Sunday, April 19, 2009

The Future of the Entrepreneurs Lounge

The Entrepreneurs Lounge has come a long way. However, it is now time to review the main purpose of the group, the results, but mainly its future. As one of the members of the group put it, we are at a point in which the E-Lounge can wilt down, or it can start a long-term growth where great things will be achieved.

Saturday April 18th, 2009 was an important day for the Entrepreneurs Lounge. 10 very motivated Entrepreneurs got together to form a volunteer-based Board of Directors for the Entrepreneur Lounge. This group will represent the interests of all the members, will volunteer time to organize activities, and will make sure the Entrepreneurs Lounge realizes its vision.

Here are some of the conclusions we reached:

Objectives:

Motivation:  
This focuses on providing members support in their way to entrepreneurship.  Even experienced entrepreneurs need from time to time some motivational support. 
 
Education on strategic and operational:
Entrepreneurs need information and training in a wide variety of aspects, from strategic to very tactical aspects of running a company. We will leverage the knowledge of the members in the group. 

Idea Generation and realization:
Promote the generation of ideas and their realization into ventures.

Networking
Promote networking among group members and other networking groups. 

News and Events:
Provide information on news and events that can be beneficial to members.


Additional goals include supporting the UGA Entrepreneurship program.  After all, this group was born from the UGA Entrepreneurship class in the Fall of 2008.


Volunteers for the Board of Directors Entrepreneurs Lounge:

Andres Garcia  
Michelle Conkle

Brad Wood
Khurram Zia  
Ron Stacey
Travis Klavhon
Dave Sixto
Asif Dave




In the next post I will share more details about the initial meeting.


Monday, April 6, 2009

Entrepreneurs Lounge next meeting

The Entrepreneurs Lounge has come a long way since its inception a few months ago. We now believe that we need to stop and do a more serious and detailed planning of the future of the group in order to meet the needs and interest of all members and to work towards fulfilling our mission to promote entrepreneurship. For that reason, we will be hosting a very important meeting and encourage your attendance and feedback.

When our group was established earlier this yea, the founding members decided upon four key objectives:
Motivate: Encourage current and future entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship as a career choice
Teach: Share knowledge and resources pertaining to the operational challenges of entrepreneurship
Idea Generation: Brainstorming new business concepts
Networking: Connecting professionals with interest and expertise in entrepreneurship


As a next step, we would like to invite volunteers to become part of a Board of Directors for the Entrepreneurs Lounge whose responsibilities will be to help shape the future of the group, define the best ways to implement the strategy and vision of the group, and promote the activities and the group itself.

We are planning our next meeting for Saturday, April 18 at the UGA Gwinnett campus (room TBA) from 10am – 12pm. Please join us if you want to volunteer as a nominee to join the Entrepreneurs Lounge Board of Directors or you simply want to provide your feedback and help define the future of the Entrepreneurs Lounge. Prospective board members should plan on being a core member of the group and to take an active role in the planning, organization and execution of programs and events. Time commitment will average six to ten hours per month.

What do we need from you? Suggestions and feedback! Think about the following questions and plan to discuss at the April 18 meeting.

If you are an experienced entrepreneur, what would you like to see in this group to help you advance your venture?
If you are an aspiring entrepreneur, what do you need to help you make the leap into entrepreneurship?

Examples are:
What workshops/ training programs would you like to see?
What lectures/ speakers would you like to hear?
What type of networking events would you be most interested in?
What other suggestions do you have?

We will continue to promote events sponsored by other local entrepreneurship organizations, such as UGA StartUps, Terry Entrepreneurship, VentureEAT, The Entrepreneurship & Venture Capital Club, and events such as Super Extensive Entrepreneur Lecture Series being presented by Chris Hanks and Jim Beach (http://www.internationalentrepreneurship.com/super_seminar.asp).

Please contact Michelle Conkle m_conkle@bellsouth.net or Andres Garcia agarcian@uga.edu with any questions.