Santa Barbara Technology Incubator (SBTI, the first full-service high-technology business incubator between Westlake Village and San Louis Obispo, is already playing an active role in the high-tech start-up community in Santa Barbara by supporting the Central Coast Venture Forum. SBTI Chairman and CEO Dennis Cagan moderated a panel discussion on “How to Structure and Negotiate an Investment Term Sheet – from both the Investor and Entrepreneur Perspective.” In addition, both SBTI, and Dennis Cagan personally, were Sustaining Sponsors of the Forum having contributed $5000.

“Supporting the Forum is the kick-off agenda item for the incubator,” explained Dennis Cagan. “SBTI intends to support entrepreneurial education and high-tech start-up generation in the tri-counties to the greatest degree possible.”

Santa Barbara Technology Incubator provides financing, infrastructure, and the relationships entrepreneurs need to launch high-technology start-ups. They have $6 million, 12,000 square feet, eight experienced management team members and over thirty high-level investors ready to move high-tech start-ups from the “napkin” phase to their first round of tier one venture capital. SBTI is currently accepting business plans for review.

“Some of the companies presenting at the Forum may find that incubation is their best option,” commented Steve Worzman, Executive Director for the Central Coast Venture Forum. “Plus, Dennis has extensive experience as an investor, Board member and entrepreneur himself. He can really help ensure that the panel on term sheet negotiation provides both investor and entrepreneur perspectives.”

Other participants in the Venture Forum Panel on “How to Structure and Negotiate a Term Sheet” included Brad Feld (Partner, SOFTBANK Venture Capital), Mathias Schilling (Partner, Bertelsmann Ventures), Bud Enright (VP of Corporate Development, Compaq), Pete Mountanos (CEO, Charitableway.com), and Larry Barels (Chairman, Driveway.com). The discussion brought to light both the investor and entrepreneur’s perspectives in term sheet negotiation.

The Central Coast Venture Forum was held this year on Thursday, May 25, 2000 at the Four Season Biltmore. Selected companies presented their business plans before a sophisticated and substantial audience of potential investors. Last year’s selected companies raised over $40 million as a result of the Forum. The Central Coast Venture Forum is the largest event of its type on the Central Coast. Over 350 persons (including over 100 venture capitalists and angel investors) attended last year’s sold-out event.

SBTi is an LLC located at 320 Nopal Street, Santa Barbara, California 93103. For further information or to submit a business plan please e-mail an executive summary to info@sbtechnology.comor call Jason Spievak at 805-564-8005.