Dynamic Duo Delves into the Details to Create Heavenly Happening

Demon Christine Gilbert and Angel, Kate DesRosier

Last night, ZINO Society hosted our second "Angels & Demons" Roundtable Investment Meeting at the Columbia Tower Club.  It is like a regular investment meeting, but more fun since there are additional program elements.  More about that in a minute.

Angels & Demons panel:  Charles Finkelstein,
Peter Weiss and Brian Vowinkel

There was an "Angels & Demons" panel featured which included Brian Vowinkel, Charles Finkelstein and Peter Weiss, all of whom are ZINO Society members and active angel investors with many years' experience.  It was fascinating to hear them share their experiences in making both good angel investments and investments that didn't work out and hear their advice on what is most important to consider when making an investment decision.  There were some funny quips along the way including one of my favorites when Charles agreed that he would join the "old Rangers" Corps, but only after he returned to Harvard for another degree.  Since Brian was the Distinguished Honor Graduate at U.S. Army Ranger School following West Point and both Peter and Brian graduated from Harvard Business School, Charles felt like he needed to beef up his already extensive resume.

Cathi Hatch with UW Lavin Entrepreneurship Students

There were around 100 people in attendance and six entrepreneurs were showcased with fascinating companies for which they are raising funds including Randy Neely of ekt, Ali Shahrazad of SaLTBOX Services, Vishaal Melwani of Combatant Gentlemen, Kelly Ogilvie of Quemulus, Inc., David Israel of POP! Gourmet Popcorn and Kyle Schei of comr.se.  Click on the links if you would like to see more about what each of them do.  Because of sharing his company's popcorn with each attendee, I think David Israel got the nod for most popular entrepreneur of the evening.

Yvonne Swanberg of San Juan Vineyards

Some of the additional fun program elements included ZINO Society team members Kate DesRosier, Operations and Dealflow Manager, who was dressed as an angel with wings and a halo and Christine Gilbert, Director of Events, who was dressed as a demon complete with devils' horns and a pitchfork.  Christine did reluctantly share her pitchfork with the entrepreneurs when they got up to deliver their final pitch during the Redemption Round.

Featured wine makers were Yvonne Swanberg of San Juan Vineyards and Alphonse de Klerk of Rolling Bay Winery.  I loved the 2009 Cuvee Aldaro red wine Bordeaux-style blend that Alphonse was pouring and Ken definitely approved of the Estate Grown 2009 Madeleine Angevine white wine that Yvonne was pouring.  The Madeleine Angevine is a grape that I had never heard of before and the tasting notes say that it offers a "summer melon and a wet slate nose offers citrus and stone fruit flavors with a clean finish."

It was an impressive evening and though each ZINO Society team member, along with the many interns and volunteers that helped us with the details, brought much to the success and were so appreciated, the "Dynamic Duo" award for the evening goes to Kate and Christine!