February 9, 2012 5:30 – 7:00 at the WaterCooler: Entrepreneurs in Idaho... it's not just the Bronco's that put Boise on the map! "Entrepreneurs in Idaho" Featuring Idaho's very own national SBA award winner: Mason Fuller. On March 31, 2011: "SBA is pleased to name Mason Fuller SBA National Young Entrepreneur of the year. “I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about money,” he said. “I think about coming up with a vision and actually working on it.”
Today, his business has morphed into a niche company that resells used medical equipment via the Internet.
Atlas Frontiers Inc. has grown from one employee to 15. The business has grown by double and triple digits a year.
And Fuller, Atlas’ CEO and president, has been recognized nationally as the Small Business Administration’s 2011 Young Entrepreneur of the Year. He was chosen from nearly 70 candidates. (taken from Idaho Statesman article on 4/1/11)
Hear his story, ask him questions and find out how he made it from garage to 3+ locations and entrepreneur of the year.
The WaterCooler is located on the SW Corner of 14th and Idaho in downtown Boise.
March: What is our Local Government Doing to Support Entrepreneurship? A panel of up to six elected and government officials will tell us what Boise and Idaho is/is not doing to support business. Are they doing enough? Do you know where to go for help? Is it easy to get answers to your questions?
IdaVation 2012 is May 10th. The Keynote speaker is: Daymond John from ABC's "Shark Tank" Mark you calendar now! Sign-up begins in January. This is sure to be a sell-out event so you will want to sign up early. http://http://www.daymondjohn.com/
December 8th
Kickstand Holiday Party
5:30 to 7:00
WaterCooler, 14th and Idaho
Free to all guests so bring your friends and colleagues to the WaterCooler for Food, Drinks, Connecting, Learning and Growing
Meet the newest Boise City Council Member – Kickstand President Ben Quintana
Come with your ideas, solutions, suggestions on how to make Boise more entrepreneurial friendly.
What kind of organization would you like to see Kickstand become in the future?
Greet the New Year with a calendar of events hosted by Kickstand.
Discover the changes and added agendas for Kickstand in the future
Pick up business resource information from various entities
Connect with other business owners in all phases from start-up to “I’ve made it.”
Learn from others how to avoid some of the mistakes they have made.
Grow! Go back to your office and make your business thrive.
Adam Stein, from LoanTeck received the most votes and won the Start-Up Speed dating prize of $1,000.
Ten people vied for the top prize at the Start-up Speed dating event in October. The businesses were paired with judges who listened to their five minute “pitch” about their business. They were each given the opportunity to make their “ask” as if they were presenting to an investor. The top three contenders then presented to the Kickstand membership who voted for the winner. The votes were tallied in real time and the outcome was: LOANTEK - 53%, Bounce Boards - 32%, SMARTdwell - 16%
Here are some tips when creating your Pitch:about Vision:
Do I have a clear vision?
Do I know what I want from investors?
about the Market:
What is the addressable market?
Does my product address a clear and compelling market
need?
about the Product:
Can my company create a defensible proprietary advantage to overcome existing and emerging competitors?
Can I build a company around my product?
Find out more about Speed Dating and listen to Kevin Learned’s lesson on how to make your pitch at:
http://kickstand.org/events/Startup_Speed_Dating
LaunchPad Starts in February
Exciting and ecrutiating-making a start-up take flight.
What are the hallmarks of startups that succeed and what are the flaws of those that flame out? How do you build and manage a high-growth company? What are the keys to solidifying a management team? How do you select angels or venture investors who will bring in financial and strategic capital? LaunchPad 2.0 is a ten-part seminar series constructed to answer these
questions and address critical issues facing start-ups in todays tough environment.
Watch for sign-up information soon.
IdaVation is May 10. 2012
This year will feature Daymond John, from ABC’s Shark Tank as the keynote speaker.
Registration begins in January. Mark your calendar to sign up in January for a special discount.
Kickstand P.O. Box 1643 Boise Idaho 83701 info@kickstand.org 208-272-0007
www.Kickstand.org
