EntConnect - Denver, CO - March 26th - 29th, 2009
Congratulations to Ariane Tighe who won the HP Media Vault Pro at EntConnect 2008 !
Each attendee had a chance to win the very latest 1.5TB HP Media Vault Pro, a $799 value, compliments of HP. Check out the specifications of this incredible product. The HP Media Vault Pro is easy Network Storage, best suited for small businesses or workgroups that need to protect critical business files and other data on their PCs, and want a central location to share files with across their network.
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Learn. Share. Grow. Experience something different in a conference...
... join a unique group of thought leaders and entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurial Connections (EntConnect) |
At EntConnect, you'll have a great opportunity to meet people who run their own companies. You will learn and share personal successes. Just as important, you'll learn about other's failures and how to avoid them.
You will connect with new customers, suppliers, partners, mentors, and friends -- many who share your challenges and dreams.
Maybe you own your own company... or hope to one day. Attendees always rave about the value of learning from each other.
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Need a single word to describe EntConnect? Serendipity. You'll discover something you're not expecting. Why? |
Because EntConnect is unique -- it's not a giant, formal, white-washed conference with two dozen talking heads. It builds on a rich history and a focus that has been honed since 1992. You will enjoy a unique "unconference" and "open conference" experience. You help set the agenda. You help pick the topics that interest you.
The conference runs from Friday evening until Sunday early afternoon. There is great a mixture of:
- Formal sessions -- speakers share ideas and spark discussion
- Informal/open sessions -- a chance for you to network with new friends and share ideas in small groups
- After hours events -- both informative and fun; some held at the hotel bar and some in the meeting room
- Relaxing encounters -- structured, optional events that provide fun and chill time
Part of the fun of EntConnect is building the agenda around the attendee's needs. Here is an outline of the preliminary 2009 agenda which gives you an idea of how the conference is structured:
- Thursday March 26th:
- Optional ski outing (details at right)
- Après-ski (details at right)
- Friday March 27th:
- Optional go-cart racing, skeet shooting, indoor skydiving (details at right)
- 6:30pm dinner (better described as an Italian Feast!) at Valente's Restaurant in nearby Wheat Ridge. Menu includes antipasta, rigatoni, meatballs, sausage, Italian wine, and much more. (Cost is $35.)
- 9:00pm: Informal gathering in hotel bar
- Saturday March 28th:
- Conference presentations - mini tradeshow 9am - 6pm
- 6pm-8:00pm: Form up into like-minded groups and head out to dinner at a nearby restaurant
- Conference presentation 8:00pm - 9:30pm
- Saturday 9:30pm-?: Texas Hold 'em poker tournament -- back by popular demand! Assorted beers and great conversations until the last of us head off to bed.
- Sunday March 29th:
- Conference 9am - 2pm
- Optional: Late, informal lunch 2pm-4pm
What are the topics at the conference? What will I learn? We're always open and flexible on the conference content. Check out the 2008 Schedule for and example of the kinds of the topics and speakers you'll find at EntConnect. Here's a brief description of what we had at the 2008 conference:
- Intellectual Property by Howard Keating, CEO of Zana Network Networking Tools for Small and Medium Businesses
- Rob McNealy of Startup Story Radio, a popular radio program and podcast about entrepreneurship.
- Steve Schmutzer of Firefly Medical will present "Ten Lessons I've Learned about Being an Entrepreneur"
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- Nathan Seidle of SparkFun Electronics will tell us about growing his electronics business from a college dorm room to 30+ employees in 4 years.
- Garry Skinner, CTO of Electronic Solutions, will tell us about his new zero-energy home that was profiled in EcoTech on the Discovery Channel.
- Search engine optimization and marketing by a former Googler and EntConnect veteran, Court Rye.
- Accounting software for small businesses -- what makes a good system? From QuickBooks consultant and expert, Leonard Zerman.
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation from Gary Lundquist of InnoSearch.
- Bill French will speak about web gadgets, what they are, how to create them, and how to use them to grow your company.
- Sales and Marketing advice from from Dave Shaver of NeoTool
- What is your company exit strategy?
- Do you own your company or does it own you? .
- ... and your topics!
If you have a presentation you'd like to make to the group, or a request for a topic you'd like to hear this year, please contact John Gaudio.
In summary: EntConnect is not a fancy conference with highly paid speakers. Rather it's a group of like-minded entrepreneurs who love getting together, learning from one another, and having a great time in the process. Please join us.
PS: Your conference registration is backed by our Ultimate EntConnect Guarantee:
You will be completely delighted with EntConnect or your entire registration fee will be refunded.
PPS: Registration links are at the top right of this page. Conference rate and hotel information is below.
