[:en]SBA Veteran Small Business Resource Brief[:]
2023-05-05 10:00 - 11:00 UTC
Veteran-owned firms represent a unique force within the American economy. Veterans own approximately 2.4 million small businesses or 9 percent of all small firms in the U.S. In addition, some 200,000 veteran-owned firms are owned by service-connected disabled veterans.
Veteran entrepreneurs play an incredibly important role in the U.S. economy, and therefore special programs have been created to assist veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses start and grow.
The objective of this brief provides information on the different resources and resource partners the SBA provides for active duty, reservists, and all era veterans and their family members including:

No-cost resources and assistance
Access to Capital
Government Contracting
SBA Veterans Certification

This webinar is not being recorded and materials are only shared with attendees

[:en]TAX BASICS 101[:]
2023-05-10 11:00 - 13:00
Event Details
No one wants a “friendly” letter from the IRS. Taxes are an important part of starting a business and it’s not as difficult as you think! But where do you start?
How should I set up my business: as a sole proprietor, LLC, corporation, or partnership? What can I deduct and how do I track my expenses? How do I report my business income and expenses?
This webinar will answer all of these questions and more!

Additional Information
To learn more, visit SCORE website.

Special Instructions
Please click ‘Learn More’ to register in SCORE event.

[:en]Legal Compliance for Posting, Marketing, and Selling[:]
2023-05-16 13:00 - 14:00
About this event

With more than 300 million people online, it’s estimated that 1 in 3 Americans use the Internet regularly. The biggest reason for the Internet’s popularity is its accessibility. Compared to other forms of media, the web is cheap, easy to navigate, and lets you reach millions of people at little to no cost.
BUT, to succeed in the world of online business, you need a solid understanding of the legal hoops you’ll need to jump through. We are excited to be joined by Marie Smith, Cofounder and Chief Information Officer at Data 360, who will thoughtfully guide you through everything you need to know to market and sell online without legal troubles.
Key Takeaways:

The differences and similarities between data security, data privacy, data protection, and data compliance
The new rules for online marketing and sales in the U.S. and E.U.
FTC compliance and consumer protection laws
Other laws and regulations that influence online marketing and sales

OUR SPECIAL GUEST

Marie Smith
Chief Information Officer and Co-Founder at Data 360
Marie is a prolific leader, advisor, coach and mentor who works and advocates locally, regionally and nationally for digital and technology literacy, closing the economic gap using technology and ethical, equitable and explainable AI. See more of her work here!

[:en]Financial Power[:]
2023-05-19 14:00 - 16:00
Join us for an informative session on understanding credit and reading credit reports. This event is designed to help you gain a better understanding of your credit score and how it affects your financial health.
Our expert speakers will guide you through the basics of credit, including what factors affect your credit score and how to maintain a good credit score. You’ll also learn how credit reports are created, what information they contain, and how to read and interpret them.
By the end of this event, you’ll have a better understanding of how to manage your credit responsibly, how to dispute errors on your credit report, and how to take steps to improve your credit score.
Don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity to gain financial literacy and take control of your credit. Register now to secure your spot!

[:en]Lending + Lenders[:]
2023-05-24 08:00 - 17:00 | Mni Sota Fund, 817 South 5th Street, Minneapolis, MN, 55415
Thinking about how to become more financially secure? Our financial wellness class has something to offer everyone no matter your budget. In this class we offer topics such as:

Building a healthy economy

Developing a spending plan

Working with Checking and Savings accounts

Understanding credit and your credit report

Using credit

Being a smart consumer

Register at: https://www.tfaforms.com/4970466?session=a168a00000691ZQAAY

[:en]Essential Elements of a Successful Business[:]
2023-05-26 12:30 - 13:30
About this event

Entrepreneurs leading businesses of all kinds face steep challenges managing each part of the company, from developing a strategic plan to handling day-to-day operations. Balancing these competing demands while maintaining focus on the company’s goals can be difficult and overwhelming, especially for first-time entrepreneurs. Sometimes it can feel like you’re missing a crucial piece of the puzzle that connects it all into a clear strategy forward. Thankfully, there is a reliable framework we can all lean on.
Join us for a lively conversation with Marcus Whitney, founding partner at Jumpstart Health Investors, who will guide you through an easy-to-follow and widely applicable framework for developing an order of operations that connect the essential elements of a successful business logically. You’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of the impact of each element on your business outcomes and how you can leverage them as one for long-term success!
Key Takeaways:

