Schedule

This facilitated session will explore the distinction between entrepreneur and venture development programs and how economic development leaders and practitioners can support women and entrepreneurs of color through programs designed to teach business model validation skills and the entrepreneurial mindset. Drawing on the work of Ken Harrington and the presenter’s work running a business model validation program for early stage IT, bioscience and consumer/manufactured product entrepreneurs, the session will look at how these programs differ from traditional incubators and accelerators, what outcomes (pivot, partner or perish) can be used to measure success, and how programs can foster diversity, equity and inclusion in regional entrepreneurship ecosystems through intentional outreach and program design that goes beyond traditional business training and technical assistance.

Are your organization’s marketing efforts helping to create an inclusive economy that supports all groups? Or… are they doing the opposite? In this talk, you’ll learn 5 common marketing “blind spots” for EDOs, and how to instead create more inclusivity, equity, and diversity through your communications: 1) Why taking a sharp look at your current marketing materials is essential to discovering your own “blind spots”; 2) Specific ways to create more diversity and inclusivity in your marketing -- and local businesses -- through storytelling; 3) Key practices to make it easier for marginalized groups to find you so you can give them the support they need; 4) How to get the perspective of minorities and underserved groups (especially if you’re a one-person office with limited resources) so you can better serve them; 5) How collaborations and partnerships with other regions can be used to create more diversity -- and how this supports all parties involved.

In this breakout session, we will share replicable models designed to increase participation with Latinx populations and an incubator series developed to reach undocumented entrepreneurs. We also will explore the online resource platform Venturize.org, which connects entrepreneurs nationwide with technical assistance providers and responsible lenders. These programs have emerged from our work to reduce barriers to entrepreneurship and ensure that all entrepreneurs have equitable access to the resources they need. We will use this discussion of current programs and lessons learned to spark conversation around strategies to further strengthen and increase support services for local small businesses, as well as strategies to increase awareness of available services and resources. Attendees will learn about the importance of connecting the local “ecosystem” of small business support organizations and will brainstorm new approaches that could work in their own communities.

In this discussion-based session, we will share best practices of our program and inspire others to implement a coaching aspect to their small business development programs. Participants will come away with the answers to the following questions: 1) Why utilize coaches; 2) Who to recruit as a coach; 3) What to expect of a coach; 4) How to pair coaches and program participants.

A Conversation on Innovation: Not every community has the same access to resources, nor the same social or economic history. In Portland, the current climate and political history have created some very specific opportunities and challenges to supporting local businesses and historically under-served entrepreneurs. We have made a number of adjustments and augments to the standard Interise program in order to best meet the needs of the business owners in our area. We invite other Instructors, Directors, and Program Managers to join us to share experiences, learn about the different community needs, explore the programmatic adaptations that have been implemented throughout the network, and create a space to brainstorm new ideas around how we can continue to customize the program to better support our local communities.

This would be a fireside chat with all the Interise program administrators and instructors. I will discuss how the Greenville Chamber has creater a year-long experience for disadvantage businesses using the Interise curriculum and incorporating other strategies and program value-added components. The objective of this talk is to challenge program partners to think of how they can create a stronger and more impactful experience for those who go through their local program to create greater sustainability.