A panel of successful entrepreneurs discussing their start-up “Firsts”

First big sale – first employee hired/fired – first big purchase – first funding secured – first big mistake – first media coverage, first…. and the list goes on. Learn from those who have “been there done that!” Come and be a part of the conversation! All three panelists also built their businesses via bootstrapping! Many of you have been asking to hear more from founders who didn’t utilize angel or venture funding. This panel is for you!

$20 if you pre-register; $25 at the door; $15 for Eugene Chamber, Corvallis Chamber and SAO members, $10 for students (present ID at the door)

Location: Mookie’s Northwest Grill, 400 International Way, Springfield | location

Panelists Include:

  Nikos Ridge

  Co-founder of Ninkasi Brewing Company

 Tim Berry

  Founder of Palo Alto Software

  Jeff Kast

  Co-founder of IDX Broker

Thanks to our great sponsors for supporting entrepreneurship in our community!

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SUPPORTING SPONSORS:

Location: Oregon Electric Station, Eugene | directions

Register: Click here to register:

$20 (includes food and beverage)

$15 for Eugene and Corvallis Chamber members + SAO members

$10 for students (present ID at the door)

$25 at the door

Marci Hansen (Palo Alto Software’s VP of Marketing) will talk about the creation of a brand and the creation of an Internet marketing campaign through real life examples. Her presentation will be interesting for start-ups and small businesses because of the focus on low-cost and free marketing tactics that really work!

Hansen has an impressive background in both conventional and non-conventional marketing. She was awarded the “Guerrilla Marketer of the Year Award” from Brandweek Magazine while she served as the Marketing Director for the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Hansen broke new ground with search engine optimization (SEO) efforts, web ads, paid search terms and other then-uncommon initiatives.

Prior to joining Palo Alto Software, Hansen served as VP of Marketing at the Crafts Americana Group where she oversaw the marketing and merchandising activities for two online crafting brands. Previously, she oversaw product launches, directed content and design, and developed marketing and sales campaigns as the Marketing Director at Dotster Inc.

Hansen additionally developed and directed the marketing campaign for the Amazon.com Outlet Web site while serving as the company’s Marketing Manager. She also worked as a Manager of marketing and corporate events at Eddie Bauer.

Hansen has more than 15 years of marketing experience, and in her new role at Palo Alto Software, she is overseeing online and traditional marketing and promotion, and business development and strategic partnerships for the company’s full line of small business products. In addition, her team will be actively involved in new product development and introduction.

You won’t want to miss this presentation to hear about low-cost and free marketing tactics that really work!

Thanks to our great sponsors for supporting entrepreneurship in our community!

TITLE SPONSOR:

SUPPORTING SPONSORS:

At the October 1^st Smart-ups “Meet Investors” Pub-talk at the Oregon Electric Station, attendees were able to gain insight from three Willamette Angel Conference investors.  Those investors were Tim Berry, founder of Palo Alto Software; Nick Fowler, founder of Orion Ventures, LCC and CEO of Perpetua Power Source Technologies; and Christopher Klemm, director of OSU’s Austin Entrepreneurship Program. Anne Carney Nelson, having experience in investing in young technology companies, was a great moderator in asking the investors why certain companies were chosen for (or won) the WAC and why some were not.

Some of the most helpful pieces of advice?

·      Tim: A thorough and to the point executive summary and a great pitch are essential.

·      Steve: Go where the venture capitalists aren’t; the markets where people aren’t begging for money. Market research is key and do your due diligence!

·      Chris: Get experience!

The business card selected at the end of the pub-talk to give a five-minute elevator pitch was that of Keern Haslem, founder of Hogan’s Angle.

On a side note, local start-up Acrimoto was a an exhibitor at last week’s Lane County Home Show and will be a vendor at next month’s Seattle Auto Show.

Business Growth Workshop 

Date/Time: Thursday, Feb 25 | 5-8pm

Location: Moss Adams LLP Training Room | 975 Oak St, 6th flr, Eugene 97401

Fee: $25 if you pre-register ($30 at the door); $20 for Eugene and Corvallis Chamber and SAO members, $15 for students

Includes pizza and beverages

Note: Seats limited to the first 60 people who register.

Click here to register

Come join us for an evening of training relevant to any start-up. Whether you’re a start-up company or not, these principals apply to all companies – especially in these tough economic times. We will cover two topics during the evening:

1) Top 10 Business Planning Mistakes: Submitting a Winning Plan to Investors, Banks, Business Partners, etc…

The business plan experts from Palo Alto Software will discuss the top 10 mistakes made in the business planing process. Learn how to avoid these mistakes and create a truly buzz worthy business plan.  The competition is fierce and you owe it to yourself to present the best business plan you can.

2) Accounting: Financial Statements and Forecasting for Growing Companies

Expert accountants from Moss Adams, LLP with knowledge in the emerging-growth business space will be leading this section of the workshop. Accounting is pure overhead and won’t help you increase revenue, but if you spend your resources wisely then your accounting information can help you make decisions and save money. A poor accounting system or lack of financial statements could be detrimental to both your bottom line and your ability to attract funding.

The presentation will focus on how you can make sure you have financial records that will be ready for due diligence by potential investors or helping you secure business loans or partners. We’ll start with your day-to-day accounting and hit the main points all the way through to the 5-yr forecast focusing on cost effective processes for small companies.

Click here to register

Thanks to our great sponsors for supporting entrepreneurship in our community!

TITLE SPONSOR:

SUPPORTING SPONSORS:

Four amazing speakers will share their expertise in creating and managing start-up financials, the art of bootstrapping – and what to expect at the May 14th Willamette Angel Conference in Corvallis.

Register:   Click here to pre-register ($20, includes food and bev – or $25 at the door)

Location:   The Valley River Inn | map

*** Our Supporting Sponsor – PALO ALTO SOFTWARE – has kindly donated 5 copies of their Business Plan Pro software (regularly $199.95 each). Attend this event and you may be one of the lucky 5 to receive a free copy!

Create a winning business plan today (or modify your current plan) with the world’s most popular business plan software, featuring step-by-step instructions, 500+ sample business plans, and more. Business Week says Business Plan Pro is “...one of the best planning tools” available today.

Speakers:

John Audette

CEO of MitoSciences

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Chad Barczak

CEO/co-founder of IDX, Inc.

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Nick Fowler

Managing Partner of Orion Ventures (Corvallis)

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Dan Vishny

CFO of Arcimoto and Dune Sciences (two local start-ups)

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Thank you to our TITLE SPONSOR:

Thank you to our SUPPORTING SPONSOR: