LAUNCHfn Reviews & Testimonials

Testimonials & Reviews
from Entrepreneurs, Investors and Industry Influencers

"Integrity, honesty and confidentiality are the main cornerstones of LAUNCH Funding Network."

Expertise gained from decades of working with entrepreneurs and early stage investors is put to work on behalf of our clients
to idenitify key business strategies that will help them succed in their business launch, growth, and funding.

Daryl F: Founder for startup company in the Virtual Reality Entertainment Sector via email after completing the business plan and document review services:

Hello Karen; Great insight! A few things that we are on the same page where the info you had (reviewed sync) was outdated but from what you are saying, I've done (most of it already ~sync) and realized some of the things you are saying in the assessment which makes me feel good because I'm on the right track with what you are saying. Others I need a lot of help in. Anyhow you can call me when you have time tomorrow so we can discuss going forward! Thanks, Daryl (Mar, 2016)

Calvin G: Founder of a start up textile company focusing on designer foot and head ware, engaged for developing a crowd funding strategy and campaign via email:

Karen, thanks again for yesterday....very excited about the plans we developed. I now know what I need to do to leverage my team and resources to create the viral WOM needed to gain critical mass on crowd fund campaign. Thanks also for working through the numbers so I know what targets are needed to get the minimum run on manufacturing. I like your idea of how to go to potential 'fan' retailers to give them the wholesale inventory grab. Looking forward to getting this off the ground. (Nov 2015)

Dr. Charles Hofer, Professor Emeritus, Kennesaw State University, Founder of the Georgia Bowl Business Plan Competition, Entrepreneur Adviser, Serial Entrepreneur, Investor

I first met Karen through the MIT Forum many years ago. I asked her to be a judge at one of my "Concept to Reality" competitions and then in our extremely important Georgia Bowl. I knew she advised companies and organized investor events, but had no idea really how deep her knowledge was until I heard her feedback to the companies in the competitions and then as I attended one her investor events as an observer. I sat through one of her workshops on raising capital and even though I have been involved in every aspect of launching businesses to investing in businesses, I learned a great deal from her in that one workshop. She sets a high bar for entrepreneurs wanting to pitch to her group of investors. I am honored whenever she agrees to allow one of the entrepreneurs I am working with to invest their time and money with her to participate in an event she is organizing. She strives to remove the obstacles for entrepreneurs to connect with investors and increase each company's chance of becoming a successful well run company. In the last 12 months, I have had 3 companies come before her investor group. One has received a commitment of funds and each of the others valued the experience immensely. Atlanta, and the entrepreneur market at large, is served well by Karen Rands through her paid engagements and her multiple volunteer commitments to mentor and advise entrepreneurs. (2012) UPDATE: I continue to seek Karen's expertise as a mentor & judge for the business plan competitions I coordinate at Georgia Tech and other Atlanta area universities. She has been active in helping me help these start up companies for over 5 years (2016).

Email sent following an investor/entrepreneur pitch event, from a media investment fund manager:

I just wanted to let you know how impressed I am with your events and the caliber of companies you qualify to pitch at your events. You do an excellent job of organizing and moderating them.

I've met a number of very interesting people and few that we may be able to fund. I look forward to attending more of your events in the future.

Best Regards~Alan (Oct 2011)

Email sent following an initial phone conversation:

Karen, it is amazing how you can cut right to the heart of the matter and in a matter of minutes direct your decades of experience working with innovation and entrepreneurs and provide insight on how to get to market, get growing and get funding. Thanks so much for all the recommendations and referrals you provided. Looking forward to working with you. - Andrew Zaitlan (Sept 2011)

