Global Entrepreneurship Week 2020
November 16 – 20, 2020
Start Something Here
GEW at Penn State is managed by the Penn State Small Business Development Center (SBDC), and celebrates relationships between members of the University and the local entrepreneurial communities. Join us for virtual presentations, workshops, and networking opportunities geared specifically to entrepreneurs, local startups, innovators, and anyone interested in thinking outside the box.
Below are some great events available to you to throughout the week:
The Financial Ecosystem and Black Businesses and Entrepreneurs
Monday, 11/16 at 12pm
While small businesses represent a significant portion of the economy, there is mounting evidence that the playing field is not level for minority-owned businesses seeking access to capital. Attend this session to learn about the research of Jerome Williams, Distinguished Professor and Fellow of The Center for Urban Entrepreneurship & Economic Development in the Rutgers Business School, and his colleagues who have spent 10 years mystery shopping banks to investigate lending practices and customer experience. Their results demonstrate that in almost every instance, minorities were treated more poorly than their White counterparts. To help minority business owners identify discriminatory practices, Professor Williams will present two frameworks to support the adoption of race-based criteria in evaluating bank performance, namely, Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Social Innovation.
Learn more & register: https://pasbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/27381
Small Business Resilience: Thriving Through Change
Tuesday, 11/17 at 9am
To meet changing client needs, small business owners must be flexible and adaptable. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many small business owners experienced this requirement first-hand as they were forced to make quick changes to survive this challenging time. Attend this panel discussion to learn how diverse small businesses throughout Central PA have successfully pivoted during the pandemic to continue successful operations. Attendees will come away with strategies for re-examining their business model and making strategic changes that will ensure long-term and sustainable small business success.
Event Partners: Centre County Chamber of Business and Industry (CBICC), Clinton County Economic Partnership, and Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Featured Businesses: Actuated Medical (Centre County), East End Coffee (Mifflin County), and It is What it Is (Clinton County).
Learn more & register: https://pasbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/27373
Advancing Inclusive Entrepreneurial Economies through Global-to-Local Networks
Tuesday, 11/17 at 12pm
Global initiatives have shown that, at the bilateral and multilateral level, they can help unlock latent entrepreneurial potential through promoting synergies across groups of people of diverse backgrounds who have complimentary sets of technical skills, problem solving approaches and linkages to various stakeholders through both professional and social networks. During this session, we will showcase some of the learnings from the role played by higher education institutions from the U.S. in global partnerships directed at cultivating social impact-driven entrepreneurial culture across the university system in the Philippines.
Entrepreneur Productivity
Tuesday, 11/17 at 6pm
Entrepreneurs may often struggle to achieve efficiency. They may be unsure of how juggle priorities and deadline. In this session, you’ll discover key points that will help you master turning chaos into something more manageable, such as avoiding procrastination, identifying time wasters and understanding critical tasks. Sponsored by Penn State Hazleton and the Hazleton LaunchBox supported by Pasco L. Schiavo, Esq.
Registration is not required for this event. Join the live event!
Get Started Building Your Business with Lean Startup
Tuesday, 11/17 at 6:30pm
Ready to start your business, but confused about where to start?
Learn how to use the Lean Startup process, the gold-standard methodology that helps entrepreneurs de-risk their ventures and get to market quickly. This informative webinar will discuss how to use the Customer Development model – starting with Customer Discovery – to put the process into motion. We’ll also discuss the business model canvas and other strategic tools and programs to support the development of your business.
Entrepreneurs interested in applying for the Idea TestLab startup accelerator winter 2021 virtual program can also get questions answered here.
Event Partner: Harrisburg LaunchBox powered by Penn State
Logo Design; What You Need to Know Before Developing Your Logo
Wednesday, 11/18 at 11am
As part of the Global Entrepreneurship Week Penn State celebration, the Penn State Altoona LaunchBox supported by the Hite Family is pleased to host Colleen Devorris, Founder and CEO of BrandDemon for this informative webinar.
A strong logo is essential to your brand and more important than you may think. During this session you will learn how to develop a logo that works. Talking points will include
• factors to consider when designing a logo
• types of logos and their pros and cons
• best practices for developing a logo
• logo mistakes to avoid at all costs
Startup Success: Lessons from Latinx Founders – presented in Spanish only
Wednesday, 11/18 at 6:30pm
Latinx founders will share their startup journey, including why they decided to start their own busienss, obstavles they faced along the way, and key resources that helped them launch their businesses.
Entrepreneurship Speaker Series- Customer Discovery
Wednesday, 11/18 at 7pm
Panelists will talk about Customer Discovery and share their experiences.
Where to find Financing to Start or Grow Your Business
Thursday, 11/19 at 9am
If you’re looking to launch a small business but need funding to get started, attend this workshop to learn the many options available, including angel investing; federal, state, and local grants; and traditional bank financing. The event will feature representatives from the Penn State Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and SCORE Mentors who will highlight resources and supports available to those seeking funding.
Event Partner: SCORE Mentors
Essential Communication Skills for Entrepreneurs
Friday, 11/20 at 12pm
For today’s entrepreneur, effective communication could be the difference between success and failure. In this session, you’ll discover how you can craft valuable business relationships by developing strong communication skills. Highlights include creating positive first impressions, the value and importance of listening (including a mini-assessment) and the use of positive and constructive language.
Registration is not required for this event. Join the live event!
Sponsored by Penn State Hazleton and the Hazleton LaunchBox supported by Pasco L. Schiavo, Esq.