SELECTION
- One or two Walnut members volunteer to chair each month’s meeting
- Monthly chairs select presenters from a candidate pool recommended by members and associates.
- The selection process typically involves an initial short phone call followed by a more in depth meeting or call.
- Candidates not selected for a specific month may be shared with the chair for the following month.
SCHEDULE
- We currently meet the second Tuesday of each month (excluding January and August) from 4:30 pm – 8:00 pm. Meetings are hybrid - some attendees are on Zoom and others are at Babson College.
- We schedule 3 or 4 presentations for each meeting.
- Each presenter has 20 minutes to present and 10 minutes for questions.
PRESENTATIONS
Entrepreneurs are expected to address these issues in their presentation:
Product
Company
Financials
Entrepreneurs are expected to address these issues in their presentation:
Product
- What is the problem that your product is a solution for?
- How costly / painful is that problem?
- How many people or companies have that problem?
- What’s special about how you solve the problem that others can’t (consumer reports style comparison)?
Company
- How will you make money?
- What have you accomplished so far?
- Who is on your core team and why are they valuable?
Financials
- How much are you raising and what will you accomplish with the new investment?
- How much have you raised to date?
- How much more will you need to raise before profitability / exit?
- What is your likely exit and multiple?
- What is your ask (equity or note? Terms?)
FOLLOW UP
After the presenter leaves the room, our group will discuss the opportunity briefly.
- If no one wants to follow up, the presenter will be notified by email or phone the next day.
- If there is interest, a lead investor is assigned to coordinate a follow-up in-depth meeting and due diligence.