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Monday, November 16
 

9:00am EST

Startup Toolkit 1: Is Entrepreneurship For You?
Entrepreneurship isn't for everyone. It's a rewarding, exciting opportunity to build your dream and live your passion. However, it's a tough road filled with challenges.  Learn the questions you should ask yourself before you start to make sure you start off right.
Serial entrepreneurs and faculty with Florida State University's Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship Mark McNees and John Breed will lead a frank conversation about the realities of the entrepreneurial journey - the good and the bad. They'll tap into their successes (and failures) to share the questions you should ask yourself about risk, reward, launching a new business while balancing a full-time job, and the realities of funding your business.
FSU's Jim Moran College is the nation's first stand-alone entrepreneurship college at a public university. The Jim Moran College’s major focal areas are: Commercial Entrepreneurship, Social Entrepreneurship, Retail Entrepreneurship, STEM, Arts and the Humanities, Allied Health and applied disciplines such as law, education, criminology and social work.

Speakers
avatar for Marck McNees

Marck McNees

Entrepreneur in Residence, FSU Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship
avatar for John Breed

John Breed

Teaching Faculty and Entrepreneur in Residence, FSU Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship



Monday November 16, 2020 9:00am - 9:45am EST
Virtual

10:00am EST

Startup Toolkit 2: Is Your Idea a GOOD Idea? Questions to Ask - And Answer - Before Launch
How do you "know" if you have a good idea/concept for a business?  How do you know it's marketable and viable? Find out what questions to ask to pre-determine the viability of your concept!

Speakers
avatar for Mark Long

Mark Long

Director, UF Innovate | Incubation Services, University of Florida
Mark S. Long is currently Director of Incubation Services for UF Innovate at the University of Florida, home of Sid Martin Biotech (3-time global incubator of the year) and The Hub. The author of several books on business incubation and economic development, Mark was formerly a senior... Read More →



Monday November 16, 2020 10:00am - 11:45am EST
Virtual

11:00am EST

Startup Toolkit 3: Writing Your Business Plan: Where to Start
You don't need an MBA to write a business plan, but you do need to know where to start.  Learn about the basic components for a strong business plan, the questions it should answer and resources to help you navigate the process.

Speakers
avatar for Prof. Dirk Libaers

Prof. Dirk Libaers

Associate Professor & Director, Center for Entrepreneurship, USF Muma College of Business
Dr. Dirk Libaers is Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of South Florida. He teaches courses in Strategic Entrepreneurship and Creativity & Design. Prior to joining USF he was on the faculty of Northeastern University... Read More →



Monday November 16, 2020 11:00am - 11:45am EST
Virtual

12:00pm EST

Legal Seminar for Entrepreneurs
This legal seminar surveys various concerns of the new entrepreneur or startup.

Speakers
avatar for Curt Bender

Curt Bender

Dynamic and Awesome, Firm Awesome, LLC
Curt Bender is a student, entrepreneur, and public servant – a student of life that creates adventures to pay forward the talents he was gifted.Curt earned a bachelor’s degree in political science, a minor in American Sign Language, and the prestigious Taylor Leadership Institute’s... Read More →



Monday November 16, 2020 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST
Zoom

3:00pm EST

HubSpot - MasterClass on SEO Marketing
Join us live: Link

Learn how to fine-tune your marketing plan in order to improve the quantity and quality of web traffic your business receives! Hubspot is a marketing, sales, and service software that is dedicated to helping your business grow.



Moderators
avatar for Robert Blacklidge

Robert Blacklidge

Executive Director, Institute of Nonprofit Innovation and Excellence (INIE)
Robert Blacklidge is the Executive Director at the Institute of Nonprofit Innovation and Excellence (INIE). He is an educator, mentor, speaker, and ecosystem builder. His work building the Florida Ecosystem has had and continues to have a significant impact locally and beyond. Robert... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Jose Martins

Jose Martins

Business Development Manager, Hubspot


Monday November 16, 2020 3:00pm - 4:00pm EST
Virtual
  • Subject Marketing
  • Learn more at HubSpot.com/Startups
 
Tuesday, November 17
 

9:00am EST

Startup Toolkit 4: Options for Structuring Your New Company
Corp? B-Corp? S-Corp? LLC? Other? Learn what structuring options are available for your new company; the pros and cons of each choice; the crucial steps needed to build a healthy and strong foundation; what you need to do to protect your trademarks; how to understand your financial, accounting and tax obligation; and those who can help you make these important decisions.

