On June 14th, 2017, Endeavor Louisville hosted a discussion on venture capital led by Endeavor Catalyst Managing Director, Allen Taylor. The event was held at the headquarters of Endeavor Entrepreneur, El Toro. Around 20 local entrepreneurs and investors were in attendance. While some time was spent explaining the purpose of Endeavor Catalyst and its functions, Taylor also offered general advice on raising capital and opened the floor to questions.
Taylor opened discussion with a description of Endeavor’s various “access to capital” services. These functions namely included providing mentorship, connecting entrepreneurs to investors, and providing capital through the Catalyst Fund. Taylor additionally offered advice, emphasizing the importance of building an investor map and of locating investors who aligned with a company’s sector, stage, and geographic location. He also stressed the importance of relationship building in the process of finding investors. However, Taylor noted that venture capital might not be right for every business.
Towards the end of the discussion, Taylor listed three key challenges that entrepreneurs often face: access to markets, access to talent, and access to capital. Taylor encouraged those in the room that raising capital was becoming more global and interconnected. “I think entrepreneurs everywhere can build billion dollar companies,” Taylor advocated.
All in all, the event facilitated productive discussion on venture capital while simultaneously raising awareness of Endeavor Catalyst. Even more, it provided an opportunity for the local entrepreneurial community to not only speak with Taylor, but to network with one another.
To learn more about Endeavor Catalyst, visit our global site here.
