Private Funding for Agribusiness and Energy Technologies Christopher R. Sackett BrownWinick 666 Grand Avenue, Suite 2000 Des Moines, IA Telephone: Facsimile:

Who is BrownWinick? Who is Chris Sackett (and why is a lawyer talking to us about funding agribusiness and energy technologies)?

VERY GENERAL OVERVIEW - BASICS OF RAISING CAPITAL  Key concerns for all companies raising capital – whether agribusiness, energy or other projects.

3 Most Important Factors to Funding Sources: oYour Team (internal/management and external) oMarket Opportunity/Need oYour Technology/Idea

Be prepared oKnow your business plan, valuation, financials and projections inside and out. oKnow your audience (who are they and why would they want to invest in you? what motivates them?). oKnow your subject matter, competition, market, etc. Have accurate/quality presentation materials (pitch, slide deck, executive summary, business plan, evidence/validation).

Context is important: oWho are you presenting to?  Friends and family  Angel investors  Seed capital fund  VC/Private equity  Bank/SBA  Government agency/program oAt what stage of the company?  Proof of concept  Development stage  Expansion/growth oWhat do you want and for what purpose (i.e., debt, equity, uses, valuation)?

The importance of your business plan oThe key document for running your business AND raising capital. oFocus on the Executive Summary and pro formas – lenders and investors will. oKnow your specific funding need – sources and uses.

The importance of people oAssemble your team early (internal and external) oQualities  Talent  Experience  Motivation (equity?)  Connections  Continuity

Get (and keep) your business, financial and legal house in order. oCorporate documents and minutes oGoverning documents (i.e., contract with owners) oMaterial contracts oProtection of IP oFinancials, accounting records, tax returns

Link to Iowa Venture Capital Guide and Iowa Seed/Angel Capital Guide: pages/iowafunds.html

Website: Toll Free Phone Number: OFFICE LOCATIONS: 666 Grand Avenue, Suite 2000 Des Moines, Iowa Telephone: (515) Facsimile: (515) Franklin Place Pella, Iowa Telephone: (641) Facsimile: (641) DISCLAIMER: No oral or written statement made by BrownWinick attorneys should be interpreted by the recipient as suggesting a need to obtain legal counsel from BrownWinick or any other firm, nor as suggesting a need to take legal action. Do not attempt to solve individual problems upon the basis of general information provided by any BrownWinick attorney, as slight changes in fact situations may cause a material change in legal result.