Karen is extremely knowledgeable. She gave me some very insightful information on getting my products noticed in the marketplace, from blogging to developing relationships with local partners. She also gave me resource's for registering as a woman minority in Georgia. Thanks so much, Karen.
Karen Karen has a tremendous amount of knowledge and experience working in her field and has established quite a reputation as a go-to person for financial consulting and development. I see her as the resource I always seek when I make acquisition and (...)
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 A few things that we are on the same page where the info you had (reviewed sync) was outdated but from what you are saying, I've done (most of it already ~sync) and realized some of the things you are saying in the assessment which (...)
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 a crowd fund campaign. Thanks also for working through the (...)
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 (...)
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 (...)
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 (...)
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 (...)
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" (...)
"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)
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!
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!
Thanks, Karen for the opportunity to present to your investor group. It was refreshing to have a 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 (...)
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 (...)
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 (...)
Karen: Congratulations on a great event. Good format afterward 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 is a number (...)
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 (...)
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 (...)
"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 make good (...)
"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 (...)
“Karen does a phenomenal 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 (...)
“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
“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
“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
“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 (...)
“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 a testimony to the knowledge she possesses. She has (...)
“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, (...)
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 (...)
“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
"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 an update of our progress. When we (...)
"Like most start-up companies, we really struggled with making the investment in hiring a team like LAUNCHfn. The best thing we have done. Although we are still working to get capital directly from their network, they have provided us with multiple (...)
"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 (...)
"I’m very impressed with the work you’re doing at Launchfn and NBAI. I enjoyed the event; both the educational aspect and the investor briefings. I’d like an opportunity to meet with you to learn more and discuss ways to work together. Please indicate your availability during the month of April".
“Thank you very much for working with me on our business arrangement and for arranging for me to meet with such wonderful potential investors.”.
“LAUNCHFn is one of the hardest working companies I have had the pleasure of working with.” July 12, 2006, Consultant to Network of Business Angels and Investors.
“I know Karen for last two to three years. She helps early stage companies get funding. I have some of my clients got their funding through her company and I recommend her company to early stage or, high growth companies who would need funding.” July 5, 2006, (...)
“What progression! I went to NBAI five years ago and they have really taken it to the next level. I don’t know how they do it, but they really do a fantastic job. In Atlanta, there really is a need for capital. Everyone will testify to it. And there are (...)
“Karen is very well versed in start-up financing issues and very well connected in the Southeast. Would recommend her highly to those seeking early-round financing.” January 28, 2005,.
"LAUNCHfn has performed a near miracle at resurrecting NBAI! I would encourage any entrepreneur or capital investor to connect with their organization", Client of Launch Funding Network.
"As my business has evolved over the years, I continue to come back to Karen as a mentor and a friend for encouragement and recommendations on actions I can take to keep my business moving forward and to gain additional access to equity markets and alternative financing" Tom Meredith, 2015
“Launch Funding Network has worked tirelessly on our behalf. They have brought many people to our projects and continues to be a great source of positive energy,” June 28, 2006,.
“Karen has my full confidence. She is competent, trustworthy and I think the world of her.” June 28, 2006,
“LAUNCHFN (SIC) has my full confidence. Karen as the visionary is competent, trustworthy and I think the world of her.”
LAUNCHfn’s team is a “Fantastic business mentor and Karen is a networking diva!” June 28, 2006,
“Without any reservation, I recommend Karen (and her team at LAUNCHfn) to work with any entrepreneur looking to raise funding and/or need assistance with business planning, networking, etc. I have found her ethics and professionalism to be outstanding.” June 26, 2006,
“I have worked with Karen for seventeen years and have known her to be a true professional in all she does. She goes the extra mile for her clients and provides outstanding value with her services. Karen's knowledge of sales, marketing and business practices (...)
“Karen has performed a near miracle at resurrecting NBAI! I would encourage any entrepreneur or investor to connect with her and her organization Tom Meredith” February 27, 2006,
“Karen, you are a fantastic presenter and venture capital catalyst! Your commitment to assist and support small business start-ups is inspiring! Your E3C webinar on venture capital was our most successful session! Your venture capital experience, business (...)
