Abstract:

Equity compensation can be a very mysterious concept for first-time entrepreneurs. Learn how to make critical decisions from the division of the Founders’ Pie through stock option grants & vesting schedules.

Biography:

Frank Demmler is Innovation Works’ Vice President of The Entrepreneurial Services Team, the internal group that assists early stage companies’ efforts to commercialize and market new technologies and generally provides business assistance to promising start-up companies.  The Team also manages IW’s Innovation Investment Fund that invests in about 12 new companies per year, as well as appropriate follow on investment in existing portfolio companies.

Mr. Demmler has more than 30 years experience advising both entrepreneurs and angel investors having worked with over 3,000 entrepreneurial efforts, leading to the formation of over 500 companies.  These companies have gone on to create more than 10,000 jobs and raise more than $1 billion dollars of investment capital. Before coming to Innovation Works, Mr. Demmler served as Associate Teaching Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Donald H. Jones Center for Entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon University, where he remains an adjunct professor.

Mr. Demmler also has significant experience evaluating and funding early-stage technology companies as president & CEO of the Future Fund, general partner of the Pittsburgh Seed Fund, co-founder and investment advisor of the Western Pennsylvania Adventure Capital Fund, and Vice President of venture development for the Enterprise Corporation of Pittsburgh, an organization that provided assistance to entrepreneurs.

Frank received the Lifetime Achievement Award for the Pittsburgh Venture Capital Association.  He was also a finalist in the E&Y Supporter of Entrepreneurship category. Frank was chosen as the first recipient of the Gerald E. McGinnis Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship, as well.

Frank holds a B.S.E. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Princeton University, an MBA in General Management from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Graduate School of Management and pursued post-graduate studies in marketing at the Harvard Business School.

Host: Howie Choset