PORTLAND
Join Mainebiz on Thursday, June 14 for the Mainebiz Executive Insights forum designed to help and inspire entrepreneurs who want to start up, grow and be successful in business.
“This year’s topic is New Ventures: Ideas and advice for entrepreneurs and start-ups. Our goal is to provide insight and resources to the Maine start-up and entrepreneur business community,” said Donna Brassard, Mainebiz publisher.
Mainebiz will kick-off the program with lunch and national keynote speaker Janae Duane, co-author of “The Start-Up Equation.” For more than 20 years, Ja- Naé Duane focused on one mission: make life better for as many people as possible. The award-winning innovator has done that by focusing on revolutionary ideas and developing programs that impact our world.
Currently, Ja-Naé is the co-founder of The Revolution Factory, a global network that enables innovation ecosystems in corporations, governments and universities. She has worked with companies such as Samsonite, Constant Contact, Natixis, John Hancock and AIG.
Following the keynote, attendees will have workshop options to choose from at 1 p.m. and then again at 2 p.m.
Under discussion at forum
Workshop session I topics:
— Other people’s money: A guide to fundraising, crowdsourcing and finding equity capital to start or expand your business. Speakers: Sandra Stone, Maine Angels; John Burns, Maine Venture Fund; Joe Migliaccio, MTI.
— Partnerships, LLCs, and ESOPs, oh my: What’s the best way to set up your company? Speakers: Andrea Suter, Pierce Atwood; Matthew Pore, Baker Newman Noyes.
— Mine. Mine. Mine: How to protect your ideas with patents and trademarks. Speaker: Matt Stein, Pierce Atwood.
Workshop session II topics:
— You can’t do it yourself: Innovative ways to recruit and hiring rules to keep you out of trouble. Speakers: Katy Rand, Pierce Atwood; Ed McKersie, Pro Search, Inc. & Live and Work in Maine.
— Show me the money: What investors and banks are looking for. Speakers: Steve Gurin, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust; Diane Sturgeon, U.S. Small Business Administration.
— To market, to market: What you need to know about logistics, shipping and exports. Speakers: Wade Merritt, Maine International Trade Center; Derek Volk, Volk Packaging; Drew Graham, Ship-Right Solutions.
A panel discussion with Maine CEOs will take place from 3-4:15 p.m.
Mainebiz has assembled a panel discussion called “10 Best Ideas for entrepreneurs and new ventures.” The panel consists of Maine CEOs who will share their insight on what worked and what didn’t in their startup experience. The speakers include Sean Sullivan, Maine Brewers Guild and Buoy Local; Becky McKinnell, iBec Creative; Bill Keleher, Kennebec River Biosciences; Allison Lakin, Lakin’s Gorges Cheese, LLC; and David Stone, Forager. The panel will be moderated by Betsy Biemann of CEI.
More information
The Mainebiz Executive Insights forum will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 14, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in South Portland. Tickets are $59 and include lunch and a reception. The Mainebiz Executive Insights forum is sponsored by Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, Maine Technology Institute, and Pierce Atwood.
Visit Mainebiz.biz/EIF to learn more and to register.
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