August 13th marks ZINO Society’s fourth Birthday and we will be celebrating with our friends and fellow ZINO Society members. Everyone brings their favorite magnum of wine to share! This is an annual bash at beautiful DeLille Cellars, immediately following the Auction of Washington Wines picnic.
On a more serious level, four years marks quite an achievement for a little start-up company that is attempting to promote entrepreneurism by connecting angel investors with entrepreneurs. There have been many twists and turns along the way during the past four years and we have had to be very flexible as we tried one thing and then another, always searching for the best way to work with our members to meet their needs and at the same time help entrepreneurs achieve their dreams. We are proud to say that we have helped facilitate direct angel funding of over $12.5 million since inception.
Our annual calendar offers investment meetings or investment forums 11 months of the year and over 40 annual events including our social and educational events. One of our big program successes has been our all-day September ZINO Zillionaire Investment Forum where we feature screened and coached entrepreneurs and have awarded guaranteed angel investment funds to those entrepreneurs who have been selected as the best investment opportunities as judged by the fund investors. Our fourth ZZIF is scheduled this year on September 17th at the new Four Seasons Hotel and we will once again feature 28 presenting entrepreneurs, a keynote speaker, a Due Diligence Live! panel, a walk-around lunch, networking time and an awards ceremony following the business session.
I am especially grateful to the original angel investors and advisory board members who chose to believe in me and the ZINO Society team and our early vision of what ZINO Society would be. Thank you to Ron & Bonnie Elgin, Firoz Lalji, Geda & Phil Condit, Suzy & Moe Krabbe, Gary McLean, Mike & Pam Towers, Amin Lakha, Sharon Ballantine, Hope Moore, Joan & Bob Cremin, Chuck Lytle, John Rindlaub, Ike Lee, Mel Sturman, Carl Behnke, Greg & Stacy Lill, Barb & Dick Taylor and Tom Hedges.
I am also thankful for the ZINO Society staff, past and present, who have helped create what ZINO Society is today. Without them, this would not have been possible and I appreciate each one for what he or she has brought to the team that helped propel us forward. I especially toast each of the current ZINO team members: Mary Holmes, Rob Brown, RJ Humphries, Robin Moore, McKenzie Midboe and Julian Tescher.
And, of course none of this would have been possible without each of the ZINO Society members who chose and continue to choose to participate in ZINO Society or the presenting entrepreneurs who come to us to ask for our help in assisting them reach their dreams or our valued sponsors who are so critical to supporting this success. Thank you!
Please raise a glass of fine wine or sparkling water and help me toast each and every one of these people and companies who have been such an important element of our success! Happy Birthday ZINO Society! Cheers!
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