steve Bengston, PricewaterhouseCoopersHoward Hartenbaum, August CapitalJoe Kraus, Google VenturesAydin Senkut, Felicis Ventures  

  • On April 28, 2011, the UC Berkeley Entrepreneurs Forum hosted the Finals and Awards Ceremony of the 2011 UC Berkeley Business Plan Competition. For more information see http://entrepreneurship.berkeley.edu/bef/Apr11_forum.html. Grand Prize and Life Sciences Track Winner was Intimal Solutions. People's Choice Award and Energy Track winner was Imprint Energy. IT & Web Track Winner was Kopo Kopo. Products and Services Track Winner was Axis. Elevator Pitch Award Winner was Inserogen

  • Physic Ventures sponsors a session on the higher standards businesses are being held to for social responsibility, environmental stewardship and respect of privacy - without sacrificing market performance. This creates new challenges, but also powerful opportunities to leverage transparency as a strategy to engage stakeholders, understand customer sentiments, elevate brands and ultimately drive profits. A panel of thought-leaders examine the complex issues of transparency in the 21st Century.

  • How much does the average entrepreneur know about the history of Silicon Valley? Silicon Valley entrepreneur Steve Blank talks about how World War II set the stage for the creation and explosive growth of Silicon Valley, and the role of a single professor working with government agencies (including the CIA and the National Security Agency) to set up companies in this area that sparked the creation of hundreds of other enterprises.

  • A panel of venture capitalists, entrepreneurs and industry experts discuss the current environment in the pharmaceutical and medical device industry including successful fund-raising strategies for early-stage companies, the sectors venture capital firms are investing in, alternative sources of financing and how to survive in the trenches.

  • The Lester Center and UC Berkeley have partnered with Intel Corporation to create the premier global, technology-focused, business plan competition in the world. IBTEC brings the winning teams from university-centric competitions from around the world here to UC Berkeley to compete in the heart of the US entrepreneurial community. The 2010 Competition featured 27 teams from around the world competing for cash prizes and a People's Choice Award.

  • Financing Clean Energy/Cleantech: Politics, Policy and Private Equity Don Reinke, Partner, Reed Smith LLP and Andre Marquis Executive Director, Lester Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, present presentations from Maurice Gunderson, Senior Partner- CMEA Capital; Gabriel Kra, Managing Director- Elan Management; Robert Walsh, Energy Industry Consultant discussing the current cleantech and clean energy environment, from a funding and government policy perspective. (October 28, 2010)

  • Greg Beattie, Partner, MBV Law LLP and Andre Marquis Executive Director, Lester Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, present presentations from John Foraker (MBA 94), CEO of Annie's Inc. and Laila Tarraf (MBA 97), Chief People Officer from Peet's Coffee & Tea discussing the challenges encountered and lessons learned in the food industry. The evening also included a special networking hour featuring displays from some of the Bay Area's most beloved, as well as up and coming food companies. (September 23, 2010)

  • David Charron, Senior Fellow, and Andre Marquis, Executive Director, Lester Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, present a panel discussion about the state of venture capital and angel investing. Participants represent Fenwick & West, PricewaterhouseCoopers, First Round Capital, Felicis Ventures, Venrock Capital, and Hummer Winblad Venture Partners. (August 26, 2010)

  • The Lester Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation presents the 12th Annual UC Berkeley Business Plan Competition finalist presentations and awards ceremony. (April 29, 2010)

  • The Greening of Health: the Convergence of Health and SustainabilityIndividual and collective actions are impacting the quality of the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and the ecosystem we leave for our children and grandchildren. Our behaviors are catalyzing changes in the environment that in turn are causing changes in our physiological health, psychological well-being and social infrastructure. An exceptional panel of thought-leaders from diverse fields examines the convergence of health and sustainability sharing personal stories, business advice and actionable recommendations. Moderator: William Rosenzweig, Managing Director, Physic Ventures. Panelists: Julie Gerberding, Former Director, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Dara ORourke, Founder & CEO, GoodGuide, Inc.; Adam Werbach, Global CEO, Saatchi & Saatchi. (March 18, 2010)

  • As we start 2010, investors, entrepreneurs, investment bankers and other securities professionals are all optimistic that 2010 will be a much better year for IPOs. Certain online media and networking companies seem to be well positioned to enter the public market including Facebook, Twitter, Skype and Yelp. Our distinguished panel discusses the many factors that will impact the IPO market in 2010. Moderator: Don Reinke, Partner, Reed Smith LLP. Panelists: Jeffrey Hagan, Managing Director, Investment Banking,Canaccord Adams; Armando Castro, Partner, Reed Smith LLP; Thomas P. Soloway, Senior VP and Chief Financial Officer, Transcept Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; David Weild, Senior Capital Markets Advisor, Grant Thornton LLP. Introductions: David Charron, Executive Director, Lester Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Presented at the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley. (February 25, 2010)  

  • Angel investors, like their venture capital counterparts, suffered greatly from the financial crisis but are needed more than ever. This Berkeley Entrepreneurs Forum panel discusses the health of the angel community and how they are playing a more prominent role in funding new ventures. The panel, presented at the Haas School, UC Berkeley, also discussed different ways of getting seed funding from angels and the implications for these deals for downstream investors. Panelists: Tim Harris (moderator), Partner, Morrison & Foerster; Ted Driscoll, Venture Partner, Claremont Creek Ventures, Founding Director, Sand Hill Angels; Allan May, Founder, Life Science Angels; and Ian Sobieski, Co-Director, Band of Angels. Introduction: David Charron, Executive Director, Lester Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. (January 28, 2010)