Learn a universal template for starting any kind of business
Understand the priorities every successful business runs on
Find your strong points and weak points quickly to fill gaps and avoid failure

OUR SPECIAL GUEST

Marcus Whitney
Founding Partner of Jumpstart Health Investors
Marcus Whitney is a Founding Partner of Jumpstart Health Investors (JHI), the most active early-stage healthcare venture capital firm in America. Of JHI’s funds, Marcus leads Jumpstart Nova, the first healthcare venture fund in America investing exclusively in Black-founded and led startups.
Marcus is also co-founder and minority owner of Major League Soccer team, Nashville Soccer Club.
Marcus is the author of the Amazon #1 best-selling book “Create and Orchestrate“, about claiming your Creative Power through entrepreneurship. His work has been featured by Entrepreneur, CNBC, Inc., NPR, Fast Company, and The Atlantic.
Marcus is an Aspen Health Innovators Fellow, and a member of the board of the Healthcare Finance Management Association, Celtic Bank, the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum, the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation, OZ Arts, and Scott Hamilton CARES.
Marcus actively competes in Jiu Jitsu, is an IBJJF World Master Champion, and trains on the competition team at Renzo Gracie Nashville under Shawn Williams. He is married and has two adult sons.

[:en]Investment with Shawn Spruce[:]
2023-05-27 10:00 - 11:00 | Mni Sota Fund, 817 South 5th Street, Minneapolis, MN, 55415
Mni Sota Fund will be hosting Shawn Spruce, a consultant of First Nations Oweesta, to teach an investment class that will include information on how to invest in stocks, bonds, retirement, cryptocurrency etc

[:en]WORK OF ART: GRANT WRITING[:]
2023-05-30 18:00 - 20:30
Event Details
This workshop is a part of the 12-part Work of Art: Business Skills for Artists series, a professional development curriculum designed to teach business skills to artists in all disciplines. Artists can take the whole series, or individual workshops that best suit their needs.

Additional Information
To learn more, click here.

Special Instructions
Please click ‘Learn More’ to register in Springboard for the arts event.

[:en]Empowering Your Cred[:]
2023-06-02 14:00 - 16:00 | Mni Sota Fund, 817 South 5th Street, Minneapolis, MN, 55415

[:en]ACCOUNTING BASICS - WHAT EVERY SMALL BUSINESS OWNER NEEDS TO KNOW[:]
2023-06-03 09:30 - 12:00 | 10945 Reed Hartman Highway Room 105, Blue Ash, OH 45242
Event Details
Part 1 – Accounting Basics:
– Fundamentals – Cash In/Out – What to Track, Reports – How to Read – What’s Important, Explain Balance Sheet – P&L -Cash Flow, Budgets – Why & How, and Business Plan Financials – Tie it All together.
Part 2 – Bookkeeping & Accounting Software:
– Accounting Software – QuickBooks, etc., Purpose & Use of Bookkeeping Tools, Selection Criteria – Important Do’s & Don’ts, When to Use Outside Resources and Next Steps.

Additional Information
To learn more, click here.

[:en]Starting Line Capital Pathways Workshop Session[:]
2023-06-08 12:00 - 13:00
About this event

Starting Line Capital Pathways Toolkit will help you identify capital types that best support your leadership style; prioritize learning goals for follow-on capital exploration; and anchor to your vision and crystallize ultimate success for you as a business leader. We invite you to connect to your biggest dream for your business and begin pursuing capital from this perspective –letting your needs and values as a founder drive capital exploration.
A Capital Pathway is a comprehensive way of looking at how you’re bringing money into your company not just in the short-term, but what comes before a capital funding moment and what comes after. You can think of Capital Pathways as a preview of how types of money or “capital models,” work (or don’t work) into helping you achieve your business vision. Resources in this Toolkit to help you include: interactive exercises; Starting Line Capital Considerations Map (customized for your leadership priorities); glossary of key terms; and resources by capital type.

