Pedigree Technologies is a wireless sensing solutions company that provides real time condition monitoring systems for the agribusiness & food processing industry.  Pedigree’s systems allow for automated asset visibility through the combination of innovative Wireless Sensing & RFID technologies, Web Services, and a commitment to end user satisfaction.  Pedigree innovations allow agribusiness companies to better address problems with food security & quality as well as provide machine asset management (M2M) solutions for their businesses.  www.pedigreetechnologies.com

North Point Capital is new to Minnesota and is the first "Search Fund" known to be operating in Minnesota.  Marshall Johnson will explain the principles of a Search Fund and how this financing vehicle can be used for any sort of emerging company and creative entrepreneur.  For more information on Search Funds, visit http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/ces/resources/search_funds.html.  A search fund is a successful investment vehicle in which investors financially support an entrepreneur’s efforts to locate and acquire a privately held company.  The search is financed by an initial round of funding from seasoned investors that have the opportunity to invest in the second round of funding and serve on the Board of Directors.  Upon the completion of the acquisition, the founders of the search fund assume an operating role in the company with the goal of ultimately providing a liquidity event to investors either through sale of the company, Initial Public Offering or recapitalization.   In a recent study conducted by the Stanford School of Business, the return on search funds was 35%.  Marshall Johnson is the founder of North Point Capital. Before founding North Point Capital, Marshall was the Vice President of Operations and Vice President of Sales at  Weathernews, Inc., the world’s largest full service weather company.  The San Francisco based firm serves companies by mitigating risk based on the weather.  In addition, Marshall was on the executive team at Weathernews and is currently on the Board of Directors for Weathernews Oklahoma, Inc.  Prior to Weathernews, Marshall held senior management positions at Amoco Oil, Dell Computer and startups in the telecom and semiconductor industries.   He received his MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and his BA from Bucknell University graduating Cum Laude.  North Point Capital has been created to acquire and manage an undervalued business to create long term growth through a proven investment vehicle known as a search fund.  Marshall Johnson, the Managing Partner, will lead the search to acquire a company valued between $10-$35 million.   North Point Capital’s objective is to realize compounded annual returns of 30-40% for investors while minimizing risk.