Unlike venture capitalists, angel investors invest their own funds, so it is just as important for them to see the business they have funded succeed. Joining us for the final show of our three part series on Angel Investing are Melanie Leeth and returning guest, Ed Brown. Melanie is Vice President of Imlay Investments, a private investment firm that provides funding for very early stage technology companies. She discusses Imlay’s history and their involvement with ATA. Melanie and Ed also discuss the importance of partnering with the right investor at the early stage of your company, and how an understanding of your market and your investor is key to a successful partnership.
Melanie Leeth is Vice President of Imlay Investments, Inc., which was founded by John P. Imlay, Jr. in 1990. She has been with Imlay for over 20 years. Imlay Investments was a pioneer in the Southeast in providing seed and early-stage investments that nurtured many technology startups in the region. Although Imlay Investments is no longer active in making new investments, Melanie is responsible for managing the investments and providing guidance to the portfolio companies. Melanie can be reached at MBLeeth@imlay.net.
Ed Brown is Vice-Chair of Burr & Forman LLP’s Business section and a partner in the firm’s Corporate law practice group focusing on taxation and estate planning. He has over twenty-four years of experience in franchise law, mergers and acquisitions and personal planning, specifically with federal estate and gift taxation. Ed represents venture capital companies and investors in funding early-stage and start-up companies and also represents both buyers and sellers in the purchase or sale of businesses, through tax-free mergers, stock purchase arrangements, and asset acquisitions. Ed can be reached at ed.brown@burr.com.