Vicki W., Southern XXXXX , 2012

Karen is like an "elevator pitch whisperer". I first saw her spin her magic at the 2010 Southeast Venture Conference. We were networking during the happy hour and she asked me for my elevator pitch, asked a few questions, and after listening to me stammer and babble for 20 minutes, she played back to me what my elevator pitch should have been... "So what you are trying to say is that you are in the business of....." I thought "Wow, that sounds really good." She has an uncanny ability of quickly understanding a business model and turning it into something that investors and potential customers would understand in a few minutes rather than the half hour it usually takes me to explain my business. I saw her do this repeatedly at one of her pitch- workshops. The entrepreneurs in attending were almost like school kids "do my pitch next"! When I engaged her for a few strategic advisory sessions and to review my business plan, she gave me such invaluable insight worth 10x what she charged me. I gained actionable steps to build value in my business and make it attractive to angel investors. As a result of her advice, I was able to secure major industry players to be on my board of advisers and modify my business model to get to revenue 12 months sooner. She has allowed me to attend her investor events as an observer and it is amazing the in depth questions her investors ask in trying to determine if they want to go to the next level with a company. She is tough because she tries hard to keep a company from wasting time and money chasing investors that they aren't ready for and to avoid burning their bridges. I wish I had listened to her before I wasted $2000 to pitch to the Gathering of Angels. If I had invested that same $2000 with her instead, I'd have an investor pitch that investors understood and would be compelled to learn more about and I'd be preparing to close on investors now rather than still looking. She is the very definition of a "Compassionate Capitalist".

Rick (last name excluded for confidentiality reasons), RPN, 2010

I have known Karen Rands from general business networking for many years before I decided to officially engage her firm, Launchfn. Years ago, in my first true entrepreneurial endeavor, all sorts of people were saying "raise $5M not just $500K...it's easier" and were telling me to have minimum investments of $100,000. I had a lot of interest, but noone writing checks. I decided to call Karen and ask her what she thought. As a courtesy because I was a business friend, and not a client yet, she asked me if any of these people I was listening to were bringing $100,000 check writers to the table. And of course they weren't. Then she went on to explain the psychology behind attracting angel investor capital and how angel investors measure risk vs reward. Following her advice from that one phone call, I closed on over $200,000 in just 3 weeks from those "interested" investors I had been courting for 6 months. When that business morphed into my current business, I knew I didn't want to waste time and wanted to do it right from the start. I engaged Karen to be my strategic advisor on capital strategy. Her advice and guidance led me to $250,000 in investment capital and a strategic business model that has grown rapidly to multiple cities as a result. I'm looking forward to her becoming a registered Broker Dealer so she can take charge and raise my next round of capital.

"Karen, You and this event were absolutely amazing! I've been raving about it and positioning people I know to attend the next one."
Larry Jennings, Director of Sales (Oct 2011)

Email sent by local Venture Capitalist after attending our Fast Pitch Capital Community Celebration

Karen, Though I couldn't stay until the end, looks like you have some promising companies and certainly great energy in the room. Keep up the good work!

Glenn McGonnigle (Sept 2011)

Tony Evangelista recommends the LAUNCHfn's Access to Capital System Phone Strategy Session

Tony Evangelista, President of Liberty Bridge/Verihelion, recommends the
LAUNCHfn's Access to Capital System TM Phone Strategy Session. Listen Now!

Email received after an initial consultation

Thank you so much for your time and the valuable information you shared on the phone call. I will look at all the options to decide what is best for me.

Your follow up email explains things quite well. You have given me a lot to think about today to apply to my business. Thanks again!

Sincerely, Angela Pitts, Stategic Vision (Aug 2011)

David Gardner, VenueGen (May 2011)

Thanks Karen for the opportunity to present to your investor group. It was refreshing to have great one on one interaction with real investors in a private and intimate setting. The feedback you provided from the investors is more thorough than I got from the large forum that I spent 5x the money to participate in. Per your recommendations, I will send each investor the ES and presentation and schedule a time to speak personally with those that requested to do so. I look forward to participting in the group call you will coordinate. Thanks for your follow up. And, although we have received a term sheet from an institutional investor, I would prefer to raise capital from private investors and create mor

e value before exiting. As you and I have discussed, this is not my first time at the alter. I've raised money for other companies I've started in the past... in tough times and easy times. We are in a tough economic time right now and it is really great to know there are ethical hard working people like you out there helping entrepreneurs figure this out and get access to the capital they need. Keep up the good work.

Erin Simms, Yummy Sticks (May 2011) after an initial consultation

Karen,

Thanks so much for your time and expertise. I will relay your suggestions to Margie and log on to the suggested websites. We have quite a bit of follow-up to do as we have asked several people about a minimum investment or loan. People love the Yummy Sticks brand and their dogs LUV! the product and we have much to do to capitalize on that. I am sure your advice will help us be more effective at closing on investment from these people we know that tell us how much they want us to succeed. You have given us needed direction and confidence.

