NAVY Launch Private Capital Forum - Palo Alto, CA
Private Capital Forums for Navy SBIR Awardees
The Private Capital Forum is a core offering of the Navy Launch Program, a focused program that helps Navy SBIR Phase II awardees develop and implement their commercialization strategy. https://www.navysbir.com/programs/navylaunch.htm
The Private Capital Bootcamp series (both online and in person) designed to help Navy SBIR companies develop a clear understanding of private capital options and how to approach them strategically. Through expert-led training and candid, real-world perspectives, participants gain insight into equity, private credit, non-dilutive and revenue-based financing, and blended capital structures that support long-term growth beyond government funding.
We will help participants address questions like:
What kinds of capital can I get to support my growth? VC? Convertible debt? Other types of debt?
What do I have to give up in return? What are the tradeoffs? How does my company structure change? How do I form the right board?
What is the fundraising process like? What is it like to raise debt or sell a majority of a business?
Participants will connect directly with experts in the space, including investors, lenders, and advisors who actively support dual-use companies. Our goal is to equip founders and business operators with the knowledge and relationships they need to take the next steps in growing their businesses. For panelists, it’s a chance to share expertise, connect with fellow leaders, and support the next generation of SBIR-backed innovation.
PALO ALTO, CA EVENT--CAPITAL FOR GROWTH: GOVERNANCE, EXIT READINESS, AND CASE STUDIES
Case Studies: Failures and Successes from Companies Who Once Sat in Your Shoes
This panel features candid case studies from companies that have navigated key growth and capital inflection points. Panelists share lessons learned from both successes and setbacks, highlighting how different capital decisions shaped their trajectories. The discussion reinforces that there is no single path to growth or exit, only informed tradeoffs.
Exit Mechanics: How Buyers Evaluate You (PE, Strategic, Equity Investors)
This panel offers a practical look at how strategic buyers, private equity firms, and late-stage investors assess companies for acquisition. Panelists discuss how buyers evaluate risk, determine valuation, and assess integration readiness. The focus is on what makes a company truly “sellable” from the buyer’s perspective.
Investor Perspective: Exit Readiness for Dual-Use Companies
In this panel-style conversation with an experienced investor, the discussion focuses on how companies prepare for long-term outcomes well before an exit is imminent. Panelists explore how M&A strategy influences product and capital decisions, common signals that a company is, or isn’t, building toward a real exit, and how early choices align with later-stage options such as acquisitions, IPOs, or secondaries.