Speakers
avatar for Sheryl Hunter

Sheryl Hunter

President, Hunter Business Law
Sheryl Hunter is the President of Hunter Business Law, The Entrepreneur’s Law Firm®, which was named on the INC 5000 list of Fastest Growing Companies in America — and on the list of Largest Women-Owned Businesses in Tampa Bay in both 2019 and 2020. For over 20 years Sheryl has... Read More →



Tuesday November 17, 2020 9:00am - 9:45am EST
Virtual

10:00am EST

Startup Toolkit 5: Budgeting Basics
Accurate bookkeeping and financial management is essential to the success of any business, especially a new one.  Understand how to manage vendor contracts and costs, budgets and financial statements, and key questions to ask to keep your operation lean.  


Tuesday November 17, 2020 10:00am - 11:45am EST
Virtual

11:00am EST

Startup Toolkit 6: Branding & Marketing
Your message, your voice and your image are what ultimately will sell your new business.  What are the most impactful marketing tools for startups, how do you determine your ROI based on data and analytics, and how do you find a marketing partner to bring your vision to the world?

Speakers
avatar for Ian Barkin

Ian Barkin

Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer, Skyes
Ian Barkin is the Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer for Sykes Enterprises, Inc. He is a serial entrepreneur and recent transplant to the Tampa Bay area, having recently spent 15 years in the ‘other’ Bay Area. Ian has a background in strategy consulting and outsourcing. Ian... Read More →
avatar for Rebecca White

Rebecca White

Walter Chair of Entrepreneurship and Director, University of Tampa
Rebecca J. White, PhD is an experienced board member, educator, speaker, author, consultant and entrepreneur with expertise and experience in the design, management and leadership of innovation and talent development. She is a business consultant, trainer and frequent speaker on opportunity... Read More →



Tuesday November 17, 2020 11:00am - 11:45am EST
Virtual

11:00am EST

Tech Topics - Innovation Park
Innovation Park will host a virtual open house for its incubator, North Florida Innovation Labs (NFIL). Three of Innovation Park's virtual members - Piersica, Blue Quench, and EduClear will be showcasing their businesses and going into detail about their research


Tuesday November 17, 2020 11:00am - 12:00pm EST
TBA

1:00pm EST

Synapse Florida - Tallahassee Presence Event
Tallahassee is a key node in Florida's innovation network. Home to Florida's State Capitol and dynamic higher education institutions in FSU, FAMU, and TCC, and the world's strongest research magnet facility, Tallahassee offers a stage to promote technology innovation from across Florida and inform the development of related policies, legislation, and regulation by lawmakers. Synapse and Tallahassee leaders are partnering to highlight and connect our Capital City's talent, students, innovators, and entrepreneurs.   In this discussion, we'll share opportunities for greater collaboration and coordination to strengthen our innovation community.  

Tuesday November 17, 2020 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Virtual

4:00pm EST

7:00pm EST

stART: The Art of Entrepreneurship
Join Domi Station and COCA live in their event, stART: The Art of Entrepreneurship!

Live Event: LINK 

This event will feature a talented group of artists, Quincie Hamby, Erica Passage, and Sue Stelzmann, who will discuss tips & tricks for how to be successful as an artist in the Covid-19 era.



Moderators
avatar for Robert Blacklidge

Robert Blacklidge

Executive Director, Institute of Nonprofit Innovation and Excellence (INIE)
Robert Blacklidge is the Executive Director at the Institute of Nonprofit Innovation and Excellence (INIE). He is an educator, mentor, speaker, and ecosystem builder. His work building the Florida Ecosystem has had and continues to have a significant impact locally and beyond. Robert... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Sue Stelzmann

Sue Stelzmann

CEO, Tally Clay Arts
Sue Stelzmann is the director of Tallahassee Clay Arts.  She has been working in clay for thirty years and loves to teach pottery and sculpting techniques.  She started selling clay August 2014 and added classes in 2016 which she teaches in her studio at 1816 Mahan Drive.   She... Read More →
avatar for Quincie Hamby

