cleverbridge Co-founder to Present at Hyde Park Angels and 1871 Entrepreneurial Education Series

Craig Vodnik to share insights on “When to Raise Venture Capital or Bootstrap” panel discussion 

cleverbridge, a global ecommerce and subscription billing provider, announces cleverbridge co-founder, Craig Vodnik, will participate in Hyde Park Angels and 1871 Entrepreneurial Education Series: “When to Raise Venture Capital or Bootstrap” panel discussion. The event will be held March 3, 2016 at 1871 in Chicago and will focus on how companies can know if they’re ready to raise funding, or if raising is even their best option.

Vodnik will take part in the panel discussion from 6:00-8:00 p.m. and will be joined by Phil Harris, CEO and founder of Geofeedia; Pam Netzky, co-founder and president of SkinnyPop Popcorn; Bill Pescatello, partner at Lightbank; and Kristi Ross, co-CEO and president of dough and tastytrade. Attendees will learn from successful entrepreneurs and investors about the pros and cons of early-stage investment versus bootstrapping; what is the right time to raise and when is too early; what investors look for in a founder and a business; what counts as proof of concept and what doesn’t; what investors see as red flags; and how to move forward if you are ready.

Vodnik was recently named a 2016 Chicago Illini of the Year Award honoree for his career achievements and positive impact on the Chicago community. He was also named to the 2015 Techweek100, Chicago Tribune’s Blue Sky Vault and a finalist for EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2014 in the Midwest and 2014 ITA CityLIGHTS Awards CEO of the Year. Founded in 2005, cleverbridge has been profitable since 2007 and has grown from the four founders to more than 280 employees between offices in Cologne (Germany), Chicago, San Francisco and Tokyo. Outside of cleverbridge, Vodnik has continued to help develop other entrepreneurs as a mentor at 1871, Catapult Chicago and the Junto Institute. He also serves as a board member of Hyde Park Angels.

For more information or to register for the Entrepreneurial Education Series, click here. To learn more about cleverbridge, please contact inquiry@cleverbridge.com or visit www.clvrbrdg.com.