  • See over 20 of the best new technology business ideas in the world, all vying for prizes at the 5th Annual Intel+UC Berkeley Technology Entrepreneurship Challenge. The entrepreneurial environment is rapidly becoming global through the mobility of capital, people and technology. The Lester Center, Haas School of Business, and UC Berkeley have partnered with Intel Corporation to create the premier global, technology-focused, business plan competition in the world. This competition brings the winning teams from university-centric competitions from around the world here to UC Berkeley to compete in the heart of the U.S. entrepreneurial community. Keynote speaker: Karen Turner, Director of the Office of Development Partners, US Agency for International Development. Introductions: David E. Charron, Executive Director, Lester Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation; Jerome S. Engel, Faculty Director, Lester Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. (November 19, 2009)

  • For the last 40 years, Moore's Law, which states that transistor density will double every two years, has provided the framework for innovation in the semiconductor industry. But what will the next 10 years bring for this benchmark of the semiconductor industry and for the participants? What does the entrepreneur need to do to be successful in the new environment? And is there a role for government and/or venture capital in this industry? Panel discussion at the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley moderated by Berkeley Entrepreneurs Forum Advisory Council Member Laura Oliphant, PhD, Director of Intel Capital. Panel members include Alexei Andreev, Exec. VP and Managing Director, Harris and Harris Group; Gene Meieran, Senior Intel Fellow (retired); and Bruce C. Rhine, Chairman of the Board, Nanometrics. Opening and closing remarks: David Charron, Exec. Director (acting), Lester Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

  • 2008-2009 saw an unprecedented restructuring of the financial markets, including the market for angel and venture capital. Our panel of expert angel and venture capital investors looks at technology investing during the past year, the current market, and what the future investment environment holds. The presentation also includes a review of the key metrics for venture capital investments/exits and critical VC term sheet terms for Q2 2009. The expert panel includes Sam Angus of Fenwick & West; Steve Bengston of PricewaterhouseCoopers; Jean-Francois "Jeff" Clavier of SoftTech VC; Nat Goldhaber of Claremont Creek Ventures; Gregory Gretsch of Sigma Partners; and David Lee of SV Angel LLC.

  • John Hanke, MBA 96, Chikai Ohazama, Jamie Dinkelacker, and Anthony Levandowski, all top innovators at Google, present "Innovating at Scale within Google." The panel, part of the Berkeley Entrepreneurs Forum and the Deans Speakers Series, touches on their experiences developing and launching Google's "Geo" tools (Earth, Maps, etc.) and challenge common notions of what it takes to launch "early and often" -and successfully-at a company like Google. (August 27, 2009)

  • "2009 UC Berkeley Business Plan Competition Finalists Presentations." Berkeley Entrepreneurs Forum. The 11th Annual UC Berkeley Business Plan Competition at the Haas School of Business presents the eight finalist teams from a record-breaking 110 entries. The finalists were competing for $45,000 in prizes. (April 30, 2009)

  • The Berkeley Entrepreneurs Forum, sponsored by the Lester Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, presents a panel discussion on "Surviving and Thriving During the Downturn." The economic downturn has entrepreneurs focused on survival, not just company growth. They are shifting emphasis from new customer acquisition to customer retention, from employee recruiting to employment optimization and from fundraising to capital preservation. Speakers address these topics and more at the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley. Panelists: Dan Finnigan, Jobvite; Andrew Leonard, Credit Suisse; Faysal Sohail, CMEA Capital; Bob Walters, Untangle. Moderator: Jerome Engel, Executive Director, Lester Center. (March 19, 2009)

  • The Lester Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation presents "Earth, Wind & Fire: The Clean Tech Opportunity Today" at the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley. This Berkeley Entrepreneurs Forum panel discussion addresses the opportunities and challenges facing entrepreneurs and investors in geothermal, wind and biofuels. Participants: Jon Bonanno, Principle Power; Richard Chow, ThermaSource; Susan Preston, CalCEF Angel Fund; Dr. Chris Somerville, Energy Biosciences Institute. Moderator: Jerome Engel, Executive Director, Lester Center.(February 26, 2009)

  • Berkeley Entrepreneurs Forum on Prediction Markets: Entrepreneurial Opportunities in Fortune Telling Prediction markets are "smart" markets capable of accurately predicting outcomes of uncertain future events by harnessing what author James Surowiecki coined "the wisdom of crowds." Kay-Yut Chen, HP Labs; Mat Fogarty, Xpree; and Kirill Makharinsky, YouNoodle.com focus on the usefulness and accuracy of different prediction strategies - from prediction market software to experimental economics which replicates market and business scenarios in the lab. Presented by the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley. Jerome S. Engel, Executive Director, Lester Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, moderates. (January 22, 2009)  

  • "The Current Economic Turmoil & the Entrepreneur: the Impact on New Venture Financing and Survival." Berkeley Entrepreneurs Forum panel discussion. Jerome S. Engel, Executive Director, Lester Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, presents a panel discussion at the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley, with Haas School Professor Jim Wilcox; Brian Atwood, Managing Director, Versant Ventures; Mike Gridley, Principal, Industry Ventures; and Garrett Gruener, Co-Founder and Director, Alta Partners. (October 23, 2008)