PRESS RELEASE/CALENDAR ITEM
For Immediate Release
SBDC Business “Hackathon” Looking for More Participants From Solano’s Smaller Cities
Deadline Extended for FREE Business Startup Workshop; New Speakers Added; PSA Released
Fairfield, CA (March 13, 2017) – If you are a would-be entrepreneur living in Suisun, Dixon, Benicia or Rio Vista organizers of the Small Business Development Center’s 48 Hour Start-up “hackathon” would like to see you at the event. Planners are encouraging attendance from residents of Solano’s smaller cities because they’re striving for representation from all parts of the county. Participants will have the opportunity to turn their business idea into a viable start-up in just two days. There is still time to sign-up. The registration deadline for this weekend’s workshop has been extended to Wednesday, March 15th. Registration is FREE and must be done online at www.48hourstartuplaunch.com. The seminar will be held at Solano Community College’s Vallejo campus, 545 Columbus Parkway, starting at 4:30 pm on Friday. Pre-event registration is required.
“We have lots of interest and participation from our larger cities, but we want to make sure people from our smaller ones are aware of this opportunity and are included,” says K. Patrice Williams, outreach coordinator and presenter for the conference; and owner of the advocacy firm BrandGOV, Inc. “We want to inspire entrepreneurship throughout the county. This workshop will give potential new business owners a chance to meet and be mentored by some of the top business coaches, financial experts and successful entrepreneurs in our area.”
New speakers have been added to the conference’s program. They include William K. Wesley, a corporate business coach and trainer; author and entrepreneur with a MBA and law degree. He’s appeared on several major broadcast network shows discussing his work. He will give a presentation on “the six secrets of the successful entrepreneur.” Also speaking will be Dr. Lynne Vaughn, president and founder of the Mare Island Technology Academy, an award-winning public charter school. She will present on the technology needs of small businesses.
Patricia Hudnall, CEO of the business consulting firm Hudnall, Thomas and Wilson, will lead a session on management processes. Rolanda Wilson, a financial consultant and president of Sound Investments, Inc, will discuss business budgeting; Citlalli Flores Zepeda, a branding strategist for the company Alfa Entrepreneur, will give a presentation on how to build a business’ image. Marisela Barbosa, president of Green Hive Spaces, a shared workspace for sustainable-focused businesses, will talk about the challenges and rewards of business ownership.
Tim Hiemstra, owner of Napa River Realty and member of several local boards, will present on how to develop scalable, repeatable business systems; and Mark Hagan, president of his firm Biz Dev4 Humanz, will talk about “the lean start-up” or how to use minimal resources to start a business.
Marketing partners for the event include the Dixon Chamber of Commerce; Benicia Chamber of Commerce; Dixon’s Economic Development Department; the Solano Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Solano Black Chamber of Commerce and A Place 2 Live, an organization that provides housing services for low-to-moderate income Solano County residents.
This is the first event of its kind to be held in Solano County. A recently released video public service announcement about the 48 Hour Start-up Launch can be found on YouTube at https://youtu.be/xFEHtN0-Z1U . A similar conference for young entrepreneurs will be held the weekend of March 24. For more information on both events, please contact K. Patrice Williams at 707-557-7007 x700 or email Patrice@brandgov.com.
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About The Solano Small Business Development Center
The Solano Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is a nonprofit organization that provides expert no-cost advising, low cost workshops and training sessions designed to guide small businesses to success and accomplishment. It serves all of Solano County and is hosted by the Solano Community College District. It is part of the Northern California SBDC network.
About BrandGOV
BrandGOV is a full service policy advocacy firm. Its team of highly-experienced strategists understands the multifaceted nature of government affairs and policymaking and works with clients to protect their interests and create innovative programs in transportation, clean energy, healthcare, economic development, real estate development, affordable housing, international trade and insurance. The company’s presence and relationships in local, county and state governments, allows it to serve as a forceful advocate for its clients. For more information on BrandGOV’s areas of expertise, services and locations, please visit www.brandgov.com.
Download Press Release (PDF)
For Immediate Release
Small Business Development Center Brings a 48 Hour Startup Launch “Hackathon” to Solano County
Think you can plan and launch a business in one weekend? Solano’s SBDC is going to give you a chance to try doing exactly that during this two-day competition.
Fairfield, CA (March 6, 2017) – Folks living in any of Solano County’s seven cities who think they have a viable idea for a business will want to be a part of a unique competition being offered by the county’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC). It’s called 48 Hour Start-up Launch and is a business “hackathon” of sorts where participants will bring their toothbrushes, pillows and overnight bags and, with little rest, work for 48 hours to develop and present to the competition’s judges their idea for the next great startup, reminiscent of an Amazon or Google. First and second place winners will be chosen and given a variety of business-related prizes.
