Schedule of Events: Opportunities to Set Yourself Apart
Make the most of your experience; take advantage of this year’s workshops. Each workshop features business experts who will help get you the recognition you deserve. Even if you’re not competing this year, attend some — or all — of the workshops to brush up on your entrepreneurial know-how.
Details for All Workshops
Time:
5:30 - 6 p.m. Registration
6 - 7:30 p.m. Workshop
7:30 - 8 p.m. Q&A, Wrap-up
Venue:
Council Training Room
Cost:
EnterPrize Participant, $25 | Member, $25 | Non-Member, $40
($10 additional charge if registering at the door)
Note:
You do not have to be participating in EnterPrize to attend events.
Scroll Down For This Years' Events:
Developing the Idea
This workshop focuses on helping you determine through self-assessment if you have: the entrepreneurial mindset; the entrepreneurial leader and team; the importance of choosing ideas that are different than your competitors and relevant to customers and sourcing innovation and the importance of choosing large and growing markets.
Guest lecturer for the evening will be Chris Allison, former Chairman and CEO, Tollgrade and member of the Entrepreneurship Faculty at Allegheny College and Duquesne University. He also teaches entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon University. Chris is currently President of Upsight, LLC Management Consultants.
Date: Wednesday, February 20
Entrepreneurial Marketing Strategy
This workshop will focus on market analysis and research; creating strategic differences; making market trade-offs; and crafting your operations to match your strategy.
Guest lecturer for the evening will be Chris Allison, former Chairman and CEO, Tollgrade and member of the Entrepreneurship Faculty at Allegheny College and Duquesne University. He also teaches entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon University. Chris is currently President of Upsight, LLC Management Consultants.
Date: Wednesday, March 5
EnterPrize Phase I Business Plans (Executive Summary) Due
Monday, March 17, 2008
Business Plan Writing
Writing the business plan concentrates analysis, forces decisions and improves your thinking about your business. Plus, all outside supporters ask for it. Attend this workshop to see what should be in your plan and what shouldn't be.
Guest lecturer for the evening will be Frank Demmler, Director of The Entrepreneurial Executives Team at Innovation Works. Frank has more than 25 years experience teaching and advising both entrepreneurs and investors. Throughout his career, Frank has worked with nearly 2,000 entrepreneurial efforts, leading to the formation of roughly 400 companies.
Date: Wednesday, March 26
Get Your Plan Read
Your business plan is written … is it compelling enough that it will get read? Attend this workshop and learn from a panel of regional experts as they share tips to make sure you can answer that question “yes!”
Moderated by:
Audrey Russo, President and Chief Executive Officer, Pittsburgh Technology Council
Panelists for the evening will be:
Randy Eager, Executive in Residence, Innovation Works
Mel Pirchesky, President, Eagle Ventures
Hank Safferstein, Executive in Residence, Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse
Jeryl Schreiner, Chief Program Officer, Idea Foundry
Alan Veeck, Principal, Meakem Becker Ventures
Date: Wednesday, April 2
EnterPrize Phase I Awards Reception
Chrysalis Ventures, a leading source of equity capital for young growth companies in the Midwest and South, recently announced the final closing of its fourth investment fund with commitments totaling $163 million. The firm, which was founded in 1993 and invests primarily in healthcare services and technology, media and communications, and business services, exceeded its $150 million target for the fund.
Chrysalis Ventures has made investments in over 55 companies in its three prior funds. Among its most successful realizations are Six Flags, ActaMed (subsequently acquired by WebMD), High Speed Access Corporation, Tritel (subsequently acquired by AT&T Wireless), Appriss, and Genscape.
Come hear Chris Sklarin, Director of Business Development - Upper Midwest with Chrysalis, talk about some of these success stories and the new Chrysalis Pittsburgh office at the EnterPrize Business Plan Competition Phase I Awards Reception. We’ll also be announcing the winners of Phase I and award their cash prizes.
Date: Monday, April 7, 2008
Entrepreneurial Finance
Building financial models; setting a planning horizon; defining relevant assumptions; accounting basics. What’s the difference between an income statement and a balance sheet? What financial information should be in your plan? How much do you, the CEO, need to know? Attend this workshop and find out.
