Startup Grind Lansing is kicking off 2021 by addressing the most crucial question in most entrepreneurs' minds, i.e., How to adapt and truck through the startup world during COVID times. Join us at 5:30 pm on 1/21/2021 and enjoy a scintillating discussion with our three panelists. Our guests are investors, attorneys, and founders.
About our Guests:
Andrew Bott: Andrew is the Founder at MeetFounders, connecting startups to VCs through virtual events since 2020. He has helped startups for the past 8 years by organizing over 300 events with thousands of startups spanning Europe and North America. His passion is providing resources to future and current entrepreneurs by interviewing leaders in the business and investment world.
Mike Murshak: Mike is an experienced intellectual property attorney specializing in patent and trademark strategy and acquisition. Working with start-ups is his primary area of interest, especially in making a cost-effective strategic plan to build a strong IP portfolio and avoid risky pitfalls. This includes assisting his clients with negotiating terms, reviewing agreements, and due diligence.Jeff Wesley: Jeff is the director of Red Cedar Ventures and the Executive Director of Michigan Rise. Before joining Red Cedar Ventures, he was the CEO of Two Men and Truck International. He also served as the President of Accu-Bite Dental Supply after beginning his career at Deloitte. Wesley has significant experience in leading and scaling private companies to record success.
Three Takeaways to Expect from this Event:
1. How founders must remain focused on product validity and traction in the midst of a pandemic?
2. Why intellectual property law is on the rise during COVID-19?
3. Has pandemic changed the way founders meet investors now?
MeetFounders
Founder
Loomis Law Firm
Attorney
Red Cedar Ventures
Director
Andrew Bott is the Founder at MeetFounders, connecting startups to VCs through virtual events since 2020. He has helped startups for the past 8 years by organizing over 300 events with thousands of startups spanning Europe and North America. His passion is providing resources to future and current entrepreneurs by interviewing leaders in the business and investment world.
Mikhail Murshak is experienced in all aspects of intellectual property law specializing in patent and trademark acquisition. His background includes the preparation and prosecution of patents in the area of consumer products, computer technology, automotive aerospace, chemical engineering, nanotechnology, sleep technology, and much more. Working with start-up technology-based businesses is Mr. Murshak’s primary area of interest. This includes assisting his clients with negotiating terms, reviewing agreements, and due diligence.
Jeff Wesley is the director of Red Cedar Ventures. Prior to joining Red Cedar Ventures, he was the CEO of Two Men and Truck International. He also served as the President of Accu-Bite Dental Supply, after beginning his career at Deloitte. Wesley has significant experience in leading and scaling private companies to record success.
Startup Grind Lansing
Director
Reuben Levinsohn has been a business man and entrepreneur since his early twenties. While studying Business Finance at Michigan State University, Reuben bought a national home improvement franchise which he built up from scratch to over 40 employees and one of the largest painting companies in Michigan. While running his business he also began acquiring commercial and residential real estate investment properties.
Understanding the importance of financial planning, and having a very positive experience with his own financial advisor, he sold his franchise and became a financial advisor with the goal of having a positive impact on others.
Reuben provides solutions for businesses in the area of health and ancillary benefits, retirement plans, key person protection, business buy-sell funding, and owner and partner financial strategies.
He is also an investor and co-founder at Blue Owl Coffee in REO Town. His role is focused on brand and location expansion strategy, real estate, and space negotiations.
Another startup he is investor and co-founder at is Lingco. It is an adaptive / individualized, web-based language learning platform, custom tailored for university level language instructors. His role is CFO, handling financials, legal, funding, and putting together additional team members.
Reuben is also an investor and advisor at WiGo trips. WiGo is a platform where anyone can organize and post their dream trips. He advises on financial matters, funding strategies, etc.
Other business ventures include securities trading software company Su2Systems; automotive suspension and air pressure technology company, AKTV8; REO Town Ventures; RAM Properties; and LRS Properties.
When he is not spending time on one of the above ventures he is usually with his family (wife Rachel, daughter Victoria - studying abroad in S. America, son David - freshman at EL Highschool, son Joseph - kindergarten), ultra light backpacking in some crazy place with his fly rod, or flying his single engine plane as a private pilot.
Anderson Economic Group
Startup Grind Lansing
Director
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Lansing Economic Area Partnership
Manager of New Ventures
See Bio
Reuben Levinsohn has been a business man and entrepreneur since his early twenties. While studying Business Finance at Michigan State University, Reuben bought a national home improvement franchise which he built up from scratch to over 40 employees and one of the largest painting companies in Michigan. While running his business he also began acquiring commercial and residential real estate investment properties.
Understanding the importance of financial planning, and having a very positive experience with his own financial advisor, he sold his franchise and became a financial advisor with the goal of having a positive impact on others.
Reuben provides solutions for businesses in the area of health and ancillary benefits, retirement plans, key person protection, business buy-sell funding, and owner and partner financial strategies.
He is also an investor and co-founder at Blue Owl Coffee in REO Town. His role is focused on brand and location expansion strategy, real estate, and space negotiations.
Another startup he is investor and co-founder at is Lingco. It is an adaptive / individualized, web-based language learning platform, custom tailored for university level language instructors. His role is CFO, handling financials, legal, funding, and putting together additional team members.
Reuben is also an investor and advisor at WiGo trips. WiGo is a platform where anyone can organize and post their dream trips. He advises on financial matters, funding strategies, etc.
Other business ventures include securities trading software company Su2Systems; automotive suspension and air pressure technology company, AKTV8; REO Town Ventures; RAM Properties; and LRS Properties.
When he is not spending time on one of the above ventures he is usually with his family (wife Rachel, daughter Victoria - studying abroad in S. America, son David - freshman at EL Highschool, son Joseph - kindergarten), ultra light backpacking in some crazy place with his fly rod, or flying his single engine plane as a private pilot.
Anum started her journey with LEAP in January 2018 as an apprentice, where she played a key role in developing LEAP’s social media strategy. In the summer of 2018, Anum joined the LEAP team full-time as part of the Business Development team and managed the City of Lansing’s Corridor Façade Program, Opportunity Zones, and Corridor Improvement Authority Boards. Nationally recognized for her efforts, Anum successfully led the City of Lansing's Opportunity Zones initiative. She developed the blueprint of OZ Investment Prospectus and Stakeholder Network while serving as the conduit for the City of Lansing.
Washington Avenue Ventures
Chapter Director
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Startup Grind Lansing
Chapter Co-Director
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Anderson Economic Group
Chapter Operations Director
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