Two 48 Hour Startup Launch events are planned – one for adults and one for young people ages 15 to 24. They will take place the last two weekends of March with the one for adults set for March 17 through 19 and the one for youth, March 24 through 26. Both will be held at Solano Community College’s Vallejo campus at 545 Columbus Parkway in the Bill Thurston building, starting at 4:30 pm on Friday and ending at 4:30 pm on Sunday, each weekend. Workshops are open to Solano County residents only. Preference will be given to low-income persons. Online registration and an application are required; walk-ins on the day of the meetings will not be accepted. Registration deadlines are March 13 for the first session and March 20 for the overnight youth boot camp. Food, drink and 24-hour facility security will be provided. Anyone interested should visit www.48hourstartuplaunch.com for a complete list of qualifications and to sign up. Registration and attendance are FREE.
“This is an exciting project and I am happy to be a part of bringing it to Solano County,” says K. Patrice Williams, owner of the advocacy firm BrandGOV and outreach coordinator for the two conferences. “The program’s ultimate goal is to inspire innovation, nurture local entrepreneurs and help create local jobs.” Williams, an attorney, has also written curriculum for the workshops and will present a segment on the legal aspects of owning a business.
The sessions will be facilitated by Michael P. Connelly, a former journalist and marketing professional and currently senior vice-president at Accucode, a national business-support tech firm. His background also includes having owned an award-winning newspaper and working as a chief marketing officer for a number of well-known brands such as Igloo, NASCAR, and GE Capital. Kelly Penwell, the associate dean for workforce development at Solano College, will also speak, as will a number of local business owners and representatives from financial institutions.
Other items on the agendas for the overnight work-a-thons include developing a business and marketing plan; creating a budget; how to do branding and promotions; Small Business Administration financing; and the technology needs of a business, among many other topics and tasks. Complete agendas can be found at www.48hourstartuplaunch.com .
Forty-eight-hour business launch competitions have been held in some of California’s larger cities, such as Los Angeles and San Diego, and internationally, but this is the first one in Solano County.
For more information on the 48 Hour Start-up Launch events, please contact K. Patrice Williams at 707-557-7007 x700 or email Patrice@brandgov.com. #
About The Solano Small Business Development Center The Solano Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is a nonprofit organization that provides expert no-cost advising, low cost workshops and training sessions designed to guide small businesses to success and accomplishment. It serves all of Solano County and is hosted by the Solano Community College District. It is part of the Northern California SBDC network.
About BrandGOV BrandGOV is a full service policy advocacy firm. Its team of highly-experienced strategists understands the multifaceted nature of government affairs and policymaking and works with clients to protect their interests and create innovative programs in transportation, clean energy, healthcare, economic development, real estate development, affordable housing, international trade and insurance. The company’s presence and relationships in local, county and state governments, allows it to serve as a forceful advocate for its clients. For more information on BrandGOV’s areas of expertise, services and locations, please visit www.brandgov.com.
Download Press Release (PDF)
The Solano Small Business Development Center is pleased to present 48 Hour Startup Launch for Youth, an event designed to help and encourage local high school and college entrepreneurs with all of the tools needed to promote and develop their business ideas.
If you have a great idea for a new business, but want to learn more about the financial planning, marketing, business branding, operations, and technology needed to make that business a reality, then you must attend 48 Hour Startup Launch for Youth.
48 Hour Startup Launch for Youth will be held Friday, March 24th through Sunday, March 26th at Solano Community College (545 Columbus Parkway, Vallejo, CA 94591). Light snacks will be provided throughout the weekend, along with amazing leadership, mentorship and collaboration with your peers.
Attendance is free, but registration is required. All applicants must live in Dixon, Rio Vista, Suisun, Benicia, Fairfield or Vallejo. Seating is limited to 20 people, and limited income participants have preference.
The Solano SBDC knows that it is difficult to take that leap into launching your own business. We will provide the space, templates, guidance, and a safe, supportive community for you to make your business a reality.
Register at https://48startuplaunchforyouth.eventbrite.com within 24 hours the 48 Hour Startup Launch application will be emailed.
The Solano Small Business Development Center is pleased to present 48 Hour Startup Launch, an event designed to help and encourage local entrepreneurs with all of the tools needed to promote and develop their business ideas.
If you have a great idea for a new business, but want to learn more about the financial planning, marketing, business branding, operations, and technology needed to make that business a reality, then you must attend 48 Hour Startup Launch.
48 Hour Startup Launch will be held Friday, March 17th through Sunday, March 19th at Solano Community College (545 Columbus Parkway, Vallejo, CA 94591). Light snacks and endless coffee will be provided throughout the weekend, along with amazing leadership, mentorship and collaboration with your peers.
Attendance is free, but registration is required. All applicants must live in Dixon, Rio Vista, Suisun, Benicia, Fairfield or Vallejo. Seating is limited to 30 people, and limited income participants have preference.
The Solano SBDC knows that it is difficult to take that leap into launching your own business. We will provide the space, templates, guidance, and a safe, supportive community for you to make your business a reality.
Register at https://48hourstartuplaunch.eventbrite.com within 24 hours the 48 Hour Startup Launch application will be emailed.