Funding Your Startup

Discuss the various ways to fund your startup including bootstrapping, friends and family, angel investment and venture capital. Also discuss traditional bank lending as well as alternative financing routes. Specific topics include equity vs debt, understanding investor expectations and ways to make your startup more attractive to investors.

Matt is the founder and sole manager of Johnson Venture Partners, a venture fund investing in high-growth startups in the South. Matt has been responsible for the daily operations of the fund since its inception. In his role, Matt identifies and analyzes investment opportunities, performs due diligence, assists portfolio company management teams and administers all investments made by the fund. He has executed investments in 30+ venture-backed companies throughout 15 years of fund management experience. Matt is an active member of many regional and national venture investor networks. He also serves as a director and mentor at Domi Station, a non-profit startup incubator. Matt is a popular public speaker on the topics of startup investing, innovation and entrepreneurship. Matt earned a BA in Economics from Clemson University. He resides with his family in Thomasville, GA, where he was born and raised.

The TCC Spark initiative is sponsored by a grant from First Commerce Credit Union, a full service institution with locations throughout North Florida and South Georgia.

Do you have a small business idea that you want to make a reality? TCC Spark offers you a curriculum that focuses on startups, networking, and competitive analysis. Spark offers a series of mentoring events, guest speakers, techniques to gain capital, such as crowdfunding, and opportunities to develop and refine your business model canvas. The result is a solid business network of mentors and peers, and a researched and thorough marketing plan and business plan. Come catch the entrepreneur’s spirit, give yourself the opportunity to discover the power of Spark!