Quincie Hamby

CEO, Quincy's Jewlery
avatar for Erica Passage

Erica Passage

CEO, Erica Passage Pottery


Tuesday November 17, 2020 7:00pm - 8:00pm EST
Virtual
 
Wednesday, November 18
 

9:00am EST

Startup Toolkit 7: Launching Lean: Implementing a Lean, Agile Methodology
An introduction the tried and true methodology that powers entrepreneurs to build quickly and fail fast, powering them to move closer to their ultimate goal.  Dr. Cobb presents on the 5 lean principals and the questions we need to ask ourselves to start to transform your organization into a lean organization for the 21st century.

Speakers
avatar for Dr. Ashley Cobb

Dr. Ashley Cobb

Program Director Baccalaureate Supervision & Management-Workforce Programs, Pasco-Hernando State College
For over ten years, Dr. Cobb has been part of the Higher Education system. With a background in Business Administration and specialization in Organizational Leadership. Dr. Cobb currently holds the title of program director for the school of business at the Bachelor Applied Science... Read More →



Wednesday November 18, 2020 9:00am - 9:45am EST
Virtual

10:00am EST

Startup Toolkit 8: Keys to an Impactful Pitch
Understand the basics that any investor expects to see in a pitch deck and how to make your best impression from your first interaction.  This talk will cover the neurology behind pitching, how to create your first pitch, and pitching experiences from a business owner.  


Speakers
avatar for Justin Heacock

Justin Heacock

Entrepreneurship Center Coordinator, Florida Polytechnic University
Justin Heacock currently works at Florida Polytechnic University as the Entrepreneurship Center Coordinator where he founded the Entrepreneurship Program in 2016. That program has since been recognized internationally as a finalist for the Exceptional Activities in Entrepreneurship... Read More →



Wednesday November 18, 2020 10:00am - 11:45am EST
Virtual

11:00am EST

Startup Toolkit 9: Funding & Financing
There are many ways to fund a new business each with pros and cons. Decipher the fundraising jargon to learn if you should bootstrap, take an investment, what defines different fundraising rounds and other financial options for getting your business of the ground.

Speakers
avatar for Matthew Harper

Matthew Harper

Director Technology Incubator & Accelerator, State College Florida Manatee-Sarasota
Matt leads the State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota Incubator & Accelerator’s day-to-day operations. He has spent the last six years advising and mentoring entrepreneurs and startups. Matt was the founding director of a veteran business incubator in San Diego and has worked... Read More →



Wednesday November 18, 2020 11:00am - 11:45am EST
Virtual

1:00pm EST

Women Wednesdays

Wednesday November 18, 2020 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Zoom

3:00pm EST

7 Under 30: FSU Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship

Wednesday November 18, 2020 3:00pm - 5:00pm EST
TBA
 
Thursday, November 19
 

9:00am EST

Startup Toolkit 10: Building Your Team: Making the Most of Your Human Resources
Join top Tampa HR professionals, academics and small business people as they share advice on tips, tactics, and some missteps in dealing with "People Problems" and "People Opportunities."  We've lived through it so you don't have to!

Speakers
avatar for Dr. J A Shoemaker

Dr. J A Shoemaker

Associate Professor, Saint Leo University
Known to his students as Dr. Shoe, J. A. Shoemaker earned his Ph.D. in I/O Psychology from USF. Shoe has worked in multiple industries including internal and external human resources consulting, recruiting, training, counseling, higher ed, and small business ownership. He is the author... Read More →
avatar for Dr. Ruqayyah Nicholas

Dr. Ruqayyah Nicholas

CEO, YouOweU
Dr. Nicholas is the Chief Executive Officer of YouOweU, an organization founded to encourage each one to maximize individual potential to the fullest from self-esteem to personal finances. The acronym, Y.O.U. is significant of its purpose and mission, which focuses on you the individual... Read More →



Thursday November 19, 2020 9:00am - 9:45am EST
Virtual

10:00am EST

Startup Toolkit 11: Purpose Driven Entrepreneurship--Doing Well by Doing Good
Most people, no matter what their age or stage in life desire to feel a sense of purpose with what they are doing, and to positively contribute to making our world better. There are various elements that make up social change social innovation, social entrepreneurship, and social enterprise. At its most basic level, social entrepreneurship is about doing business for a social cause. Learn how social entrepreneurs combine commerce and social issues in a way that improves the lives of people connected to the cause.  


