Ronan O'Brien quoted in LOHAS Journal
"Angel Investing Now"

Seyfarth Shaw Corporate partner Ronan O'Brien was quoted in the Spring 2011 issue of Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS) Journal in an article about angel investing—investments made into early-stage companies by "angel" (high-net-worth) individuals. While some challenges remain, these angel investments appear to be on the rise, and the article suggests it may also be a time ripe with opportunity. Ronan commented, "The resiliency of investors is striking; however, the shadow hanging over a complete turnaround in angel investing is the state of debt markets."

He added, "The days of entrepreneurs maxing out their credit cards to carry through to their next round of funding may very well be over. Investors who put $50K in a company are now worrying about what that company needs down the line in financing," as the availability to obtain higher lines of credit remain uncertain.

Ronan's advice to entrepreneurs facing fundraising challenges and attracting investors was noted. He said, "In a challenging climate, investments are often made on the promise of an executive team based on its history of executing strategy." He also suggested "working with a bank now to determine criteria and milestones that will help ensure access to debt financing down the line."