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News
Jay Turo Interviewed on Bob Pritchard's Voice of America Show
Jay Turo interviewed on Bob Pritchard's Voice of America Show. 
In the interview, Jay discusses the most effective ways to attract investment to your business. Click here to listen to Jay Turo on Voice of America.
Growthink on Got Invention Radio
Growthink interviewed on Got Invention Radio on the topics of Business Planning, Market Research, and Crowdfunding.
In the interview, Co-founder & President, Dave Lavinsky, talks about what investors look for in a business plan. The discussion opens about the different ways to raise money for your invention-Banks, Seed, Angel, Venture Capitalists and Crowd Funding. To listen to Dave Lavinsky's Got Invention Radio Interview Click Here.
Growthinker Speaks at Loyola Marymount University
Growthinker, Ashumi Kothary, speaks to Loyola MBA Class on
The Art and Science of Strategy Consulting.
Charles M. Vance, Ph.D. from the College of Business Administration says:
"It was clear that the students really enjoyed and got a lot out of your visit. Thanks so much for taking the time and making this valuable effort for us!"
Growthink Brings Global Entrepreneurship Week 2011 to NYC
Global Entrepreneurship Week Celebrates Innovators and Job Creators; Hosts Growthink, Inc. at “10 Steps to Start, Grow & Sell Your Business” Event
In Growthink’s powerful live, in-person seminar, “10 Steps to Start, Grow & Sell Your Business,” Growthink co-founder and President Dave Lavinsky will teach his 10 steps for entrepreneurial success. He will show entrepreneurs how to effectively and efficiently start their businesses, grow them, and initiate multi-million dollar exits. The event will be held on Friday, November 18th at Marymount Manhattan College, Regina Peruggi Room (2nd Floor); located on 221 East 71st Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues in New York City. Dave Lavinsky is scheduled to begin speaking at 10am and will present and have time for questions until Noon. To reserve your seat, please RSVP to Raquel A. Castillo, raquel@growthink.com or by dialing 914-514-8036. Click here learn more about Global Entrepreneurship Week USA 2011.
Growthink Featured in Mixergy
Growthink featured in Mixergy episode entitled; "Growthink: From One Awful Logo To 5000 Clients – with Dave Lavinsky" In the interview, co-founder Dave Lavinsky tells the Growthink, Inc. success story and shares with the audience how he and co-founder Jay Turo built a profitable business by helping entrepreneurs succeed.
You can watch Dave Lavinky's Interview on Mixergy here.
Dave Lavinsky Interviewed in INC.
Growthink co-founder and President, Dave Lavinsky, has been featured in the Inc. article entitled; "5 Investments Your Business Can't Live Without." In the article, Inc. covers what investments will give business owners the biggest pay off with expert Dave Lavinsky weighing in on where to best spend an annual budget. You can read Dave Lavinsky's Expert Advice on Budgeting for 2012 here.
Jay Turo to Speak on Venture Capital Panel
Growthink co-founder and CEO Jay Turo has been asked to speak on the Venture Capital panel at the Daily Deal Media Conference on September 8th and 9th in Chicago.
Daily Deal Media is the nation's leading provider of news, data and intelligence for Social Commerce and the Daily Deal Industry. Daily Deal Media tracks and rates publishers and merchants using key performance indicators such as daily sales, product offerings, performance metrics and deal history which allows us to provide our clients with valuable deal data and business intelligence.
Other members of the Venture Capital panel include Phin Barnes of First Round Capital and Ben Black of Akkadian Ventures.
Growthink Client Scratch Media Group Raises $3.3 Million
 Congratulations to Growthink client Scratch Media Group.
Scratch Music Group just completed a $3.3 million round of growth financing. The funding round was led by Contour Venture Partners. Additional investors included the New York City Investment Fund (NYCIF) and angel investors. The angel investors included SeamlessWeb's Jason Finger and Todd Arky, and Jacob Pechenik, the co-founder and CEO of YellowJacket Software. Scratch Music Group has built the first and largest national team of heavily screened marquee DJs, who entertain guests at thousands of weddings, corporate events, tours, and music festivals each year. Scratch works closely with leading brands including MTV, Saks, Vans, Bloomingdales, ESPN, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Ann Taylor, Pepsi, Sandals Beach Resorts, and W Hotels.
Growthink Client ProtonMedia Raises Another $4.5 Million
Congratulations to Growthink client ProtonMedia.
ProtonMedia, who had raised a $2.5 million financing round in July 2009, just closed a $4.5 million Series B venture financing, bringing its total outside funding to $7 million.
The lead investor in the deal was Kaplan Ventures, the venture arm of the education company Kaplan, Inc. Other investors in this latest round included Originate Ventures (located in Bethlehem, PA) and Osage Venture Partners (located in Bala Cynwyd, PA).
ProtonMedia is the developer of ProtoSphere, a virtual collaboration environment for the high-performance workplace, and the #1 virtual environment for collaborative PLM in life sciences. ProtoSphere’s virtual environment provides an arsenal of business-focused collaboration and communication tools that help companies accelerate decision-making and raise productivity, improving workplace performance overall.
ProtonMedia’s customers include some of the world’s most respected brands, including AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Merck Inc., BP, Chevron, Duke University, Deloitte, TIAA-CREF, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing.
Growthink CEO Jay Turo Speaks on Finance Panel
Growthink CEO Jay Turo was a featured panelist at UCLA's 2011 Entrepreneurs Conference last week. At the conference, Jay spoke regarding best practices for startups and small business seeking to raise money via crowdfunding and other social networking means, changing angel and venture capital investing norms with the improved financial markets, and new investment securities including royalty-based financing structures and revenue certificates, among others.
About The Entrepreneurs Conference: 
Now in its 26th year, this conference is UCLA Anderson’s largest and highest-profile student-organized event. The Entrepreneur Association and the Harold and Pauline Price Center for Entrepreneurial Studies welcome a large audience of current and future MBA students, alumni, faculty, entrepreneurs, investors, small business owners, financiers, and a broad array of business executives and professionals for a day of sharing valuable insight on current topics in entrepreneurship, critical business skills, and emerging opportunities.
Growthink Client Clickability Acquired for $10 Million
Last week, Growthink Client Clickability was acquired by Limelight Networks (NSDQ: L LNW). Limelight Networks purchased Clickability for its web content management system which is used by many high profile publishers. The web CMS will help Limelight's new video platform business, which it entered last year when it purchased Delve Networks. Limelight paid $10 million in stock and cash for Clickability. Congratulations Clickability!
Growthink Client Adometry Raises $1 Million
Congratulations to Growthink client Adometry.
Adometry just completed a $1 million round of VC funding.
Four investment groups participated in the round: Austin Ventures, Sierra Ventures, Stanford University and Shasta Ventures.
Adometry, formerly known as Click Forensics, is a leading provider of ad analytics and traffic quality solutions for the online advertising community. Adometry leads the industry in online ad verification and traffic quality management, delivering actionable insight to improve the performance of online advertising. Online advertisers, agencies, publishers, and ad networks rely on Adometry for audience verification, click quality scoring and attribution metrics to optimize online advertising results.
Growthink Client Dr. Sears Family Essentials Raises $5.6 Million
Congratulations to Growthink client Dr. Sears Family Essentials.
Dr. Sears Family Essentials just completed a $5.6 million round of venture capital funding.
The funding was provided by Intuitive Venture Partners and will help Irvine, CA-based Dr. Sears with expansion and marketing efforts. Intuitive Venture Partners is based in New York.
Dr. Sears Family Essentials is a privately-held, functional food and beverage company rooted in the collective expertise of the Sears Family of Pediatricians, which features more than a century of combined medical knowledge. The company offers a doctor-formulated, kid-approved line of 100 percent all-natural snacks, beverages and supplements that provide essential daily nutrients, such as Omega-3 DHA, to help children grow healthy, strong and smart.
