E2detroit 2010 Topic Agenda
The Lean Launch: Creating a Business in Down Economy
Emcees: R.J. King, editor, DBusiness; Rod Meloni, business editor, WDIV-TV
| Time | Event | ||||
| 7:00-7:45 a.m. | Registration and Continental Breakfast. McGregor Memorial Conference Center | ||||
| 7:45-8:00 a.m. | Welcome – Rod Meloni. Community Arts Auditorium | ||||
| 8:00-8:45 a.m. | Opening Keynote – Josh Linkner | ||||
| 8:45-9:15 a.m. | Opening Address – Barry Moltz. Community Arts Auditorium | ||||
| 9:20-10:20 a.m. |
Panel Discussions
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| 10:30-11:30 a.m. |
Panel Discussions
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| 11:45 a.m.-12:25 p.m. | Lunch. McGregor Memorial Conference Center | ||||
| 12:35-1:05 p.m. | Detroit Perspectives Keynote Address - Lizabeth Ardisana. Community Arts Auditorium | ||||
| 1:10-1:40 p.m. | Mid-Day Keynote - Wendy Kennedy. Community Arts Auditorium | ||||
| 2:00-3:00 p.m. |
Panel Discussion
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| 3:15-3:45 p.m. | Detroit Perspectives Keynote Address – John Burtka. Community Arts Auditorium | ||||
| 4:00-4:15 p.m. | Closing Remarks – Eric Stief and Leslie Lynn Smith. Community Arts Auditorium | ||||
| 4:15-6:00 p.m. | Cocktail Reception. McGregor Memorial Conference Center |
Welcome Remarks: Rod Meloni, business editor, WDIV-TV
Rod will share his insights into Detroit, our business climate and entrepreneurial potential.
Morning Keynote Address: Josh Linkner, chairman and founder, ePrize
"The Creative Entrepreneur" -- Creativity and innovation have always been the foundation of successful entrepreneurs, but fully leveraging these skills has become increasingly challenging in today's ultra-competitive global marketplace. Josh's high-energy presentation will show you how to build creative capacity for yourself and your organization. You'll learn specific techniques to build a creative culture, unleash breakthrough ideas, and drive bottom-line results. This is a must-attend session from one of Detroit's most high-profile and successful entrepreneurs.
Opening Address: Barry Moltz, entrepreneur and author
Economic cycles come and go. We have been here before and survived. Cheer the good times with parties, awards and trophies. Mourn the bad times, but then let go. Barry demonstrates that developing the resiliency to “bounce” through these cycles of good and bad times determines who will ultimately succeed. Using real-life business examples, he shows that with true business confidence, we can take actions to face our fears, let go of shame and failures, be better risk-takers, and define our own brand of success.
Detroit Perspectives Keynote Address: Lizabeth Ardisana, founder and CEO, ASG Renaissance
Lizabeth will discuss how she started her successful multimillion-dollar business and grew it lean times.
Mid-Day Keynote: Wendy Kennedy, founder and CEO, WKI
"Making Every Penny Count – Launching in Lean Times" -- Launching a new business is difficult, even under the best market conditions. In lean times, it is particularly critical to focus your efforts on a few key factors that can lead to success. Join Wendy as she shares some hard-earned lessons and provides five practical, yet powerful techniques to drive your business forward in today’s challenging environment.
Detroit Perspectives Keynote Address: John Burtka, founder, Cherry Creek Vineyard and Winery
In this session, John will describe how he switched gears from the electrical industry to the winery business. He will explain how he reinvented himself, launched a business creatively with minimal outside funds, and pursued his passions. In addition, he will share his thoughts on how entrepreneurs can help save our region.
Closing Remarks: Eric Stief, technology principal, Technology Commercialization Office, Wayne State University, and Leslie Lynn Smith, general manager, TechTown
Panel Session topics
Panel speakers will include more than 20 local entrepreneurs and startup company experts, including the following.
How to Market and Advertise in a Lean Launch - 9:20-10:20 a.m.
"Lean" means getting where you need to be with as little time and money as possible. This panel will discuss strategies for marketing and advertising in a lean launch, and answer the marketing questions that keep you up at night.
- Moderator: Kevin Woods, co-founder, Driven
- Bryan Bandyk, marketing director, Westborn Market
- Dave Engbers, co-founder and director of marketing, Founders Brewing Co.
How to Structure Your Team in a Lean Launch - 9:20-10:20 a.m.
