The Office of Advocacy of the U.S. Small Business Administration invites small business owners, aspiring entrepreneurs and anyone interested in gaining knowledge and insights on how innovative ideas become innovative products and services to a one-day symposium, Small Business and Government: Maximizing Entrepreneurship, Driving Innovation, 9am – 5pm, Wednesday, Sept. 19, in Intiman Playhouse at Seattle Center. The free event is presented as part of The Next Fifty, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, April 21 – Oct. 21, at Seattle Center.
What does a startup company need to succeed? How does government impact the startup process? What is the role of innovation and how do we nurture it? The Office of Advocacy is bringing together entrepreneurs, government officials and academics along with angel investors, venture capitalists and funding innovators to explore these issues.
Symposium participants will drive the content of the day, examining the role small business plays in fostering innovation and entrepreneurial development in our economy. Panel discussions will focus on optimizing the relationship between small business innovators and government, maximizing the impact of entrepreneurial accelerators, and utilizing emerging capital strategies. Jonathan Sposato, Chairman of Seattle-based GeekWire.com and a respected high-tech entrepreneur, will moderate the event. Michael K. Young, President of the University of Washington and noted tech transfer expert, will deliver the keynote address.
Small Business and Government: Maximizing Entrepreneurship, Driving Innovation is co-sponsored by the SBA Office of Advocacy, the Northwest Entrepreneur Network, the Seattle Center Foundation and GeekWire.com. Event information and registration (pre-registration is required) can be found at http://www.sba.gov/advocacy/7496/260591/.