Dr. Sears Family Essentials products are reflective of Dr. Bill Sears’ lifelong dedication to children’s health and wellness and the company’s commitment to helping combat childhood obesity and Nutritional Deficit Disorder. Dr. Sears Family Essentials products are available nationwide at The Vitamin Shoppe, Whole Foods, independent natural health retailers and major regional grocery retailers including H-E-B, Meijer and Fred Meyer across the U.S., and online at www.drsearsfamilyessentials.com.
Growthink Client DecisionStep Purchased by Buy.com
Congratulations to Growthink client DecisionStep which was acquired today.
DecisionStep helps online businesses succeed by providing hosted, innovative solutions that let consumers make better decisions faster. DecisionStep's application called ShopTogether provides real-time, social interaction to shoppers so they can be part of each other's web experience and decision-making process, increasing order value and buyer conversion for retailers.
DecisionStep was acquired by Buy.com, a leading retail marketplace with more than 18 million customers. The amount of the acquisition was not disclosed.
To read the full press release of the acquisition, click here.
Growthink Sponsors Interactive Program on the Future of Advertising
Growthink, Inc. will host an online, interactive event focused on the rapid changes taking place in online advertising and media – and how these changes may impact private equity investors, marketers, and the thousands of emerging companies competing in an increasingly crowded field of technology-based marketing services. The live Web event, free for participants, will take place on Tuesday, February 1st at 1:00 pm EST / 10:00 am PST. Program highlights to include: - Insights from the chief executives of two up and coming firms succeeding in this new advertising environment and experiencing rapid growth and tangible ROI due to their unique offerings.
- A sector snapshot from Growthink developed with the input of dozens of media and advertising executives, private equity investors, M&A bankers, entrepreneurs, sector analysts, and others deeply involved in the industry.
- Analysis on what emerging advertising business models to invest in … and to run from.
- A roadmap for young companies in the category hoping to successfully attract capital, execute their business strategies, rapidly acquire clients, and even reach the Holy Grail – exiting at an eye popping valuation.
For more, click here
Growthink Client Ifbyphone Raises $10 Million
Congratulations to Growthink client Ifbyphone.
Ifbyphone just completed a $10 million second round of venture capital funding. This
brings Ifbyphone’s total outside funding to $16 million.
Investors in this Series B round included Apex Venture Partners, Origin Ventures,
Spring Mill Ventures, i2A Fund, River Cities Capital and Second Century Ventures (the
National Association of Realtors’ investment fund)
Ifbyphone provides a suite of software-as-a-service voice applications for ad tracking,
call notifications, call forwarding, call automation and interactive voice response (IVR).
These technologies help you manage, measure and automate voice communications.
Growthink Named Strategic Advisor to Sonoma Risk Insurance Agency
Los Angeles, CA - Growthink has been selected as a strategic advisor to Sonoma Risk Management, a Los Angeles based insurance agency dedicated to providing innovative and affordable litigation insurance to individuals, businesses, and corporations. Its policies are underwritten by Zurich North America, a leading global insurance carrier.
Based in Los Angeles, with regional offices planned for the Midwest, Southwest, Southeast, and Northeast, Sonoma Risk is comprised of a skilled management team of seasoned professionals within the legal and insurance industries.
For more information go to http://www.sonomarisk.com
Growthink's work on behalf of Sonoma includes advice and assistance regarding various strategic alternatives, including outside financing and growth through strategic acquisitions. To learn more about Growthink's work on behalf of Sonoma Risk, please contact Ashumi Kothary at ashumi.kothary@growthink.com.
Growthink Advises Trees for Children on Venture Philanthropy Strategy
Los Angeles, CA - Growthink has been mandated as the strategic business planning and fundraising partner for Make a Mark Foundation's Trees for Children Initiative.
