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Serrano Magazine
"Wanna Start a Business?"

Serrano Serves as an informal business incubator for two upstart companies.
By Cathy Cassinos-Carr

Strategis Early Ventures:
Angel with wings to fly

Strategis Early Ventures started where so many other successful businesses do: on the golf course.

Well, not exactly. But it was during a game of golf that John Lewis met someone who had a product he thought worth marketing, which led to a meeting of the minds with some of his Serrano neighbors. Although they decided not to move forward with Lewis' proposal, it "got the ball rolling," Lewis says, to do business together.

Today, Strategis Early Ventures is one of the most active angel investment groups in the greater Sacramento region. Since its first formal meeting in October 2004, the group, co-founded by Lewis and neighbor Mark Bosse, has invested a total of $600,000 in three emerging businesses. But those numbers may be larger by the time you read this: SEV plans to invest in up to five companies a year.

Of SEV's nine partners, seven reside in Serrano. Much of the group's talent is drawn from the high-tech pool, and some, including Bosse, are Bay Area transplants. Although their first three investments are technology-related ventures, including SimpliFi Digital, DRC Computer Corp. (with CVV) and a homeland security company, SEV hopes to move into other arenas.

"We want to be more diversified-not all tech or bio," says Lewis, whose credentials are in the repossession and real estate industries and develop a membership that represents those different interests." Adds Bosse, "If a strong opportunity came to us outside high tech, we would give it serious consideration."

Although SEV is a sideline venture for all, it takes a commitment, notes Lewis, whose primary occupation is building My Executive Space, a business that provides executives with office space.

"Everyone here is busy with their own careers, but they've made a commitment to SEV," he says. "We've assembled a really solid group of people who have the expertise and the capability to be tremendously helpful to the entrepreneurial community." The group holds monthly meetings at Serrano Country Club to discuss and evaluate potential new deals. "Is it a good investment? That's always the bottom line," says Lewis.

Still, it's more than just business smarts that makes the SEV engine run.

"Camaraderie has a lot to do with it," says Lewis. "This is the first community I've lived in where so many people have so many things in common. It's a great group of people."
"By being neighbors," adds Bosse, "we have a common interest that has bonded us together more quickly than what would have otherwise occurred. I am excited that we've built such a solid group or partners and accomplished what we set out to do-so far!"