Again, thank you!

Harold B, Private Angel Investor and Serial Entrepreneur (May 2011)

Karen, Thank you very much for your hospitality and invitation to attend your angel investor meeting. Well done. The companies I see are always intriguing. Apparently, the world is changing around us. Exuberance / power is a beautiful thing. Sorry I had to depart early, family is alwys first in my world. Look forward to speaking with you soon.
Best Regards, Harold

Rick L., Lutz Group, Angel investor and investor representative (Feb 2011)

Karen: Congratulations on a great event. Good format afterwards with the "Investor Roundtable." Never been to an angel group that did such a good job of getting the investors to collaborate and commit their level of interest in companies. There are a number that I think have potential. Look forward to being a regular.

M. Horton, Angel Investor, Member of Atlanta Technology Angels, Lawyer (Sept 2010)

Karen, Congratulations on a great event!? Big turnout, good presentations and, most of all, a very good post-presentation investor discussion. You provide investors a unique opportunity to see pre-screened and pre-qualified investments that are fresh and new to the investor circle, and an opportunity for the investors to collaborate on the deals they are interested in. Keep up the good work....Atlanta needs your ongoing commitment to growing the entrepreneur and investor community here.

Terry S., Certified Entrepreneur Coach, Dekalb County Incubator (Aug 2010)

You are AWESOME! ! ! I appreciate so much who you are and what you do. You are always top of my mind when I need to recommend that a company get advice on capital strategy and access to capital. Your knowledge and ethics are unsurpassed in the Atlanta Market....and for that matter probably the entire USA.

Listen to what Clients are saying about LAUNCHfn on SPEC Talk Radio. The first half hour will show case Michael Valverde of Chain Reaction eCommerce (www.creloaded.com) an open source development platform for ecommerce. The second half hour will show case Bill Doyle of Vystar (www.vytex.com) who has successfully developed a new latex process.

Gary Austin
entrepreneur, inventor
"I have enjoyed a working relationship with Karen for many years and find Karen and her company LaunchFN to be one of the primary drivers in the early stage funding community in Atlanta. Karen's team is knowledgeable, capable and resourceful. They makes good things happen for up and coming entrepreneurs." April 2009

Jim Bock
Director of Human Resources, PowerTech America
"Karen is a great person to bounce ideas off, for her knowledgeable and practical advice. She brings ten years of hands-on deal flow experience and another ten years of IBM training and marketing background to bear on an issue. I have seen first hand how valuable this can be to an entrepreneur or early stage business owner looking for assistance. I highly recommend Karen in all areas relating to business consulting and funding." April 2009

Marci Troutman
Owner, Shudan Design Group (colleague)
“Karen does a phenominal job of pulling investors together in a group networking setting. The event I attended ran smoothly through five companies presenting their cutting edge technology in search of angel funding. The investors and companies searching for investment were able to mingle and meet prior to the meeting and over an hour after the meeting with fabulous refreshments. I would recommend LaunchFN for any investor and/or company in search of funding.”     November 15, 2006

George Ishee
Owner, PlumTree Marketing
“Karen is an excellent business advisor, capital expert and one of the highest quality professionals you will ever deal with. She takes the time to listen to your needs and seems to know the right solutions to take your business to the next level. Take a moment and speak with her and you will know what I am saying. I am proud to recommend her and her team to anyone.”     February 15, 2008

Hugi Hernandez
CEO, el Club de comerciantes
“I had the opportunity to meet with the LAUNCHfn team and they have great integrity and a clear vision about how to bring a business to the next level”     March 9, 2008

Giulio Helmsdorff
President, Web Data Corp.
“If you an entrepreneur and need early stage funding you need to talk to Karen. If you are and investor looking for a ground-breaking opportunity, you also need to talk to Karen. Is that simple.”     March 12, 2008

