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This meeting is dedicated to entrepreneurial experience and what it means to grow a successful enterprise along the South Coast, including the challenges of raising capital and growing a startup business.
The past 5 years has seen the most explosive periods of entrepreneurship and creativity in business development in the past 100 years. Metrics, such as the number of public offerings per year and the amount of venture capital raised in Southern California, provide evidence of the escalating opportunities to create new businesses and new markets. Everyday, entrepreneurs forge new territories in the development of business models and they are tested by the challenges of immense competition.
Entrepreneurs today are subjected to many pressures. The rate at which products must be brought to market has increased exponentially from just a few years ago. Additionally, the pressure and competition in raising growth capital from investors has become more intense than ever. Today's entrepreneurs appreciate any and every edge they can raise to the competition.
With these issues in mind, the Central Coast MIT Enterprise Forum has assembled a panel of experienced entrepreneurs, venture capital investors and successful business veterans to discuss the challenges they have faced and provide insights into the elusive world of the successful entrepreneur.
The evening will begin with individual case studies of local success stories from entrepreneurs and investors that have "pulled it off" and have achieved the success they sought. Afterwards there will be a panel discussion with opportunities for the audience to participate.
Panelists include Suresh Nihalani, founder and CEO of Accelerated Networks. Suresh has seen his company from an idea through an IPO and beyond. He was also instrumental in the growth and success of ACT Networks, as well as MICOM Communications.
Jim Cole, managing partner of Windward Ventures, will join Nihalani. Windward's extensive portfolio spans the Central Coast and southern California with technology companies in software, Internet infrastructure and hardware.
These two men have extensive experience in starting, growing, operating and managing local technology-based companies, and they both realize the unique challenges associated with being a successful entrepreneur in the South Coast Region. Other experienced professionals will also offer insights into entrepreneurship along the Central Coast. |
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Wednesday, January 17, 2001 5:30 PM |
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Student
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$15.00 |
Regular |
$30.00 |
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At the Door |
$40.00 |
Parking |
$0.00 |
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