Verizon is opening up its wireless network. Google is bidding on wireless spectrum. Large, color screens are in the hands of millions. The opportunity for mobile content and services is large and growing. What technologies and trends will define this space? What types of business models will win in the changing wireless world? What barriers exist to entering this market, and how can those barriers be overcome?
Cleantech is poised to takeoff as the next growth industry. What are the most promising sectors in cleantech? Which technologies will be the first to be widely commercialized? What can entrepreneurs learn from existing cleantech companies? What is the outlook for exit strategies? Are public markets ready yet and are there viable M&A opportunities?
Explore the life cycle of entrepreneurship in healthcare: the challenges, wins and losses across the various stages of start-ups. How did a small healthcare IT services company involved in one of the most troubled parts of the healthcare system manage to IPO and double its trading value the next day? How are ambitious young entrepreneur targeting Alzheimer's and other diseases? What are the most promising opportunities in the trillion dollar bioeconomy? Come find out!
What are the most pressing needs of the next generation? What opportunities are there for social entrepreneurs to solve social ills? How effective are for-profit companies at achieving scalable and sustainable results? How do social entrepreneurs manage the trade-off between doing good and doing well? Must one sacrifice profit to help the world?
You have a business idea and honestly don’t know what to do next, or have a plan and want to be sure it makes sense. What are the critical questions that need answers so that you can start committing resources to start a business? Come discuss the nuts and bolts of starting a company – knowing yourself, understanding the market, forming your team, finding financiers, and executing in the early stages.
Everything you wanted to know about venture capital, angel investing and more. What do venture capitalists look for in business plans? What type of funding is right for your business? How should you protect your intellectual property in the financing process?
Launching a business is a difficult task, but managing its rapid growth is sometimes even more challenging. How should an entrepreneur deal with the ever increasing funding, staffing and internal control demands that come with growth? How can growing company best compete with larger well-established competitors as well as new entrants? What are the trade-offs between different growth options such as geographic expansion, product innovation, and acquisitions?
Not sure what a search fund is? This panel will provide an overview of the search fund model and perspectives from entrepreneurs, investors, and advisors. What is a search fund? What kind of experiences do people need before starting a search fund? How do investors think about search funds? What kinds of resources are available to search fund entrepreneurs? How do you raise search fund capital?
Forming a search fund is only one step in the process. To find and buy the right business, an entrepreneur must have a robust search strategy and financing plan. How do entrepreneurs search for businesses? What skills are necessary for a search? What resources are available to entrepreneurs as they search? How are search fund businesses financed? What is the acquisition process like for small companies?
Acquiring a business is one thing, but operating that business can bring many different challenges to an entrepreneur. This panel will cover the challenges and issues related to owning and operating a small company as a young entrepreneur. What should entrepreneurs do in the first few months? How do partners divide responsibilities? What are common issues that people face and how can entrepreneurs prepare? When is the right time to exit a business? What do investors think about exiting search fund investments?
The Entrepreneurship Conference will feature almost 50 entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and other industry experts. A special thanks to our panelists and moderators who have already confirmed attendance: