• Rules from the BABY’s Book on Becoming a Billionaire
  
  

  • Rule #85: If you can’t find the fish hook, don’t eat the halibut.

  • Rule #65: Grand passion will take you further than good grades.

• Taking the not-so-sure bet. Andy Funk waved off the family business and never attended college. Proving that passion drives entrepreneurship, he sold three businesses before reaching the age of 21.

• Being in the headlines instead of on the sidelines: Beth Walsh and Bonnie Shaw share strategies for separating your business from its competition.

• Fishing for hooks. Entrepreneurs dissect business deals looking for the “hook.”

• Filling the basket with golden eggs? Benefits expert Len Fischer explains how retirement funds can be used to start your business, but Neil asks, “Should you?”

• Ivy or weeds? Passion, persistence and focus are better predictors of success than one’s alma mater.

Andy J. Funk, an experienced entrepreneur turned venture capitalist, expertly combines his passion for investing with an altruistic vision to make positive and impactful differences in the world. As the underlying driver of the Funk Ventures philosophy, Andy believes that businesses can make significant and positive contributions to people, society and the environment.

Before founding Funk Ventures, Andy was:

• Founder and CEO of Micordyme (acquired by iBoost)
• Founder and CEO of Helping.org (acquired by America Online)
• Co-founder of Daily F1 (acquired by Total F1)

As CEO and Chairman of Funk Ventures, Andy has been actively involved in the funding, development and sale of more than a dozen companies. Most recently, Andy authored the chapter "Investing Today for a Better Tomorrow" in the book “VC: Best Practices”. A frequent panelist and presenter, he has spoken before the MIT Enterprise Forum, PWC MoneyTree Survey and various other industry forums and conferences. Andy has been featured on Forbes Radio, the Wall Street Journal, Financier Worldwide, The Los Angeles Business Journal and other notable publications. A philanthropist since founding Helping.org, Andy continues to support various organizations that are closely aligned with his philosophy through his personal family foundation.

Bonnie Shaw, co-owner of the Clearpoint Agency, has more than 18 years of experience in public relations and marketing. She was an executive at the McQuerter Group, a San Diego-based high tech focused agency, and directed marketing, public relations and events for numerous organizations including the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce and the San Diego National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Currently, she is on the board of the Women’s Business Center of California.

Beth Walsh, co-owner of the Clearpoint Agency, has more than 25 years of experience in public relations and marketing. Prior to founding Clearpoint in 2002, she was senior vice president of public relations for at McQuerter Group, a San Diego-based high tech agency. Previously, Beth spent six years as director of marketing and corporate communications for The National Dispatch Center. In 2001, she was named to Wireless Week’s top 25 “Influential Women in Wireless.”

Between the two of them, Beth and Bonnie have won 15 awards for their work in public relations and marketing.

Len Fischer is the president of BeneTrends, a company that specializes in helping individuals use their retirement funds to finance a new business. He has more than 45 years of experience as a consultant in the field of employee benefits and retirement plans.