John May

John May is the founder of New Vantage Group, a Vienna, Virginia, firm that mobilizes private equity into early-stage companies and develops innovative venture funds. Prior to cofounding and organizing hundreds of angel investors into The Dinner Club, he was a partner or advisor to Calvert Social Venture Partners, Solstice Capital, Women’s Growth Capital Fund, and the Maryland Enterprise Fund. He is an acknowledged authority on angel investing; cofounded two angel networks, the Investors Circle and the Private Investors Network; and sits on the advisory board of the Mid-Atlantic Venture Association.

Cal Simmons is a longtime angel investor with extensive experience in early-stage private equity. He has invested in more than thirty early-stage companies and is cofounder and manager of several angel investing clubs, including The Dinner Club, eMedia Club, and Washington Dinner Club—all of which are early-stage venture funds that leverage the capital, expertise, and relationships of angel investors to identify, invest in, and grow promising young companies. Prior to his angel investing career, he was a successful entrepreneur, having founded Cal Simmons Travel, which he sold to a public company, and he recently founded ASAP Ventures, a small business incubator. He is a current member and past chairman of the Washington-area chapter of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO).