Carolina Connect 2010: Innovation Through Entrepreneurship & Intrapreneurship
REGISTER TODAY FOR CAROLINA CONNECT 2010
One of the Southeast’s most anticipated opportunities for connecting entrepreneurs with investors and industry leaders – May 13, 2010
Early bird rates available through May 7!
On May 13 at the Renaissance in downtown Asheville, AdvantageWest and the Blue Ridge Entrepreneurial Council present the 7th Annual Carolina Connect conference, considered one of the top events of the year for entrepreneurs – with the highest number of private investors and business and industry leaders present in Carolina Connect history.
With a focus on innovation, entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship, the event starts with a pre-conference networking breakfast from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. and ends with a post-conference reception from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The full day of connecting, professional development and idea-sharing includes a stellar lineup of keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and the popular Critical Conversations Café – plus an awards luncheon recognizing innovation and achievement in entrepreneurship across the region.
TAKE A LOOK AT CAROLINA CONNECT’S JAM-PACKED DAY OF NETWORKING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Start the day making connections. Carolina Connect is all about making connections. That’s why we start the day with a networking breakfast guaranteed to kick-start your day – and your business success. (Registration and continental breakfast, 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.)
Enjoy a “Conversation with the CEOs.” What are the secrets of some of the region’s most admired companies? Find out as successful leaders of a diversity of industries take the stage for a dynamic discussion. (Conference opens at 8:30 a.m., followed by CEO panel discussion from 8:45 to 9:45 a.m.)
Choose among four educational tracks with a total of 12 informative breakout sessions. Practical and educational information for fostering innovation and the growth of businesses of all sizes and stages is the focus of four educational tracks at Carolina Connect 2010: Entrepreneurship, Capital, Intrapreneurship and Green Business. Choose one track or mix-and-match to meet your needs and interests. (Breakout sessions take place 10 to 11 a.m., 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., and 2:15 to 3:15 p.m.)
Find out the winners of the Lone Eagle Entrepreneur of Excellence Award and the new Innovation Advantage Award. Who in Western North Carolina exemplifies an entrepreneurial spirit, and in doing so, demonstrates excellence and success in areas of innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their business and community? What company in the AdvantageWest region exhibits a culture of innovation within their corporate infrastructure? Find out during lunch at a special presentation. (Lunch/awards take place 12:30-1:10 p.m.)
Hear from one of the most respected venture capitalists in the country. We are extremely privileged to present Victor Hwang as the Carolina Connect 2010 lunchtime keynote speaker. Victor is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of T2 Venture Capital, a venture firm that invests in startups with breakthrough technologies and also advises governments on venture and innovation policy. He is a Kauffman Fellow – a member of a selective program to groom leaders of the venture capital industry – and will speak on “Risk as a Virtue or Social Value.” (Keynote address takes place 1:15 – 2 p.m.)
Chat with industry experts in an informal setting. Back for the second year is the popular Critical Conversations Networking Café, an informal series of discussions with industry experts on critical topics facing today’s entrepreneurs and business owners. Topics include Cloud Computing, The App World, Website Optimization, Social Media, PR Nightmares, Startup Management, and Green My Business. These no-PowerPoints-allowed discussions are intended to be casual and flexible to allow for maximum exposure to a variety of topics in a conversational format. (Takes place 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.)
End the day making more connections. The Carolina Connect closing reception is a great way to continue to network and make connections. (Takes place 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.)
Making connections create business opportunities. Therefore, the more you connect, the more friends you'll get and opportunities.