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Conferences and Events

The Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship sponsors a number of educational and outreach events.

Annual Conference

The Annual Conference is a day-long event featuring scholars and policymakers exploring issues relating to entrepreneurship or community development, and discussing the challenges facing small businesses and start-ups.

Entrepreneurial Speaker Series

Several times a year, the Center invites renowned experts from around the country to share their knowledge on business success. All Speaker Series events are free and open to the public and held at the Blake Law Center at Western New England University, typically at 12:00 noon. Lunch will be provided.

Information Sessions

Information Sessions are offered several times a year, presented by established business consultants. Topics have included: forming a legal entity, intellectual property protection, ABCs of nonprofits, marketing research, financing, succession planning, franchising, buying and selling a business, dealing with government red tape, and investor POV.

Information Sessions are held at locations throughout western Massachusetts. They are free and open to the public.

EXTREME Business Makeover

The semiannual EXTREME Business Makeover provides an entrepreneur with a chance to present his or her business plan to a panel of judges, consisting of a venture capitalist, attorney, banker, organizational developer, accountant, marketing professional, and industry insider. On the day of the presentation, in front of an audience, the entrepreneurs receive feedback from the panel. This event offers entrepreneurs and audience members a rare opportunity to hear the point of view of business experts and financiers. The EXTREME Business Makeover is free and open to the public. Lunch is provided.

Transformational - Inclusive Leadership Forum

Cosponsored by UnityFirst.com and the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, this forum is a blueprint for organizational and individual success. Keynote speaker: Randy Dobbs, author and former CEO of General Electric Capital IT Solutions.