Intuit’s Brad Smith to Keynote 3 Steps to StartUp Venture Fair
Brad Smith, Chairman of the Board, Intuit
West Virginia champion, and Kenova, W.Va. native, Brad Smith will keynote the 3 Steps to StartUp Venture Fair, which will be held virtually from 9:30-noon on Tuesday, Mar. 9 and Wednesday, Mar. 10.
Smith is the former CEO of Intuit and serves as Executive Chairman of the organization’s Board of Directors. In addition to the many boards and organization’s he is involved in, Smith is co-founder of the Wing 2 Wing Foundation along with his wife Alys.
The organization’s goal is to advance the great equalizers of education and entrepreneurship in regions where individuals and communities have been overlooked and underserved. In doing so, they strive to champion human dignity and unleash human potential.
As part of the 3 Steps to StartUp Venture Fair, Smith will highlight the importance of entrepreneurship, why it is attainable and how West Virginia is uniquely positioned to capitalize on domestic and global market opportunities.
The 3 Steps to StartUp Venture Fair, which will feature experienced investors, assistance providers and innovators that have “been there and done that”, aims to provide West Virginia tech-focused, research-driven entrepreneurs an opportunity to learn strategies for raising funds and how to make an effective pitch to investors.
Entrepreneurs across West Virginia and the region, along with assistance providers, small business owners, funders, economic developers, and others, are encouraged to attend this virtual event.
Presentation topics will include:
Day One: “So You Want to Start a Tech-Based or Research-Driven Business?”
- What it takes to launch a tech-based or research-driven business
- How to be an effective tech-based startup (what questions to ask yourself when starting a business)
- Descriptions of and differences between funding categories
- Keynote: Brad Smith, Executive Chairman of the Board, Intuit
Day Two: “Persuasive Pitching: What’s It Take to Sell Your Concept?”
- Why pitch prep is critical, what comprises an effective pitch, and the 20 questions an investor will ask that you need to be prepared for
- Watch & Learn: Pitches from 5 WV StartUp Companies
- Each startups provide a 5-minute pitch, to be followed by up to 5 minutes of feedback from investors/funders.
- Entrepreneur Panel: Lessons Learned/Best Practices/Words of Wisdom
- Assistance/resources available to startups to help them move their concept forward
The presenter lineup and full agenda will be announced soon.
Register today by clicking here!
About 3 Steps to StartUp
The INNOVA Commercialization Group in collaboration with TechConnect West Virginia and the West Virginia Jobs Investment Trust created the 3 Steps to Start Up Program, which is funded by the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation through a federal POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) grant. To learn more about the 3 Steps to StartUp Program, or to apply, visit http://3steps2startup.com/.