Q: What are the requirements for Band membership?

Band members are generally semi-retired successful high technology founders or executives, are SEC accredited, and have an interest in investing in high-risk startups. Band members have founded companies such as Cirrus Logic, Symantec, National SemiConductor and Logitech, and have been executive officers at Sun Microsystems, Hewlett Packard, Intel, 3Com and Intuit. As such, the culture of the Band is to recognize that its members have led serious careers and can decide for themselves how best to use the opportunities made available through the Band. Hence, there are no firm performance criteria on the membership. Nevertheless, it is generally expected that members attend a third of the meetings, invest in one deal per year, help with diligence on potential investments, make their networks available to each other, keep confidential information confidential, and strive to maintain the Band’s conviviality.

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Q: How does Band membership benefit the members?

The Band provides its members enhanced deal flow, better due diligence, and the negotiating power of indirectly pooling capital. The group also provides a forum for fellowship of like minded successful people. Investing the seed stage companies is very risky. The Band brings together at one place and time some of the most successful people in Silicon Valley; folks who have walked the walk. By sharing their experiences and judgments the assessment of potential companies is quicker and more accurate. Each member is often a recognized source of capital in their own communities, so each brings to the Band a unique source of new deals. And while dollars are not formally pooled, if 10 members are interest in investing $100,000 each, the ad hoc group interested in investing is more capable of negotiating terms with a prospective investment.

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Q: How do I become a Band member?

Membership is by invitation only. Generally, one must be sponsored by a current member who knows the new member and can recommend them. Nevertheless, we do accept new members initially unknown to the group and all who fit the criteria and have an interest are encouraged to consider the group. All prospective members meet with several members of the Membership Committee for informal conversations. It is readily apparent by all sides if a fit exists and, if so, an invitation is extended. If you are interested in exploring membership please contact us.

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