Angel Venture Fair

Valerie Gaydos has been involved with many start-up companies in the areas of operational development and strategic planning. She has been an investor and advisory board member gathering vital business information and locating experts, financing and key resources, which allow entrepreneurs to implem... More

Valerie Gaydos has been involved with many start-up companies in the areas of operational development and strategic planning. She has been an investor and advisory board member gathering vital business information and locating experts, financing and key resources, which allow entrepreneurs to implement their ideas and grow their business. Valerie’s company, Fifty-First Associates, LLC specializes in business & organizational development and association management. Valerie serves as Executive Director of the Private Investors Forum (Philadelphia), a non-profit organization of accredited private investors in the Mid-Atlantic region, which produces the Annual Angel Venture Fair. From 2004-2008 she served as President of the Pennsylvania Angel Network, a statewide angel investor network designed to assist in the creation and support of Pennsylvania angel investor groups. Prior to Fifty-First Associates, LLC, and launching Capital Growth, Inc., a venture capital publishing and business development company, Valerie was Assistant Director of the Greater Baltimore Committee (GBC) Technology Council. In that capacity she was instrumental in connecting emerging technology companies with sources of financing. She drafted, garnered support for, and successfully lobbied passage of key technology business legislation in the state of Maryland and established the Tech Council’s first newsletter and quarterly journal called “tech@work.” Valerie previously served as Legislative Research Analyst for Pennsylvania State Senate Policy Development & Research Offices, The Office of Member Services and Majority Whip D. Michael Fisher (Pennsylvania Attorney General 1996-2004, member of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit 2004 to present). She also interned as Staff Assistant for Pennsylvania U.S. Senator H. John Heinz, III, Harrisburg, PA. Valerie is the owner and publisher of various business and political publications including the Commonwealth Register, a daily summary of activities in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania Report, a candid bi-weekly review of Pennsylvania politics and The Annual Guide to Entrepreneurial Venture Financing (1998-2007), an annual compilation of business and financial contacts, advice and venture information. Valerie earned a BA in Russian Language and Economics from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. In her spare time she races sailboats on the Chesapeake Bay, enjoys golf, adventure, scuba diving, and is a volunteer for Blue Ridge Border Border Collie Rescue.