How to generate interest in a start-up -Thursday workshop will offer ideas for linking investors with entrepreneurs

By Greg Stiles - Mail Tribune - 2/14/07

The local business and investing community will soon have a new avenue for
promoting start-up companies. Oregon Entrepreneurs Network in collaboration
with the Southern Oregon University Small Business Development Center will
trumpet the idea during a breakfast workshop from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Thursday at
the Rogue Regency Inn. "We're hoping to inform and get the business
community involved so we can get entrepreneurs working with investors and
other people who can support their efforts," says Susan Nabbefeld, Oregon
Entrepreneurs Network's regional coordinator. "Hopefully, the business
people will see the value that entrepreneurs can add to their community and
tell the folks they work with about what we're doing." One of the outcomes
of the session, says Jack Vitacco, director of SOU's Small Business
operation, is the start of Pub Talks next June. Pub Talks, whose name is
derived from meeting places such as McMenamins in the Portland area, have
caught on in both the upper Willamette Valley and Central Oregon as a place
where new companies can present their ideas to local businesses and
investors. Advertisement

Nabbefeld says eight to nine such events have taken place during the past
five years in Bend. "The format has a keynote speaker and an early-stage
company presenter," she says. "There have been 55 to 60 early-stage
companies present their business plans in a forum before other
entrepreneurs, angel investors and general service providers in the business
community." A few companies have found funding as a result of the events,
others have developed mentors and board members. "Some have got the feedback
they needed there and others have found their ideas were not feasible or
bankable," Nabbefeld says. "It's a great learning environment." Erick
Petersen will be Thursday's keynote speaker. He is a member of the state's
Small Business Development Center network's Tech Initiative Team which
provides support to high-growth potential companies. Petersen has worked in
sales, marketing, business development and executive positions with
technology businesses, most recently as vice president and general manager
of the Commercial Business Unit at Planar System Inc. Vitacco says the move
to develop Pub Talks in Southern Oregon began last summer, shortly after he
and Southern Oregon Regional Economic Development Inc. chief Ron Foxx
assumed their roles. "The Pub Talk I went to last Thursday in Bend had
between 120 and 140 people," Vitacco said. "This will be a place for small
business bankers, accountants and others to become aware of the
possibilities. We want to try to flush out the potential investors in this
area over the next few months." The Rogue Regency is at 2300 Biddle Road.
For information about Thursday's meeting, call 773-8946 or e-mail
lori@soredi.org. For more information on the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network,
go to www.oen.org or call (503) 860-4699 or e-mail susann@oen.org. Reach
reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4463 or at business@mailtribune.com Would you
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