Investing on the verge

keatingcapitalInvestors are always looking for the next big thing.

Tim Keating gave his best pitch Wednesday night to convince 40 Richmonders that his startup is worth their shekels.

Keating is CEO of Keating Capital, a Denver-based private equity fund that invests only in pre-IPO companies. Keating looks for private companies that are on the verge of a public offering, buys a small stake and hopes the IPO goes off with a bang.

“Buy privately. Sell publicly. Capture the difference,” Keating said of the fund’s philosophy.

keating1Keating started the fund in early 2010. It has grown to about $50 million with 2,000 investors. The fund has made investments in seven private companies, one of which has gone public. Two others have filed for an IPO.

Keating is working toward its own IPO planned for the end of 2011.

The event was at the Richmond Marriott and was put on by Carl Johnson, president of NBI Advisors. NBI is a division of Allied Beacon Partners Inc., one of many brokers across the country that has a relationship with Keating to find investors for its fund.

Keating said his fund specifically looks for companies with a minimum of $10 million in annual revenue and that have a public listing expected within 18 months of his firm’s investment.

The fund has been heavy into clean-technology companies. It has made investments of up to $2.5 million in two solar companies, a plastic recycler, an algal-biofuel firm and a company that makes high-tech smart-pens.

Keating travels across the country giving presentations to potential investors. Johnson first heard Keating speak at a presentation in Williamsburg and thought there might be some interest among Richmond investors.

“That’s how a lot of people raise money,” Johnson said, adding that the event was a success from an attendance standpoint.

“Now we have to get people to invest,” said Johnson, who gets a percentage cut from each investment he brings to Keating.

Michael Schwartz is a BizSense reporter. Please send news tips to [email protected].

keatingcapitalInvestors are always looking for the next big thing.

Tim Keating gave his best pitch Wednesday night to convince 40 Richmonders that his startup is worth their shekels.

Keating is CEO of Keating Capital, a Denver-based private equity fund that invests only in pre-IPO companies. Keating looks for private companies that are on the verge of a public offering, buys a small stake and hopes the IPO goes off with a bang.

“Buy privately. Sell publicly. Capture the difference,” Keating said of the fund’s philosophy.

keating1Keating started the fund in early 2010. It has grown to about $50 million with 2,000 investors. The fund has made investments in seven private companies, one of which has gone public. Two others have filed for an IPO.

Keating is working toward its own IPO planned for the end of 2011.

The event was at the Richmond Marriott and was put on by Carl Johnson, president of NBI Advisors. NBI is a division of Allied Beacon Partners Inc., one of many brokers across the country that has a relationship with Keating to find investors for its fund.

Keating said his fund specifically looks for companies with a minimum of $10 million in annual revenue and that have a public listing expected within 18 months of his firm’s investment.

The fund has been heavy into clean-technology companies. It has made investments of up to $2.5 million in two solar companies, a plastic recycler, an algal-biofuel firm and a company that makes high-tech smart-pens.

Keating travels across the country giving presentations to potential investors. Johnson first heard Keating speak at a presentation in Williamsburg and thought there might be some interest among Richmond investors.

“That’s how a lot of people raise money,” Johnson said, adding that the event was a success from an attendance standpoint.

“Now we have to get people to invest,” said Johnson, who gets a percentage cut from each investment he brings to Keating.

Michael Schwartz is a BizSense reporter. Please send news tips to [email protected].

This story is for our paid subscribers only. Please become one of the thousands of BizSense Pro readers today!

Your subscription has expired. Renew now by choosing a subscription below!

For more informaiton, head over to your profile.

Profile


SUBSCRIBE NOW

 — 

 — 

 — 

TERMS OF SERVICE:

ALL MEMBERSHIPS RENEW AUTOMATICALLY. YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR A 1 YEAR MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL AT THE RATE IN EFFECT AT THAT TIME UNLESS YOU CANCEL YOUR MEMBERSHIP BY LOGGING IN OR BY CONTACTING [email protected].

ALL CHARGES FOR MONTHLY OR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS ARE NONREFUNDABLE.

EACH MEMBERSHIP WILL ONLY FUNCTION ON UP TO 3 MACHINES. ACCOUNTS ABUSING THAT LIMIT WILL BE DISCONTINUED.

FOR ASSISTANCE WITH YOUR MEMBERSHIP PLEASE EMAIL [email protected]




Return to Homepage

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
oldest
newest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments