EntrepreneurshipWeek USA Kickoff Event tonight at Desert Research Institute

By David LaPlante • on February 26, 2007

UPDATE: Just received word that the event is CANCELED tonite due to SNOW (and a disproportionate number
of 2WD minivans and Chrysler Sebrings setting a precedent of creating chaos on
Reno’s streets).

I’m headed up to DRI tonight at 5:30 pm for the kick off of EntrepreneurshipWeek USA, a nationwide event to celebrate and encourage entrepreneurs. Taking Logan to hopefully get a tour of the DRI Virtual Reality CAVE. The evening’s highlights include:

Lt. Governor Brian Krolicki
Dr. Steve Wells, President, Desert Research Institute
Fred Hamilton, Publisher, Reno-Gazette-Journal
Meet the Business Report of Northern Nevada’s "Entrepreneurs of the Year"
Tour of DRI’s CAVE and Ice Core Labs

EntrepreneurshipWeek is sponsored by the Nevada Commission on Economic Development (NCED), Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (NCET).

Some of The Week’s events include:

Monday, Feb 26 – Annual Engineer’s Day (UNR) All day – College of Engineering (CoEN) Open House – Free
Wed, Feb 28 – "POP is YOUR Connection – Connect with the Resources for Starting or Expanding Your Business" 10 am – Plaza Hotel and Conference Center – Carson City
Fri, Mar 2 – Entrepreneur Expo – Reno-Sparks Convention Center- 9 am – 5 pm – Sponsored by: – NCET – Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology – Nevada Commission on Economic Development

Here’s a Q&A from NCET talking about about why this event is cool:

EntrepreneurshipWeek USA Q&A:

1) Who should attend Entrepreneurship Week and why?Anyone who is an entrepreneur, or anyone who had ever considered becoming an entrepreneur, should attend the EntrepreneurshipWeek USA events, especially the Entrepreneur Expo on Friday, March 2 at the Reno Convention Center.

2) What can attendees hope to get out of the event? Each of our events focus on one or more issues important to entrepreneurs. The Entrepreneur Expo, for example, will feature exhibitions by 30 to 40 organizations that provide services for entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs. We’ll also have 10 to 15 speakers and panelists addressing topics such as "How to Write a Business Plan," "Strategic Planning," "Technology for Your Business," "Electronic Marketing for Small Businesses," "How to Go Public," and many, many more.

3) What is the significance in having an event like this in northern Nevada? EntrepreneurshipWeek USA is a new nation-wide event created to celebrate the importance of entrepreneurs. Given their role in Nevada’s past, present and future, it’s fitting that Nevada is doing more to recognize EntrepreneurshipWeek USA than any other state in the union. Our events have two very important elements. First, celebrating Northern Nevada’s successful entrepreneurs, who can serve as an example to aspiring entrepreneurs. Their stories demonstrate that entrepreneurs come in a wide range of backgrounds and skill sets. Second, showcasing the numerous local, state and federal programs and non-profit organizations that exist to encourage and help entrepreneurs. Few Nevadans are fully aware of the vast resources available to entrepreneurs, and we hope that EntrepreneurshipWeek USA will help connect the resources and the entrepreneurs.

4) Describe some of the biggest challenges entrepreneurs face in northern Nevada. The biggest challenges facing Northern Nevada’s entrepreneurs are access to investment capital and access to qualified Board members and experienced advisors. EDAWN and NCET are working closely together to identify – and in some case spur the formation of – additional sources of investment capital. At the same time, NCET is identifying a pool of experienced and qualified individuals who can serve on Boards of Directors and Boards of Advisors to new and growing companies. These companies can then draw on the wealth of knowledge and experience embodied in these people.

5) Why is entrepreneurship such a hot topic? Nevada is a state built by entrepreneurs. Currently, 85% of Nevada’s companies employ 20 or fewer employees, proving that Nevada’s economy is truly fueled by small businesses. Studies by EDAWN and NNDA show that Nevada’s future growth will be driven by businesses started within Nevada, rather that by companies relocating to Nevada. For these reasons, we clearly need to focus on encouraging, helping and celebrating Nevada’s entrepreneurs.

Technorati : CAVCaM, DRI, EDAWN, Entrepreneur, EntrepreneurshipWeek, Foundation, Kaufman, NCED, NCET, Nevada, Reno, development, econmic