FAQs

What is ZINO Society?

ZINO Society is a Seattle based angel investor organization that connects accredited investors with entrepreneurs seeking funding and cultivates camaraderie in the world of business and wine. Formed in 2005, we have successfully facilitated over $7.6 Million for early stage companies in the consumer products and services, technology and life science spaces. ZINO Society has regularly scheduled meetings throughout the year where entrepreneurs present compelling investment opportunities to our investor group.

At ZINO Society we have passion for helping entrepreneurs achieve their business goals and dreams. We connect accredited investors to entrepreneurs through unique events which promote camaraderie in the world of business and wine. We are advocates for our entrepreneurs and their businesses through our membership and extensive community contacts.


Who are ZINO Society Investor Roundtable Members?

Within our membership are many highly successful business and community leaders who bring many years of expertise in their respective fields, adding value to the group and the entrepreneurs. They are private equity investors who have served in executive roles for some of the Puget Sound’s most notable companies, individuals who have built successful businesses from the ground up, as well as those who are actively involved in philanthropic causes for a broad range of community needs including social and human services and the arts.

Our members are active business people and investors who serve as business and community leaders. They are interested in collaboration in business and philanthropic endeavors. Membership is by member referral or invitation.

Apply for Investor Roundtable membership

Who are ZINO Society Social members?
Though most of our members are active, involved people in many business and community aspects, they share interest in wine tasting, private insider events, wine education, wine trips and tours and fine dining, Social Members are generally not looking for angel investment opportunities, however, many Social Members have sampled the Roundtable Investment Meetings and have changed their membership to Roundtable Membership. Roundtable members have access to both Social and Roundtable Events, Social members have access to only social events.

Apply for Social Membership

How does ZINO Society work with Entrepreneurs (ZINOpreneur Members)?

ZINO Society facilitates events which give entrepreneurs the opportunity to showcase their businesses and connect with investors. We create a unique business and social environment that provides a comfortable and relaxed opportunity to bring entrepreneurs and investors together and to get to know investors on an individual basis.

ZINO Society hosts evening Roundtable Investment Meetings a minimum of eight times or more per year where three to four carefully screened companies present their investment opportunities to the audience. Typically there are 50-75 people attending each evening Roundtable Investment Meeting. As guests arrive, there is an opportunity for investors and entrepreneurs to mingle and share a glass of wine while entrepreneurs showcase their businesses. The business session begins with a brief keynote address from a local business or community leader, followed by the entrepreneur presentations. The evening culminates with a casual wine tasting and additional individual interaction between members, guests and entrepreneurs.

Annually, ZINO Society hosts the all-day ZINO Zillionaire Investment Forum which features a broad range of early-stage companies seeking angel funding. In 2007 a a$150,000 Family of finvestment will be awarded as follows: $50,000 to the Best Technology Investment, $50,000 to the Best Technology Investment and $50,000 to the Best Overall Investment. Non Cash awards for Best Investment Opportunity and Best Presentation will also be awarded.

Through ZINO Society’s well-regarded screening and coaching processes, we provide access to some of the area’s best and brightest business people for networking and coaching, expanding contacts and refining fundraising pitches. We have developed a network of outside advisors and consultants that we can recommend to companies to satisfy the particular needs of entrepreneurs. We also have a growing list of experts in various fields that have the interest and the skill to serve as advisory board members that we can suggest to our entrepreneurs.

ZINO Society provides value-add coaching by seasoned entrepreneurs and business leaders, well-managed events where entrepreneurs are connected to potential investors and advocacy for the presenting companies to the community through press, website and strategic showcasing at business and social events.

What are new programs within ZINO Society?

To expand our value to entrepreneurs and investors, ZINO Society has created several new programs. We are also working to be a valued partner in the angel investment community including entrepreneurial and industry organizations.

zInvestor Connector
• A new program sponsored and managed by ZINO Society which enables our eligible members to invest in presenting companies through use of a pooled investment vehicle.
• The use of a special purpose entity, e.g. a specially formed limited liability company, the “SPE” will allow eligible members to invest in presenting companies in smaller dollar amounts than minimum unit size requested by presenting companies by pooling their investment dollars.
• For example, a presenting company may not accept a subscription for less than $50,000, but may have indicated willingness to accept an LLC as an investor. Therefore, if five ZINO Society members all wish to invest $10,000 each, ZINO Society through the zInvestor Connector will facilitate this collective investment.

ZINOpreneur Education Series
Recently ZINO Society launched our monthly ZINOpreneur Education Series, held on the first Thursday of every other month. Over a casual lunch in an intimate setting where the entrepreneurs can connect with peers, the series features speakers covering topics addressing challenges that entrepreneurs face. This series carries a nominal charge for the cost of lunch; ZINO Society provides the speakers.

zInvestor Education Series (underline link to Zinvestor page)
To support our investor members, in 2007 ZINO Society launched a zInvestor Education Series and which provides 2 hour participatory lunch meetings with a guest presenters that assist members in expanding their investment knowledge and creating investor syndicates.

ZINO Zip Investment Presentations
In lieu of Roundtable meetings in the busy social months of December and July, ZINO Society hosts ZINO Zip events that briefly showcase entrepreneurs for the ZINO Society Roundtable membership in a relaxed social setting, at a presentation cost that is less than a more structured Roundtable Investment meeting.

zAngels Among Angels
Through this new program, ZINO Society members are able to allocate a portion of their investments to their favorite charity. Thus, a zAngel might invest $100,000 in a company and contribute $10,000 of that investment to a charitable organization. The charity selected must be an IRS-approved 501(c)(3) organization. Charities will receive their stock from the company and will benefit when there is a liquidity event.