TECHdotMN: News about Minnesota Startups

Creative exits, the future of angel investing and RAIN Makers Conference. GTK #21: Steve Mercil

August 27, 2010 | by Jeff Pesek Comments

Steve Mercil is the CEO of RAIN Source Capital, a multi-state network of angel investment funds that he founded in 1998. Steve is also Treasurer of the Angel Capital Association (ACA) and Chairman of the Board of Directors with the National Association of Seed & Venture Funds (NASVF).

RAIN Source Capital currently oversees 23 funds across six states with approximately $20 million in committed capital from around 450 individual angels. Since inception, the firm has  funded over 70 startups for which RAIN Source raised a cumulative $150m.

With two decades of early-stage financing experience, Steve has witnessed the ups and downs of risk capital on his mission to make RAIN Source the premier investment network of angel investors throughout the United States.

While the current economic landscape certainly isn’t helping to provide entrepreneurs with easier access to equity financing, Steve views the situation as favorable to the RAIN Source model. By networking and connecting investors with domain expertise, the potential for syndication and ongoing educational initiatives, RAIN Source offers an infrastructure that’s designed to save angel investors time while increasing  their own odds of successful angel investing.

“People are going to get more creative in how they structure their deals:  put-backs, buy-outs, royalty streams. I think we’re going to see some experimentation on exits over the next 3 to 5 years,” says Mercil looking at what’s ahead.

RAIN Makers Conference:

On September 23rd and 24th,  between 150-200 investors, entrepreneurs and thought leaders from across the country will gather at the Hilton Minneapolis/Bloomington for the 7th annual RAIN Makers conference. Topics include: identifying bias, creative financing, building exits and corporate culture, etc.

Regular price admission to the conference is $495, but summer-sale registration is discounted $100 through the end of August by using code “SUMSALE10″.

For $1,000 startups can receive two conference passes, exhibit their product(s) and participate in networking functions.  Similar to that of the CrowdPitch format, six exhibiting companies will be selected to make formal 10-minute interactive presentations in front of an audience and panel of experts.

Tags: Angel Capital Association, National Association of Seed & Venture Funds, RAIN Makers Conference, Rain Source Capital, Steve Mercil

Jeff Pesek / TECHdotMN Co-founder

• jeff.pesek@tech.mn
• http://twitter.com/jeffpesek
• http://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffpesek

A product of the net generation; consumed with the convergence of tech & culture. Pursuing things that aspire to improve the quality of human life.