“I have known Karen for the past two years. Karen is dedicated and a very hard worker. She is a person you have to know because she can help finding the right people to assist with your financial issues. I recommend Karen is as a wonderful person who is (...)
“LAUNCHfn has proven their dedication and determination for helping entrepreneurs reach a level of confidence which makes presentations for investors more efficient.” April 13, 2005, .
“Karen is a rare find -- someone who exercises the gifts and talents she has to the genuine betterment of her clients. She has a valuable work ethic, offers direct advice and has remarkable insights into the industry.” August 1, 2006, .
“Karen is highly motivated and knows the business of putting together people and companies to foster a deal or relationships. She is a student of different businesses in order to understand every aspect which provides her the knowledge to be of benefit.” June 30, 2006,
“Karen and I worked together on a board of advisors to an incubator for start-up technology companies. Karen was more than dependable, she is someone you can always trust will do what she says she will do.” June 28, 2006,
“Karen is an energetic, enthusiastic "go-getter." She's tremendously persistence and visionary. It takes a great deal of magic to put deals together. Through her efforts coordinating her deep stable of contacts, putting people with money in the room with those (...)
“I have known Karen for some time now and have a high regard for her expertise in helping businesses position themselves and find the funding needed to start or grow their enterprises. Karen has many year of experience and demonstrates a commitment to the success of her clients.” February 8, 2005,
“LAUNCHfn's expertise in the networking and connections arena has proven to be very helpful to me in my business. I highly recommend them because they truly for people, they have the right connections and genuinely cares about people in general.” January 31, 2005,
“I have known Karen Rands for quite a while and consider her an exceptional link in my network. Her expertise in the funding arena has helped me re-evaluate my company as it pertained to looking for outside funds. Karen and her company, Launch Funding Network (...)
“Kugarand Holdings is an ideal company for those looking to get funds for their business. Not only do they help you with your business plan but they educate you on all the many different sources of funding available for your specific business. I have known (...)
“I fully endorse LAUNCHfn for their excellent consultation skills and incredible knowledge in the financial world. I have seen them find funds for companies that thought they had no options. I think LAUNCHfn is fantastic and if you use their services, you will prosper” January 28, 2005,.
"Launch Funding Network --- Just for the record ... it was the best event I have seen put on. " April 18, 2007,.
"FreightPath was nominated by LAUNCHfn to participate in another investor event and based on our recommendation, FreighPath was accepted." 'Great and many thanks Karen! Your guidance and help are invaluable!'
Karen is:
* The Consummate Pro
* Wildly dedicated to the success of others
* Funny, intuitive, and NO BS
* All of the above... and then some.
Here's the thing: I have appeared on myriad podcasts around the world. Karen's attention to detail and willingness to (...)
Karen was a big help pointing me in the right direction when it came to getting connected to relevant angel networks. Thanks so much for taking the time to better understand our needs and providing such great advice!
Karen is a 'pay-it-forward' business professional with whom I met through my network. She was kind enough to give me a voice, utilizing her podcast, to help me share my story and I am grateful for her generosity.
Karen is a passionate woman who believes in giving back and that by investing collectively into companies we can create great progress in our society. She's bringing some great speakers onto her podcast which is how I found her. There's a tremendous amount of (...)
I was fortunate to randomly meet Karen at a networking event and she was so generous with her time and insights! After just a few minutes of talking she gave me suggestions that have me rethinking my business model in a very creative way. Her wide range of (...)
I've got a confession to make: I don't listen to podcasts very often. But when I do, they should be exceptional. And your podcast is that exception.
I love the way you talk about things that matter to me: business, real estate, and my favorite subject of all—investing!
"Karen is one of those experts who is generous and helpful. Her podcast has taught me so much about investing, and looking at my business through that lens. She's someone you want to follow.
Karen cares about connecting small business and startups with investors and educating all the parties of risks and the process along the way. She is passionate about this and started this movement in Atlanta and south and now nationally.