For the first time in Solano County, residents with an entrepreneurial bent are offered a free 48-hour program to launch a business, organizers announced.
Presented by the Small Business Development Center at the Vallejo campus of Solano Community College this month, the two-night program is open to anyone living in any of the county’s seven cities. The sign-up deadline for the first session is March 13, they said. The campus is at 545 Columbus Parkway.
Solano County residents who think they have a viable idea for a business could benefit from the upcoming 48 Hour Start-up Launch, and business “hackathon,” organizers said.
“They’ll 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 start-up, reminiscent of an Amazon or Google,” spokesperson K. Patrice Williams said. “First and second-place winners will be chosen and given a variety of business-related prizes.”
Two 48 Hour Start-up Launch events are planned ‑ one for adults and one for youth 15 to 24 and they’ll take place the last two weekends in March. The one for adults is set for March 17 through 19 and the other, March 24 through 26. Both will be held at the Bill Thurston building, starting at 4:30 p.m. on Friday and ending at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Workshops are open to Solano County residents only and preference will be given to low-income persons.
Online registration and an application are required in advance. 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. Those 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,” said 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.”
An attorney, Williams, has also written workshop curriculum 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 chief marketing officer for well-known brands like Igloo, NASCAR, and GE Capital. Solano College associate dean Kelly Penwell, will also speak, as will several local business owners and representatives from financial
The overnight work-a-thons also include, among other topics, 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.
Complete agendas can be found at www.48hourstartuplaunch.com .
Similar 48-hour business launch seminars have been held internationally and in some of California’s larger cities, like Los Angeles and San Diego, but this is the first one in Solano County.
For more information call at 707-557-7007 x700 or email Patrice@brandgov.com.
Contact Rachel Raskin-Zrihen at (707) 553-6824.