Tiffany Wright
Business Advisor, Georgia Tech - EDI
“Karen and I worked together on investor presentations jointly hosted by our organizations (Launchfn and Georgia Tech). She and her team were highly responsive and well-prepared. She provided one-page summary templates our clients found very useful + specific and general presentation advice that strongly impacted our clients' perceptions by the investment community. In my experience, Launchfn is adept at accessing angel investors. I've personally spoken with 2 separate business owners who procured money through their efforts. Karen is passionate about what she does and has high visibility amongst the Atlanta metro angel investment community. If you are seeking funding of $100,000 or less, I highly recommend a consultation with Karen and Launchfn.”     July 16, 2008

Brian Miller
President / CEO, Hope Funding, LLC
“I know Karen from networking and have attended two of her introductory seminars. In fact, I still have the notes from one and refer back to it periodically as a primer to sending her a referral. This is testimony to the knowledge she possesses. She has always been open to discussing venture and start up ideas with the entrepreneurs and business professionals I have referred her way - regardless of the infancy of these ventures. They have all thanked me for putting them in touch with her. Karen understands referral relationships - she is another person who "gets it."” March 25, 2008

Ron Reardon
Owner, Patents & More, Inc.
“I have known Karen for several years through several organizations to which we both belong, and have attended her events where entrepreneurs present to investors and other interested parties. These events were held in a classy venue with qualified investors, and the entrepreneur presentations were very professionally done. I consider Karen to be a person of the highest integrity. She is very knowledgeable and experience concerning the funding process for start-up ventures and companies needed expansion capital.”     February 19, 2008

Charlie Paparelli
Charlie hired Karen as a Source of private equity deals in 2006
Top qualities: Expert, Good Value, High Integrity
“Karen has a real heart for matching entrepreneurs and angel investors. She has made a significant impact in our Atlanta entrepreneurial community. She has been in this business for a long enough time to build a significant network and a great base of investors. She is tireless in her pursuit of success for the entrepreneur and the investor. I recommend her conferences for anyone interested in raising money or looking for good quality private equity investments.”     February 18, 2008

Ben Dyer
Owner, Innovations Publishing. Former Partner at Cordova Ventures
“Karen is an effective leader in matching companies with investment capital in the Atlanta area. She has created a strong network and built a successful business model around her mission.”     February 18, 2008

Connie Liesman
CPT Med, Entrepreneur, Client
"I started working with LAUNCHfn in 2008.   We came very close to receiving funding through their group of investors after having presented at the NBAI Member meeting and attending follow up meetings to give the investors update of our progress.   When we got into a tough situation at the end of the year, it was only through Karen's advice and counsel and her wealth of experience that we were able to navigate that period of time.   She encouraged us and led us in ways we can't hardly describe.   We have since raised significant capital from another source, but I credit the strategic venture capital consulting services they provided to us with enabling us to attract that capital.   Launchfn continues to work with us, to get business capital through alternative lenders that will help our company continue to grow at a rapid scale."    May 2009

Cameron Cress
PlayGolfPlanet.com Entrpreneur, Client
"Like most start up companies, we really struggled with making the investment in hiring a team like LAUNCHfn.   Best thing we have done.   Although we are still working to get capital directly from their network, they have provided us with multiple opportunities to present to and meet directly with angel investors.   They provide advice and counsel that is light years ahead of every other advisor because they are at the heartbeat of the early stage capital market.   They know what investors are looking for...by region and by time of year. As a result we have been able to do things to attract capital and get us unstuck....enabling to move our business forward and be much more attractive to the business angels that LAUNCHfn has been so good at introducing us to." April 2009

"The business plan review was an extremely thorough examination of our business and its business plan. Through the assessment process and venture capital consulting offered by LAUNCHfn, we were able to identify some issues within not only our plan, but our business model. With the recommended changes, we were able to more thoroughly explain and expand upon key components of our company investors would be most interested in reading. As a 10-year seasoned entrepreneur, I was amazed at the examination, vision and assessment of the plan and received excellent advice I had never considered. For the entrepreneur who “knows everything about your business (like me)”, then you owe it to yourself and your company to conduct and implement a full business assessment from a smart objective team like LAUNCHfn. Outstanding work. With the changes made to our plan from the business plan review we were able to successfully secure our private equity investment goal through introductions with various capital investors and angel groups. THANKS!" Joel Thompson, President, Sports Fan Products.