1、,North State WIRED Venture Communities: Cultivating the Innovation and Entrepreneurial Ecosystem,A Few Opening Slides for Context,Our Economy is CrappyHigh Growth Entrepreneurs Drive Cluster Development and Jobs/Income GrowthCommunity Must Understand Distinctions Among Small Businesses and Entrepren
2、eurs to Take it to the Next Level,The Small Business and Entrepreneur Continuum: Differing Needs and Stages,Demistify Entrepreneurs,50,000 Foot Level Talk is Pervasive Immerse Ourselves “In the Trenches” Understand the Mindset Read “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand Most Community-Based Approaches Related
3、 to Entrepreneurship are Too Generic Recognize the Distinctions; Respond Accordingly,Venture Island-Chico Are You Up for The Challenge?,What is Venture Island-Chico,High-Growth Companies Compete for “Big Kahuna” Designation and Cash AwardsCompanies Benefit from Mentoring/Advising, Peer Networking, H
4、igh Visibility While Supporting Noble Community Causes (Homegrown Entrepreneurship and Local Charity)Competitions Include Screen Tests, Monthly Entrepreneur Challenges, and Finalist Showdown Events Become “Must Attend” Networking Standard in the RegionUnique Format (Modeled After Survivor TV), Multi
5、-Media Activities and Audience Participation Create BuzzVenture Communities Web Portal Creates Continuity, Maintains momentum and Becomes Marketing Engine In-Between EventsSubstantial Opportunities for Community Organization Engagement and Support of Venture Island-Chico,Venture Island-Chico Objecti
6、ves,Raise awareness about importance of homegrown entrepreneurship Put Chico (and region) on the map as entrepreneur-friendly Assist at least 20 Chico (and other North State) businesses Institutionalize it so it has permanence Raise visibility about key issues facing entrepreneurs (talent, capital,
7、facilities, visibility, etc.),Key Objective: Formalize High Growth Potential Entrepreneur Network!,Key Item: Lets Expand Our Committee,Opinion leaders, local business icons Workforce investment, econ dev orgs Academics Administrators and faculty - Business, MIIS, Engineering, Entrepreneurship Electe
8、d officials/policy leaders Venture capitalists Established and Retired CEOs/executives from industry Media Startup and early stage growth entrepreneurs Angels and potential angels Private sector service providers Experienced advisors/mentors,Venture Island-Chico Benefits to Entrepreneurs,Coaching an
9、d Mentoring High Profile Visibility Grow Peer Network Technical Assistance from Nonprofit and Private Sector Service Providers Access to Capital and Talent,Expert Feedback for Contestants!,Local CEOs Can Provide Valuable Perspective,Its Even Possible to Close A Deal!,Monthly Event Format,4:30-5:15 N
10、etworking/Registration5:15-6:30 Program6:30-7:30 Networking (and Ongoing Screen Tests),Pricing?,General Unaffiliated Attendees Members of CEPCO/Venture Communities Sponsoring Organizations NoRTEC/WIRED Partners Contestants,How to be a Contestant,Thursday, Feb 7 fill out application Friday, Feb 8 up
11、to 20 entrepreneurs notified of Feb 21 screen tests Thursday, Feb 21 Screen Test #1 (maximum of 6 contestants selected) Thursday, Feb 28 2nd round of applications due Friday, Feb 29 additional entrepreneurs notified of March 6 screen tests Thursday, March 6 Screen Test #2 (field of 8 contestants fin
12、alized),More Info on Screen Tests,Two-Minute “Elevator Pitch” FormatJudges will provide written feedbackContestants from Screen Test #1 may re-present at Screen Test #2,Ways to be Involved Other than as a Contestant,Sponsor Venture Island-Chico ($1,250 to $10,000?) Make Tax Deductible Contribution t
13、o Venture Island-Chico Investment Fund I (up to 200 individuals or $100k maximum) Become a CEPCO Venture Communities Member Participate in Texas HoldEm Fund Raiser Attend the Monthly Events!,Entrepreneur Challenges What are the Competitions?,Understanding of Market/Competitive Landscape? Building th
14、e Winning Team? Presenting a Winning Sales Presentation? Business Model and Financial Plan? Exist Strategy? Other Ideas? Maximum of 5 Minute Presentation by Each Contestant (maybe thats too long),Panelist Input at Events,After all entrepreneurs have presented, establish 20-30 minute block of timeSco