Make a Mark was established in 1993 as a non-profit foundation sponsored by The Noel Group, and with the help of supporters is focused its efforts on the looming orphan crisis.
As a result of the devastating AIDS pandemic, millions of orphans and vulnerable children are being left to fend for themselves. Make a Mark is working with a coalition of partners to support lasting and sustainable business solutions to the growing orphan crisis
Trees for Children is currently active in the Nyumbani Village, Kitui Kenya, where they are currently undertaking a 10-year project to plant a dry-land adapted tree species, Melia Volkensii, on 500 acres of land - 50 acres every year. Melia is an indigenous high-value tree species that will be sold as logs or timber products upon maturity. The trees are being watered with solar pumps and drip irrigation to insure they will survive the arid weather. The revenues generated will be enough to care for one village and also help plant more trees to benefit other AIDS orphans. At the end of 10 years, the 300,000 trees planted will have offset tons of carbon emissions and improved the microclimate of the surrounding areas. Trees For Children – Kenya is a long-term strategy for sustainability that will provide funding indefinitely for current and future intergenerational villages. It is a concept Make a Mark hopes the entire world will embrace.
Growthink is currently acting as a strategic advisor to Trees for Children, helping to complete a business plan and define their fundraising strategy. Please contact Tristan Sigerson or Brittany Lawson at Growthink at (310) 846-5000 for more information or Contact Sasha Gainullin at Make a Mark - info@makeamark.com - to learn how you can help.
Growthink Launches Crowdfunding Formula
In 1957, the venture capital industry was born.
But in 2010, a brand new funding source arose that’s going to blow venture capital out of the water.
Within the next year, over 100 TIMES more companies will raise money from this new source than will raise venture capital.
What is this revolutionary new funding source?
It’s called Crowdfunding.
According to Growthink President Dave Lavinsky, “Crowdfunding is the most significant new fundraising tactic for entrepreneurs in 53 years. Because Crowdfunding is about raising money from friends, acquaintances and the general internet “crowd,” for the first time ever, there are more people giving out money then entrepreneurs seeking money. This changes everything!”
The bad news is that since Crowdfunding is so new, most entrepreneurs don’t know how to raise it and fail when they try.
That’s why Growthink just completed a comprehensive training course called Crowdfunding Formula, to teach entrepreneurs how to successfully raise money via crowdfunding.
Among other things, Crowdfunding Formula lays out the 14 steps that entrepreneurs must follow to raise Crowdfunding dollars.
You can learn more about Crowdfunding Formula here.
Bovie Medical Corporation (NYSE Amex: BVX) Names Growthink As Strategic Advisor
Bovie Medical Corporation (NYSE Amex: BVX) announced today that it has retained Growthink Securities, Inc. to assist Bovie as its strategic consulting, business planning and financial advisor in connection with developing various sales and marketing strategies, any potential financing and/or sale transaction, related to one or more of Bovie’s medical device product lines. Click here to learn more.
Growthink Advising Reno-Tahoe Winter Games on 2022 Olympic Bid
50 years ago, Squaw Valley, California played host to one of the most treasured and revered Olympic games in history
Now, half a century later, the opportunity to craft another chapter in the region's rich Olympic heritage is upon us.
There is a strong probability that the Unites States will submit a region for consideration to host the 2022 Winter Games, and right now Reno-Tahoe region is positioned to be the clear front-runner.
The Reno Tahoe Winter Games Coalition has been working diligently to prepare for this opportunity. Influential regional leaders, such as the Coalition’s Chair Nevada Lieutenant Governor Brian Krolicki and Squaw Valley Ski Corporation’s Nancy Cushing believe that Reno - Tahoe will once again successfully host the Olympics. Growthink has recently been retained by the coalition to assist in preparing a business plan and an overall bid strategy. Click here to learn more.
Growthink Sponsors Agriculture 2.0
Growthink is sponsoring a Agriculture 2.0, an event focused on building networks and knowledge in sustainability. Click here to learn more.
