2009 Annual Conference

“Partnerships & Incubation - Moving Business Forward”

The 2009 conference theme was designed to reflect the ongoing challenge practitioners face when attempting to address the needs of entrepreneurs and small business owners.  It stressed the need for communities to undertake a continuous examination and search for new partnerships and resources to assist entrepreneurs and small business owners.

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Keynote: Gary D. LeClair, Chairman of LeClairRyan (Richmond, VA)  
Presentation:  Business Incubation: A 25 Year Perspective

SESSION 1: LESSONS LEARNED - 2008 “Four Keys to Incubator Success”
This is a recap of the lessons learned from the 2008 conference which focused on the “Four Critical Keys to Incubator Success”.  Incubator professionals who attended the 2008 conference will discuss what they implemented or did differently as a result of the information learned during the conference.

• Lessons Learned by Franklin Business Incubator
  
• Lessons Learned by VT KnowledgeWorks
• Lessons Learned by Hanover County Economic Development
  

SESSION 2: CASE STUDIES IN THE PLIGHT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP
A panel discussion by entrepreneurs who may or may not have used the services of a business incubator and the real world challenges entrepreneurs face when starting and growing their business.  What resources and support services did these entrepreneurs find useful and what would they like in place to assist them now and in the future?

SESSION 3: UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS IN BUSINESS INCUBATION

A panel of Virginia university representatives will discuss their small business engagement programs and business assistance programs and opportunities and how businesses can engage universities.  This session is designed to help attendees appreciate what universities can provide and how to bridge the gap of understanding private sector vs. university expectations.

• University of Virginia's College at Wise
  
• George Mason University and Mason Enterprise Center
  
• James Madison University
  
• Virginia Commonwealth University
  

BREAKFAST
Keynote:     David R. Lohr, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Business Incubation Association (NBIA) & Executive Director and Treasurer of Virginia Biosciences Development Center
Presentation:  The Importance of Growing Our Own Companies

SESSION 4: FINANCING BUSINESS START-UPS
Session focuses on getting companies ready for angel investors and other financing possibilities, e.g. SBIRs and regional grants and loans. Our panelists will address the six biggest mistakes in raising start-up capital along with taking specific questions from the audience regarding financing start-ups and other on-going finance opportunities.

•  Financing Business Startups

SESSION 5: FURTHERING THE ART OF BUSINESS INCUBATION
Encouraging entrepreneurship is a growing business development strategy in America. This session addresses what other states are doing for entrepreneurs and summarizes the outcomes of the VBIA entrepreneur roundtable meetings held in Hampton Roads, Richmond and Northern Virginia.  Each roundtable meeting was held to begin a regional dialog to discuss entrepreneurial support services.  The roundtable meetings delved into the strengths, gaps and opportunities and identified steps to improve services in the coming year.

• Virginia Rural Center
• Roundtable Meeting Results
  
• Furthering the Art of Business Incubation
  

SESSION 6: ECONOMIC GARDENING – ENGAGING YOUR COMMUNITY
This session will explore the concept of “Economic Gardening” which is an economic development effort focused on growing jobs through entrepreneurial activity within the community, region or state.  Economic gardening programs succeed by creating an environment that nurtures entrepreneurs.  Small, local companies are the source of new jobs and wealth, and communities should work to create nurturing environments for these companies.  

• Growing Season in the Blue Ridge Crossroads
  
• Introduction to Economic Gardening