15、ring occurs at conclusion of panel comments/questions to contestants,Scoring System,3 Stages of Competitions (Screen Tests, Entrepreneur Challenges, Finalist Showdown) Create Island Theme for Names of Challenges Scoring Involves Judges, Audience and Contestants Audience Role Increases Only Financial
16、 Contributors to Venture Island-Chico Fund May Cast Vote in Finalist Showdown,Scoring System - Continued,1-10 Point System with 10 Being Highest Possible Score Panelists Weight of Scoring (2/3 in Screen Test, in Challenges, 1/3 in Finalist Showdown) Audience Weight of Scorning (1/3 in Screen Test, i
17、n Challenges, 2/3 in Finalist Showdown) Bonus Points Dished Out by Secret Vote of Contestants Three Finalists Based on Cumulative Score from the 3 Challenges,Scoring System - Continued,Technology for Real-Time Scoring by Audience Penalties (and Potential Disqualification) for Contestants Exceeding T
18、ime Limit,Cash Awards,Money Raised Through Poker Tournament and Tax Deductible Contributions to Venture Island-Chico Fund I Options for Contributions Above $500 Target for Fund Raise Minimum of $50k, Maximum of $110k $5,000 Prize to Two Runner Up Finalists Balance of Investment Fund to Big Kahuna as
19、 Low Interest, Deferred Loan (or Convertible Note) working with local attorney on this,Proposed Charitable Component,Partner with North Valley Community Foundation (NVCF)? Joint Marketing and Promotion Poker Proceeds Help Cover Direct, Ongoing Costs of Venture Island-Chico Program Tax Deductible Con
20、tributions to Venture Island-Chico Investment Fund c/o NVCF Loan Agreement Between NVCF and Big Kahuna Company Repayment of Loan for Charitable Programs in the Community,Venture Island-Chico Calendar of Events,February 21 at Enloe Conference Center (Kick-Off and Screen Test 1) March 6 at Enloe Confe
21、rence Center (Screen Test 2 and Announce Field of Contestants) March 27 at Sierra Nevada (?) Initial Entrepreneur Challenge April _ at Enloe Conference Center 2nd Entrepreneur Challenge May _ at Enloe Conference Center 3rd Entrepreneur Challenge and Announce Finalists June 26 at _ - Finalist Showdow
22、n and Check Presentation as Part of CEPCO Annual Dinner,The Right Keynote Speaker Can Make All the Difference!,Another Keynote Examples Guy Kawasaki, Investor and Author,And One More Rich Karlgaard, Publisher of Forbes, and Author,Key Action Items!,Develop/Finalize Venture Island Logo/Web Banner Fin
23、alize Pricing-Related Items Web Portal Live, and Upload Initial Information about Venture Island (and Venture Communities) Online Registration, Linked to New Bank Account Finalize Media Partner (Print and Broadcast?) Develop “Call for Contestants” News Release, Print Ad, Radio Ad, E-Blast Marketing
24、Piece Meet with NVCA to Pursue Partnership Finalize Legal Mechanics of Loan Agreement Finalize Tag Line for Competition Develop Island Themes for Names of Entrepreneur Challenges (Jungle Boogie?),Key Action Items - Continued,Finalize Entrepreneur Challenges and Create In-Depth Write-Ups for Each Fin
25、alize Technology for Capturing Audience Vote in Real-Time Determine Poker Tournament Lead Person Determine Other “Actors” MC (Roger Akers), Host?, Roving Reporter? Finalize Role of Start-Up TV Network (Fundability) discuss video element on-site Finalize Schedule/Venues (check Roger A. calendar) Fina
26、lize Keynote Speaker for Feb 21 Kick-Off,Key Action Items-Continued,Recruit Judges/Panelists Investors, CEOs, Domain Experts, Sponsors (need total of up to 24 but service providers must “pay to play”) Develop Venture Island Video (book-end), and game plan for quick turn-around episodes Develop PPT f
27、or use at civic, business and university meetings to promote Venture Island-Chico (and broader WIRED initiative) Develop job descriptions for each key role to help institutionalize Explore merchandising options Develop plan for structured in-between event coaching of contestants Need “Hold Harmless” legal form that all contestants must sign prior to participating,
