The Role of the Corporate Financial Advisor in

Growth Financing and Public-Private Partnerships

to Support an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

Roger Neece, PresidentESOP Advisors, Inc.

The Role of the Corporate Financial Advisor

• Analyze Financing Risks, Rewards and Trade offs • Between types of venture and Growth financing• Among sources: industry and strategic expertise can be as

important as financing availability• Strategic vs. Financial Investors• To develop optimal financing structure

• One size does not fit all• Start-up financing requirements vary across industries:

Government contracting vs. Tech; Hybrids, Services vs. Manufacturing; Consumer or enterprise facing

• Boot-strapping venture activities in established companies

Public-Private Partnerships to Support an Entrepreneurial

Finance Ecosystem• Local Economic Development Officials need a Finance Ecosystem

to support local entrepreneurial economic development• Quad Cities Experience• Public-Private Partnerships can jump start Entrepreneurial Finance

development• Federal support of local startup and growth financing programs• State support: Partners like CIT• Strategic Partnerships with private sector

• Angel funds• Strategic investors in focus industries• Later stage financiers