Understanding Valuations and Access to Capital in the Age of AI: Part of the PACT SaaS Series Powered by Phorum

Description

Join us for a forward-looking discussion on navigating valuations and access to capital in the Age of AI. Our expert panel will provide unique perspectives on how to value emerging technologies and secure funding in an era dominated by innovation. They will examine the seismic shifts in the venture capital, private equity, and public markets for technology companies.

Whether you are an entrepreneur looking to better position your company in the Age of AI or an investor aiming to adapt to this fast-moving landscape, this session will:

• Equip you with an advanced understanding of the transformations underway in valuations and capital flows
• Share actionable strategies to lean into the tailwinds of artificial intelligence as it reshapes business and technology globally

Panelists:

• Allen Born, Director, Fairmount Partners (Moderator)
• Sean Dowling, Managing Partner, Osage Venture Partners
• George Krautzel, Managing Partner, MissionOG

*Note: This event is open only to SaaS executives.

Sponsored by:

• Boomi
• CBIZ
• J.P. Morgan
• SEI
• Troutman Pepper

To attend this program, COVID vaccination is required per venue. If you are unvaccinated, mask is required. 

About Powered by Phorum

"Powered by Phorum" is an exhilarating journey of innovation and insight designed to ignite your passion for cutting-edge technologies and entrepreneurship with a series of carefully curated programs that embody the spirit, topics, and ambitions of our iconic Phorum Technology Conference. Embracing both the trending and critical aspects of business, technology, and innovation, each program will inspire, educate, and drive meaningful discussions, culminating in the annual Phorum Technology Conference in the spring.

About our speakers:

Allen Born, Director, Fairmount Partners (Moderator)

Allen Born focuses on originating and executing middle-market investment banking transactions in the technology sector. He has advised on exclusive sale assignments, buy-side transactions, financings, and various other strategic advisory assignments and has completed more than 50 transactions totaling over $13 billion in consideration.

Experience:
Prior to joining Fairmount, Allen was a member of Stifel Nicolaus’ technology investment banking group, where he led the firm’s Internet investment banking effort. He joined Stifel Nicolaus in 2005 as part of the firm’s acquisition of Legg Mason Capital Markets. Prior to the acquisition, he spent five years as a member of Legg Mason’s Strategic Advisory Group, where he was responsible for executing middle-market M&A and financial advisory engagements. Previously, Allen worked in business development and branch operations at Epoch Internet, a privately held Internet service provider.

Education:
Allen Born received his M.B.A. with a concentration in Finance from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and his B.S. in Finance, with a minor in Economics, from The Pennsylvania State University.

George Krautzel, Managing Partner, MissionOG

George focuses on investment opportunities in software and data, as well as co-manages the day-to-day operations of MissionOG. He is a driven entrepreneur and former executive who has a passion for building innovative business solutions to solve market challenges.

George has served as board director of successfully exited portfolio companies Cloudamize and DivvyCloud. He also currently serves as board director of portfolio companies Apkudo, Brightfield, Roots Automation, and Venminder, and as board observer at Tethr. George has been a member of the investment committee for each of MissionOG’s four funds.

Prior to MissionOG, he co-founded and bootstrapped ITtoolbox, an online community for IT executives and professionals. A leader in best practice knowledge sharing, the company pioneered concepts for online community building and digital marketing, and was eventually acquired by CEB. Post-acquisition, George ran the company’s business unit and expanded its focus to include communities for financial and human resource professionals. Prior to ITtoolbox, he co-founded an IT services company and was a consultant for Accenture.

George graduated with a B.S. in Finance from Villanova University.

Sean Dowling, Managing Partner, Osage Venture Partners

Sean joined Osage Venture Partners in 2011 and helps to lead OVP’s efforts to partner with exceptional entrepreneurs and support them as they grow leading businesses.  Sean serves as a board member of ANRA Technologies, boodleAI, BookKeeping Express, Brazen, Connectbase, Dina, ExecOnline, FOUNT, Incentivio, Indico Data, MarginEdge, Ostendio, and Returnalyze.  He was a board member of TimelinePI through the company's successful acquisition by ABBYY Software in 2019.  Sean is also a board observer at CIPIO, Circonus, Noodle, RackWare, Strategikon Pharma, PathwayOS, and TeachFX; and was previously a board observer for GoCanvas prior to its acquisition by K1 Investment Management, Phone2Action prior to its acquisition by Frontier Capital, and RiskLens prior to its acquisition by Safe Security.

Sean holds several leadership positions in and has been a speaker for organizations supporting the venture ecosystem, including the Philadelphia Alliance of Capital and Technology and the Mid-Atlantic Venture Association in the Washington DC / Northern Virginia area.    

Sean joined OVP after interning while pursuing his MBA.  Prior to business school, Sean spent five years as a strategy consultant at the Monitor Group in London, UK and Boston, MA where he served as a senior case team leader and member of Monitor’s marketing strategy group, m2c. At Monitor, Sean focused on integrating marketing strategy and organizational design to enable his clients to achieve sustainable growth by better understanding their customers and developing innovative products and solutions to meet their needs.

Sean completed his MBA, with honors, from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and graduated magna cum laude from Princeton University with a degree in Economics.

Sean currently serves as the Treasurer of the Board for Community Partnership School, a pre-K to fifth grade independent school in Northeast Philadelphia that serves low-wealth, low-income students from the surrounding neighborhoods. He is also a member of the investment committee for Wharton Impact Investing Partners, a student run impact investing organization at Wharton.

Sean lives in Philadelphia with his wife and their three children.