Pre-conference Workshops Focus on Burning Issues

Two of the most critical issues in today's tech-based economic development (TBED) involve money — funding for companies and funding for TBED programs. That's why preceding SSTI's 7th Annual Conference, Building Tech-based Economies: From Policy to Practice, two intensive workshops will be held on October 20, 2003, that focus on financing: developing angel organizations to help increase the amount of capital available for entrepreneurial companies and exploring new strategies in financing TBED programs.

Developing Angel Organizations: A Practical Guide

Angel investors, often receiving little press, have provided significant financing of entrepreneurial companies. Experts estimate that, on a cumulative basis, angel investments have been double that of venture capital over the last 30 years. Angels also are financing start-up and early-stage businesses, filling a void left by venture capitalists. In short, angels recognize opportunity exists even in a risk-averse market and are putting up their money as proof, but can they be found or nurtured just anywhere?

Presented by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, this half-day workshop will focus on the development of angel organizations, including a step-by-step process for determining whether or not your community can support an angel organization and, if it can, the organizational type and structure that is right for the involved investors and your community.

Financing TBED: New Times, New Strategies

What alternate sources of funding are best? Earmarks? Foundations? EDA funds? Revenue bonds? Private contributions? Should you privatize? Where do you start?

It can all be a bit intimidating, but after too many rounds of across-the-board cuts, your program's effectiveness could start to bleed. In this intensive full-day session, we'll look at the pros and cons, dos and don'ts, nuances and intricacies of incorporating non-state and alternative state finances into your TBED funding portfolio. We'll draw on the expertise of foundation leaders who have put millions into TBED programs, organizations that can tell the story of securing Congressional earmarks, a lobbyist disclosing how to work with and win over elected officials, and an EDA insider and EDA grant recipients on the process for gaining EDA funding.

Perhaps your TBED program will be one of the lucky ones that escapes the double impact of record federal deficits and the bleak forecast for the states' 2004 fiscal situation. A safer bet is, given the continuing fiscal crisis, if your TBED effort isn't exploring alternate sources of funding, it will be soon.

In addition to the above workshops, SSTI will offer:

Introduction to Tech-based Economic Development

Expanded to a full-day, this interactive workshop is tailored to those professionals new to TBED. Attendance is always limited to a small group to ensure each participant benefits from the personalized session. Engaging, educational and enjoyable, you will discover proven programs and policies for creating technology companies, financing high-tech firms, commercializing technology, and developing productive university-industry partnerships. Attend the session to find out what your peers and colleagues in successful communities and states are doing to build tech-based economies.

These three pre-conference workshops will give participants an honest and eye-opening assessment of the challenges presented, the risks taken, the limitations encountered, the prices paid, the payoffs earned, and the benefits gained in successfully building a tech-based economy. For complete information on SSTI's 7th annual conference on October 21-22, visit http://www.ssti.org/conference03.htm [expired].