Venture capital aims for a comeback

Matt Leiter and some colleagues at Sarasota product design firm Robrady hope to turnaround the Gulf Coast's middling reputation for connecting venture capital with startup companies.

The first step: an alternative investment road show hosted by Robrady and its venture capital unit. The inaugural event, scheduled for March 29 and March 31 at Robrady's headquarters, will be a networking opportunity for investors and the principals of four local companies.

“People generally don't hear about these companies,” Leiter tells Coffee Talk. “It's hard to get a forum because there's not really a platform for it.”