Press

Assistance providers participating in the event included: 

• Richard F. Giersch, CEO & Chairman, Valtari Bio, Director, WVU Innovation Center
• Joseph G. Bunn, Esq., Member, Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
• Kevin O’Connor, West Virginia Senior Business Lender, Natural Capital Investment Fund
• Mike Green, Chairman, West Virginia Growth Investment Fund and Managing Director, Mountain State Capital
  Tim James, Loan Officer, First Microloan of West Virginia 
• Andreas Baltatzis, Director, KramerAmado, P.C.
• Michele O’Connor, Manager, West Virginia Jobs Investment Trust
• Larry Miller, Executive in Residence, Innovation Works
• Matt Harbaugh, Associate Vice President for Transformation, WVU
  
  

The event was conducted in a fashion that encouraged questions and open dialogue between the audience and assistance providers. 

Some key takeaways, included:

• First Microloan of West Virginia offers loan funding from $5,000-$50,000 and typically used when bank financing isn’t available. 
  
  
• Natural Capital Investment Fund offers a $30 million fund operating in underserved communities throughout Appalachia.  Typically used when bank financing isn’t available and they also team with other funding sources.
  
  
• Mountain State Capital is a newly formed $25 million venture capital fund which will become active in 2017.
  
  
• Inventor and entrepreneur resources from the US Patent & Trademark Office are available at: https://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/inventors-entrepreneurs-resources.
  
  
• Tips for giving an effective presentation for funding, as provided by Innovation Works Executive In Residence, Larry Miller, can be accessed by clicking here.