Guest lecturer for the evening will be Phil Compton, Chief Financial Officer, My Payment Network. Phil is a 24 year veteran of the Pittsburgh high tech and entrepreneurial community. He has experience in building the infrastructure, operations, team and image of early-stage companies. Phil has significant experience in managing both the financial and operational aspects of growing companies. He was the CFO for CoManage, where he helped raise over $60 million in venture funding and secured $10 million in debt financing. As CFO for Wisewire, Phil was instrumental in the sale of the company to Lycos for nearly $40 million. His achievements also include leadership positions with Mallett Technologies and Black Box Corporation (BBOX). He is an active advisor and mentor to several Pittsburgh area early stage companies. Phil is a CPA and earned his BS in Accounting at West Virginia University.
Date: Wednesday, April 9
Legal Aspects of Starting a Business
There is a whole host of legal issues to think about when starting your business. Everything from a business' name to its structure to operations has legal implications. Join us as we help clarify any questions you have – S Corp, C Corp, LLC – and more.
Guest lecturer for the evening will be [ANNOUNCED SOON].
Date: Wednesday, April 23
Register: Online | E-mail | 412.918.4229
EnterPrize Phase II Business Plans (Draft Business Plan) Due
Monday, April 28, 2008
EnterPrize Phase II Awards Reception
Dave Nelsen, a FORE Systems alumnus, co-founder of CoManage Corp., and founder and CEO of TalkShoe, will share his “Lessons Learned” in raising nearly $75M in capital and in starting companies pre- and post-bubble. He'll also share his insights in several areas including how to build strong teams, what to seek in partners, why product management is vital, and how to make great red wine. Most importantly, he'll answer your questions.
Don’t miss this chance to hear what Dave has learned over his career as an entrepreneur and to support southwestern Pennsylvania’s percolating technology community. In addition, the four winning teams of the EnterPrize’s second phase will be announced at the reception with each team receiving a check for $7,500 to energize their entrepreneurial journey.
Please Note: You do not have to be an EnterPrize participant to attend this event.
EnterPrize is sponsored by Citizens Bank, Comcast Business Class, Idea Foundry, Innovation Works, KFMR Katz Ferraro McMurtry, P.C., the Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse and R.P. Simmons Family Foundation.
| Date: |
Monday, May 19 |
| Time: |
5:30 - 6 p.m. Registration and Networking
6 - 7:30 p.m. Featured Speaker and
Announcement of Phase II Winners
7:30 - 8:30 p.m. Cocktail Reception |
| Venue: |
Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse
Valet parking available at Hyde Park |
| Cost: |
$25 EnterPrize participant or Council Member | $50 Non-Member |
| Register: |
Online | E-Mail | 412.918.4229 |
Funding Sources
Cash is king. Where can you look to find the funding you need for your new business venture? Bring your questions for our experts and learn the pros and cons of using various financing methods as well as where you can turn to find the funding source that is right for you.
Panelists for the evening will be [ANNOUNCED SOON].
Date: Wednesday, May 28
Register: Online | E-mail | 412.918.4229
EnterPrize Phase III Business Plans (Final Business Plan) Due
Monday, June 2, 2008
The Pitch
This workshop focuses on how to develop a successful investor pitch, no matter if you are pitching friends and family; economic development agencies; angel investors; or venture capitalists.
The guest lecturer for the evening will be Chris Allison, former Chairman and CEO, Tollgrade and member of the Entrepreneurship Faculty at Allegheny College and Duquesne University. He also teaches entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon University. Chris is currently President of Upsight, LLC Management Consultants.
Date: Wednesday, June 16
Register: Online | E-mail | 412.918.4229
EnterPrize Phase III Awards
Monday, June 23, 2008
One new business and one existing business will win cash prizes for their finalized business plan.
Time:
5:30 p.m. Registration & Networking
6 - 7:30 p.m. Program
7:30 p.m. Cocktail Reception
Venue: TBD
For more information on the 2008 EnterPrize Business Plan Competition, please contact Melissa Ungar, Director, Entrepreneurial Programs, at 412.918.4292.
