Press Release

Press Release

BizTech Announces 2012 Programs

Year of the Entrepreneur

Fifteen years ago, BizTech opened for clients.  Since then we have met with hundreds of entrepreneurs, incubated more than 50 companies, seen many grow and graduate on to thriving businesses, seen some shut down, and some move away.  We have moved locations, changed staff and directors, and even changed our business model.  The constant, however, has been the entrepreneurs themselves.  Almost every day we hear a new idea from someone who thinks they just might have a business.  Never once has someone walked in with a perfect plan.  It is only through talking with customers, investors, potential employees, partners, and even competitors that the entrepreneur learns what will work.  This year we want to have as many of those interactions happen as we can possibly promote.

To encourage and celebrate those brave souls who follow their dreams, we are making 2012 our year of the entrepreneur.  To encourage new businesses we are hosting 5 separate events which focus on a different critical aspect of getting a company off the ground.  First, on January 26^th at 6pm, we are hosting a discussion of what it takes to be an entrepreneur and if the time is right for you.  Some people are born to be entrepreneurs and the time is always right.  Some people can be entrepreneurs when their life circumstances make it the right time (like you just go laid off and don’t have a great idea where the next job is coming from).  Some people will just be frustrated and unhappy at any time if they become an entrepreneur.  We will be hearing from several successful entrepreneurs on how they did it as well as discussing some of the key personal traits entrepreneurs seem to have.  It probably will not surprise you that patience is not one of those traits.  Finally, we will award the most promising idea as chosen by the participants with 2 free months at BizTech to further develop the business.

Each month through May we will follow up with another seminar or contest focused around something you have to have to get a business going.  On February 23rd, we will do our always popular one minute elevator pitch contest where the top presenter wins cash.  On March 15th, we will host a seminar on how to flesh out an idea into a business (they are different things) and award the best one page plan with an IPAD.  On April 10th, we will be helping you put together your investor presentation.  Everyone needs money and you need a great presentation to get some.  Finally, on May 17th, we will have our business plan competition where the winners get cash prizes and present their plans to local funders.

We will repeat these events again in the second half of the year, culminating with the winners from each of the events competing for “BizTech Entrepreneur of the Year” in December.