Simple Business Plan Template Now Available from Growthink
With Growthink's "Ultimate Business Plan Template," Entrepreneurs Can Finish a Business Plan in Hours or Days, Not Weeks or Months.
Developing a business plan has long been considered a "necessary evil" - something that an entrepreneur must do if he wants to get his business off the ground.
Business plans are especially important when raising capital. And raising capital is even more critical than most entrepreneurs often realize.
According to the Small Business Administration (SBA), the #1 reason that businesses fail is because they run out of money. Furthermore, the SBA found a strong correlation between developing a formal business plan and the long-term success of your business.
And in today's economic environment, it's even more important to have a professional business plan to attract capital and successfully build a business.
To help entrepreneurs develop successful business plans, faster, and at a price every entrepreneur can afford, Growthink Co-Founder and President Dave Lavinsky has developed a simple, but effective Business Plan Template.
Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Growthink is the leading business plan consulting firm. Since 1999, Growthink has developed more than 2,000 business plans for entrepreneurs, startups, and middle market companies. Growthink clients have raised more than $1 billion in growth capital.
After 10 years of experience developing business plans and successfully raising capital for Growthink clients, Lavinsky has distilled Growthink's proven business planning process into a simple, easy-to-follow, "fill in the blanks" template. Growthink's "Ultimate Business Plan Template" allows any entrepreneur to develop a professional business plan in hours or days, not weeks or months.
As Lavinsky explains, "With Growthink's Ultimate Business Plan Template, the business planning process is no longer a dreaded chore, it's no longer a road block to successful entrepreneurship." He continued, "Now, an entrepreneur can finish a business plan quickly and easily, and get on with successfully raising capital and growing a profitable business."
Growthink's "Ultimate Business Plan Template" includes the following benefits and features: - Detailed, simple-to-follow instructions to quickly and painlessly create a professional business plan
- Automatically synchronized Financial Projections, to simplify the most intimidating section of the business plan creation process
- Fill-in-the-blank Executive Summary with helpful tips and examples
- Compatible in Microsoft Word and Excel for simple customization
- Free support to answer questions should any arise
- Instant download so you can get started right now
- 365 day, no questions asked, money-back guarantee
- Extra bonuses worth hundreds of dollars
And, for a limited time, Growthink's "Ultimate Business Plan Template" also comes with a 30-day free trial to GrowthinkUniversity.com - Growthink's premium entrepreneurship training program. GrowthinkUniversity.com is home to hundreds of articles, training videos, tools, and resources for developing a professional business plan, raising capital, and growing a successful business.
For more information about Growthink's "Ultimate Business Plan Template," call 800-810-7068 or visit http://www.growthink.com/products/business-plan-template.
Growthink Launches Capital Raising Bootcamp
Earlier this week, Growthink began its much anticipated Capital Raising Bootcamp.
Growthink’s Capital Raising Bootcamp was designed to teach entrepreneurs everything they need to know in order to raise capital for their businesses.
The Bootcamp, which is delivered virtually via four live 90-minute webinars, covers the following topics:
Session 1: Essential Overview of Raising Capital
This session includes an overview of the three core categories of financing: debt, equity and alternative/creative financing. It then discusses the pros and cons of each of the 40 sources of capital included in these three categories.
Session 2: Required Capital Documentation and Debt, Grants & Alternative Funding
This session teaches entrepreneurs how to complete the nine core types of documents that are required when raising capital. It then provides step-by-step guidance on how to raise capital from debt, grants and creative & alternative financing sources.
Session 3: Venture Capital, Angel and Friend & Family Funding
This session goes step-by-step through the process of raising equity capital from friends & family members, angel investors and venture capital firms.
Session 4: Detailed Q&A
As anticipated, this initial offering of Growthink’s Capital Raising Bootcamp was sold out. If you are interested in getting on the wait list for our next Bootcamp, click here: http://www.growthink.com/products/capital-raising-bootcamp.
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