Putting together a solid management team, board of directors and advisors at an early stage in a company’s existence is vital. This session will focus on the importance of of a team approach to the company's initial years and its future.
- Moderator: Gary Kendra, Kendra Law Firm
- Kalyan Handique, co-founder, HandyLab; CTO and board member, Becton Dickinson Diagnostic Systems
- David Parsigian, managing partner, Ann Arbor office of Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP
- Lindsay Aspegren, co-founder, North Coast Ventures
- Nicholas Cocco, managing director, River Star LLC
How to Get Sales in a Lean Launch - 10:30-11:30 a.m.
The number-one challenge for startups is getting traction in the marketplace with sales. The old business model concentrates on optimizing your offering and securing market share. The new Lean Launch method focuses on getting your product or service into the market quickly with a few select customers. This session will explore how you can shorten development lead time and begin selling immediately, reducing your overall launch costs and generating revenue as soon as possible for your company
- Moderator: Mark Lundquist, founder, president and CEO, Fulcrum Edge Inc.
- Gary Nelson, senior managing director, Growth Capital Group
- Mahendra Ramsinghani, managing director, First Step Fund
How to Launch Your Business "on a Dime” Without Sacrificing Image, Quality or Opportunities - 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Take away ideas that you can use to grow your business without having to put everything on the line with the bank or investors. Attendees with walk away with tips, tools and techniques that fellow entrepreneurs practice daily to grow their business without having to borrow thousands of dollars from others.
- Moderator: Duane Marshall, owner, EOS Worldwide
- Joe Ford, co-founder, Netvantage Marketing
- Adam Henige, co-founder, Netvantage Marketing
- Joseph A. Pascaretta, head of marketing and business development, LPIT Solutions Inc.
- Scott Hiipakka, chief service officer and co-owner, Patriot Services Corp.
Student Resource Panel - 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Members of various local organizations will be presenting valuable information about resources available only to current college students. Panelists will highlight entrepreneur classes, networking events and business plan competitions, as well as conferences and training opportunities just for Michigan college students.
- Moderator: Cynthia Finger, serial entrepreneur, Wayne State University
- Lauren Bigelow, executive director, Accelerate Michigan Innovation Competition
- Diane Durance, executive director, Great Lakes Entrepreneur's Quest
- Richard King, Eastern Michigan University
- Maria LaLonde, recruiting specialist, Bizdom U
- Penny Webster, staff attorney and adjunct professor, Wayne State University Law School Small Business Enterprises and Nonprofit Corporations Clinic
- Maximo Felix, student, Wayne State University
- William H. Volz, executive director, Blackstone LaunchPad, Wayne State University
How to Get to Market Fast in a Lean Launch - 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Panelists will share their unique experiences starting their businesses without a strong capital base. Each panelist, representing vastly diverse industries, started his company during different times and with different challenges. Some even started up without a business model, and rather than joining an established industry, created one.
- Moderator: Nolan Gottschalk, founder, Shutterbooth
- Vincent Thomas, founder and CEO, Billhighway
- Paul Chambers, CEO, Core3 Solutions
- Scott Newman-Bale, founding partner, Shorts Brewing Co.
- Chris Ygay, owner, Revitalize Day Spa
How to Thrive in the First Six Months of a Lean Launch - 2:00-3:00 p.m.
This panel will provide participants with real lessons from entrepreneurs who are still surviving their lean launches. Whether it's ideas for
balancing your relationships with co-founders or trying to overcome sales objections, the panelists can give you the view from inside the trenches.
- Moderator: Dan Izzo, training leader, Bizdom U
- Jon Baugh, founder, Dermanaut
- Ken Bloink, co-founder, PostEgram
- Judy Davids, co-founder, PostEgram
- Antonella Solomon, co-founder, Launch Learning Group
- Roger Williams, co-founder, Launch Learning Group
"Ready in Five" - 9:20-10:20 a.m., 10:30-11:30 a.m., and 2:00-3:00 p.m.
This fast-paced, interactive and very exciting session lets YOU pitch a raw business idea -- no PowerPoints, no samples, no charts -- in just five minutes. In exchange, you'll get candid and helpful responses from a panel of experts. This is a live, no-holds-barred Q&A session typical of investor, banker, consultant and customer meetings, and it will offer valuable information that entrepreneurs need to know. For more information and to register to present YOUR idea during this session, click here.
Agenda subject to change.