What is Lab-137?

Lab-137 is a merchant bank dedicated to bringing together entrepreneurs and investors.  We are unique in several ways:  First, we focus on investments in the hard sciences, atoms versus bits.  These include innovations in physics, chemistry and biology. Second, we seek innovations that benefit humankind.  This could be a more efficient water heating system that reduces energy waste (e.g. Intellihot) or a technology designed to detect and treat cancer (e.g. NovaScan).  Third, in addition to placing investments as a broker-dealer, we actively invest our own capital in these companies.  We have skin in the game.

Laurence K. Hayward, Principal of Lab-137

Laurence Hayward has the unique experience of having worked as an entrepreneur, investor, and investment banker.

At Lab-137, Hayward manages a merchant bank dedicated to entrepreneurs who are advancing engineering- and science-driven innovations that improve the human condition. He has completed more than 30 private placements on behalf of client companies. He also is founder and manager of VentureLab, a consulting firm that advises on strategy and operations.

Hayward is co-founder and managing partner of Independence Equity, a cleantech venture capital fund where he is involved in all aspects of fund formation and management. Hayward also co-founded and volunteered at Cornerstone Angels, a private membership of accredited investors and member of the Angel Capital Association that invest in early-stage companies. In these roles, Hayward has served on the boards and advisory boards of numerous companies.

Previously, Hayward was President of Vcapital.com, a venture-backed early example of crowdfunding, matching entrepreneurs with investors using an internet-based exchange. The company was later acquired in the roll-up of several investment banks.

Prior to Vcapital, Hayward served as global marketing director of Arthur Andersen’s Enterprise Group, a $500 million practice targeting middle-market and venture-backed companies. Hayward was responsible for developing and managing companywide marketing and sales initiatives with hundreds of professionals in 80 offices worldwide. He was one of four U.S. staff personnel appointed to represent the Firm at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in 1996.

Hayward serves on the University of Illinois Chicago College of Engineering Advisory Board. He has volunteered and served as a mentor for the Chicagoland Entrepreneur Center/1871, Techstars and Impact Engine. He is a volunteer speaker, judge and mentor for Founder’s Institute, which provides educational programs for young entrepreneurs. Hayward serves on the Advisory Board of the Center for Professional Excellence at Elmhurst University, on Women in Finance Academy Mentor Program at the University of Illinois in Champaign/Urbana and recently led a Masters in Finance Practicum at the same.

Hayward is a graduate of the Joint BS/MBA program at the University of Illinois in Champaign/Urbana, earning a BS in Psychology and an MBA. He led entrepreneurial ventures before, during and after college, including a student-run advertising agency at Illinois. Hayward holds Series 7 and 63 licenses with affiliated FINRA broker-dealer Rainmaker Securities.

Glen Anderson, President of Rainmaker Securities, LLC

Prior to leading RainMaker Securities, Glen most recently worked in the institutional equities business of Oppenheimer & Co. in New York and prior worked in the institutional equities business at Jefferies & Co. in San Francisco. In these roles, Glen focused on public companies in the mobile device, telecom infrastructure, enterprise networking and digital media sectors. Immediately prior to his career in investment banking, Glen worked in the venture capital industry in Europe and the hedge fund industry in Chicago. Glen has been close to technology his entire career working as an engineer in the advanced computing business at IBM and subsequently as an engineer in Motorola’s mobile devices business, supporting the design of revolutionary products such as the Motorola StarTAC and the Multiple Application Phone – the world’s first “smart-phone”. During his career he has also been a consultant to Lehman Brothers, the New York Stock Exchange, Sprint Wireless and Comcast, among others in technology and organizational strategy. Glen holds a B.S. Magna Cum Laude in Mechanical Engineering, and an MBA with Honors from The University of Chicago.

Dominic Cioffi, CCO of Rainmaker Securities, LLC

Dominic kicked off his legal career specializing in corporate governance, mergers & acquisitions, and structuring securities offerings for early-stage issuers. He later became compliance counsel at an innovative online venture capital platform that raises Series A capital via general solicitation to institutional and accredited investors. At Rainmaker Securities, Dominic manages legal engagements for each client and registered representative. He is also responsible for developing efficient workflows and compliant processes, leveraging IT systems whenever possible. Dominic graduated with honors from the University of Missouri, where he earned his JD/MBA while teaching business law & ethics to undergraduate students. He was also an editor of the Missouri Law Review