[sarahwhite]

My company has just finished being raped by two firms in Atlanta. One a networking group and the other a capitalization group that are supposed to help growing companies raise capital. We shelled out close to $50,000 to these two groups and have been strung along for 6 months on "why this isn't completed"; "we need to do this or that" etc. and we are fed up. Out of it all the first firm at least has introduced us to Angels and VC's that are interested and very serious about investing in our company. However, the 2nd firm (which we were sent to by the 1st firm) was supposed to actually handle the capitalization structure, offering, and prepare the investment docs. As you've probably guessed we paid for this upfront and we still do not have a ppm. We have our own CFO now (because we paid to get our numbers done once, and they gave me a sorry excuse about why we needed new numbers) and have done all the prep work ourselves internally! In the meantime, we have been experiencing rapid growth and trying to keep up with growth issues! I don't want to engage another company to prepare the docs unless they are recommended by another entrepreneur. Does any one know of a reputable group to prepare a ppm expediently and introduce our project to additional investors? We have everything ready.

[akula]

Sorry to hear about the rape

Ok..I'm posting some links - these Atlanta firms have experience with vc transactions for tech companies

Morris, Manning & Martin
http://www.mmmlaw.com/pressreleases/press_299.pdf

Hunton & Williams LLP - Sponsors of http://www.tagonline.org
http://www.hunton.com/practices/prac...px?gr_H4ID=949

Directory: http://www.lawyers.com/Venture-Capit...law-firms.html

Angel groups for referals:
http://www.seraphgroup.net
http://www.angelatlanta.com

[harrymcwealth]

Ouch! Rookie's mistake?

[akula]

sadly..and i'm not being judgmental, it is

it takes a slap in the face to understand these "help growing companies raise capital" scams

which is why i support National Instrument 31-103

....the bottom line appears to be this: under the proposed rule, angel managers, financial advisors and anyone else who is in the business of advising others on the buying or selling of securities will be required to register with the securities commissions as a dealer

also, Using Finders to Raise Funds: the Securities Laws Issues and particularly; The Search for Venture Capital: Beware of “Finders” Operating As Unregistered Broker-Dealers

[akula]

for other examples of how finders screw things up, see:

My Funding Nightmare
http://www.startupjunkies.org/forums...opic.php?t=886

Are you insane?
http://www.startupjunkies.org/forums...opic.php?t=984

Venture Capital Up-front Fee Scams
http://www.startupjunkies.org/forums...pic.php?t=1124