Speakers
avatar for Andy Gold

Andy Gold

Assistant Professor, Hillsborough Community College
Andy Gold, Ph.D., is a full-time business faculty member at Hillsborough Community College, and teaches in the graduate school at the University of Tampa, and the University of South Florida. Gold co-founded the HCC Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program and the InLab@HCC – an... Read More →
avatar for Beth Kerly

Beth Kerly

Associate Professor, Hillsborough Community College
Beth Kerly, MBA, is a tenured Associate Professor at Hillsborough Community College. She is a deeply devoted educator that always strives to raise her standards so that HCC students can access an innovative, meaningful, and impactful educational experience. Before joining HCC, Ms... Read More →



Thursday November 19, 2020 10:00am - 11:45am EST
Virtual

11:00am EST

Startup Toolkit 12: Getting the Traction to Grow
You've started your company, built your initial team, figured out who your initial customer is, build an MVP of your solution.  Now you need to get that first real customer.  You need to find that organization that is willing to take the risk and validate your solution.  Join us to hear about how UCF in partnership with the Orlando Tech Council are helping early-stage companies get that initial traction in the market.  

Speakers
JW

Johnny Williams

CEO, Player Epic
avatar for Carol Ann Logue

Carol Ann Logue

Director, Innovation Districts and Incubation Program, University of Central Florida, Office of Partnerships & Innovation
Carol Ann serves as Director of Programs and Operations for the UCF Innovation Districts and Incubation Program. Through the multi-site Incubation Program and the three Innovation Districts, UCF supports over 100 early-stage companies through comprehensive services all designed to... Read More →
avatar for Rob Panepinto

Rob Panepinto

Director, Innovation Districts and Incubation Program, University of Central Florida
Rob serves as Director of Strategy and Partnerships. Through the multi-site Incubation Program and the three Innovation Districts, UCF supports over 100 early-stage companies through comprehensive services all designed to support smarter, faster, and more successful growth. Every... Read More →



Thursday November 19, 2020 11:00am - 11:45am EST
Virtual

1:00pm EST

AERO Tallahassee: Partner Expo
The North Florida AERO Business Resource Expo will allow entrepreneurs and small business owners in the Big Bend region to discover resources that will help them grow their business. The event will include financial, education, training, mentoring, consulting and networking resources.

Register on their Eventbrite here: bigbendaero.eventbrite.com


Thursday November 19, 2020 1:00pm - 3:00pm EST
Zoom

3:00pm EST

Market Research for Small Businesses - FBDC at FAMU

Thursday November 19, 2020 3:00pm - 4:00pm EST
TBA

7:00pm EST

Meet the Investors: A Panel Discussion
This is a joint event with Domi Station and the TLH Mentor Network. We are bringing the investors to you!  



Moderators
avatar for Robert Blacklidge

Robert Blacklidge

Executive Director, Institute of Nonprofit Innovation and Excellence (INIE)
Robert Blacklidge is the Executive Director at the Institute of Nonprofit Innovation and Excellence (INIE). He is an educator, mentor, speaker, and ecosystem builder. His work building the Florida Ecosystem has had and continues to have a significant impact locally and beyond. Robert... Read More →

Speakers
avatar for Matt Johnson

Matt Johnson

Managing Partner, Johnson Venture Partners
avatar for Prashant Mehta

Prashant Mehta

Vice President, Credence Ventures
avatar for Amy Recht

Amy Recht

Manager, Beresford Ventures, LLC



Thursday November 19, 2020 7:00pm - 8:00pm EST
Virtual
 
Friday, November 20
 

9:00am EST

Marketing Thru Covid
Marketing Strategies for Success to Grow Through the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Presented by: Brian K. Wyatt, Jr. of B-EZ Graphix.

Brought to you by: Big Bend Minority Chamber of Commerce


Friday November 20, 2020 9:00am - 12:00pm EST
Zoom
 
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