Venture Capitalist To Speak at Tech April 8

John May, the managing partner of New Vantage Group in Northern Virginia, will give a talk on Thursday, April 8, 9:30-10:30 a.m., as the featured speaker in the BB&T Distinguished Lecture Series on Capitalism, hosted by Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business.

The talk, “Valuation of Early-Stage Ventures,” will be held at the Inn at Virginia Tech’s Latham Ballroom. It is free and open to the public, no tickets required. For more info, call (540) 231-5737. Free parking is available at the Inn at Virginia Tech.

An expert on “angel” investors, wealthy individuals who provide funds for business start-ups, May co-authored a 2001 book, Every Business Needs an Angel, and co-edited a 2003 book, State of the Art: An Executive Briefing on Cutting-Edge Practices in American Angel Investing. Co-chair of the World Business Angels Association and chair-emeritus of the Angel Capital Association, he serves as a lead instructor for the latter’s “Power of Angel Investing” seminars.

May’s firm, which creates and manages early-stage venture funds for angel investors, administers four regional angel groups with more than 300 individual members and has three joint ventures with sister organizations. May has, over the last 20 years, advised or served as a general partner of five early-stage venture capital funds, including the U.K.-based Seraphim Capital.

He is a Batten Fellow at the University of Virginia’s Darden Business School. Featuring two speakers each year, the BB&T Distinguished Lecture Series on Capitalism discusses current issues in business management and government policy, in addition to topics related to capitalism. The lecture series is part of a Pamplin College teaching program to explore the foundations of capitalism and freedom.