[:en]Exit Optionality Bootcamp[:]
2023-06-14 11:00 - 15:00
About this event

Join fellow founders, CEOs, CFOs, General Counsels, and their teams at this exclusive webinar designed to help private companies better understand how to set the foundations for a successful exit. The market volatility seen in early 2023 has slowed down the market for IPO and M&A, giving companies thinking about listing more time to prepare and strategize. Our experts will share ways to avoid pitfalls and strategies for a successful transition to being a public company.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
This Bootcamp is intended for any executive who is involved in devising and/or executing an IPO – from CEO, CFO, COO, CTO, Chief Counsel, General Counsel – to leaders and the teams who are responsible for identifying and managing an IPO.
Space is limited; please RSVP to ensure your spot!
AGENDA
9:00AM – 9:30AM – Market Update & Analysis by Bank of the West BMO
9:30AM – 10:30AM – Cash Management
This panel will cover:

Understanding and forecasting your cashflow cycle
Strategies for improving sales and customer relations
Solutions and opportunities to enhance your cashflow
How bank relationships can help your business grow

10:30 AM-10:35AM – BREAK
10:35AM-11:40 AM – IPO Readiness
This panel will cover:

Company requirements to qualify for IPO
How pre-IPO companies should think about investor engagement
Best practices for managing an IPO deal team
Strategies to guide you during a delay in a public offering

11:40 AM-11:45AM – BREAK
11:45AM-1:00 PM – M&A Readiness
This panel will cover:

Update on the current M&A environment
Best practices to position yourself for future M&A opportunities
Strategies to execute a successful transition
Case studies of successful M&As

*The same zoom link will be used across all the panels

[:en]Milestone Circles Open House[:]
2023-06-20 11:00 - 12:00
About this event

We are excited to invite you to this open house intended to share more about the Milestone Circles program!
In this informative session, you will learn about Milestone Circles, a 12-week immersive program experience designed to help women entrepreneurs address critical business needs through milestone accomplishments and a support network of peers, mentors, and supporters. More information can be found below.
The Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center is a leading nonprofit building a better path for entrepreneurs worldwide by improving inclusion, access, and knowledge in entrepreneurship.
In the last 7 years, we’re honored to have supported over 70,000 entrepreneurs worldwide, 52% women and 67% entrepreneurs of color, with 1,100+ free business and mentorship programs requested by entrepreneurs just like you!
We’re committed to investing in the individuals taking big risks to solve problems in new ways. Join us for this information session to learn more about our different programs. We’ll share how the program came to life, talk through the application process, walk through the exact steps to get started, and answer any questions you have!

Milestone Circles
Women Business Owners, this is for you!
Milestone Circles help entrepreneurs revitalize their vision for their business, set a critical business milestone and build a network of support to help them today and in the future.
Each 12-week program brings you together with a group of peers and coach facilitator to:

Gain focus and greater confidence for your vision
Strategize and plan business priorities for the next quarter
Gain peer and mentor support through working groups and classes

This program is free for entrepreneurs and made possible thanks to the generous support of Wells Fargo. Wells Fargo remains dedicated to supporting small businesses and recently launched a program designed specifically for women entrepreneurs, Connect to MoreSM, as they continue to invest in the success and sustainability of women-owned small businesses.
What is a milestone? An important goal you’ve set for your business that takes time, tenacity, and more than a little creative thinking to attain; it’s an achievement that signals your business is on its way to the next stage of growth.
Who should apply? Women business owners seeking to grow their entrepreneurial mindset and skillsets to expand their business. Entrepreneurs will be matched in our ongoing, virtual 12-week circles based on the entrepreneur’s vision, needs, and stage of development.
How do I apply? Fill out an application which are reviewed on a rolling basis. Upon acceptance, you will be matched with a group of incredible women entrepreneurs who will help propel your business to the next level.

[:en]HR Foundations: Building a Thriving Team from Solopreneurship[:]
2023-06-21 11:00 - 12:00
About this event

When you’re a solopreneur leading a high-growth business, expanding your team can be an exciting yet challenging endeavor. At a high level, you might be limited by financial, resource, or time constraints that divert your attention away to other critical tasks. But bringing on new team members introduces a whole host of new complexities for your business: How do you find people who align with your vision and values? How do you establish effective communication and collaboration channels to ensure smooth workflow? What is required to build trust in the abilities of new team members, letting go of some control in favor of delegation?
Join us for an empowering discussion in collaboration with the Veteran Women’s Enterprise Center (VWEC) as we delve into the essentials of building a thriving team from solopreneurship through the employment of scalable HR structures. You’ll walk away with proven techniques for attracting and retaining a diverse and skilled team that will continue to drive your business forward, as well as the confidence you’ll need as a leader to guide your team through future stages of growth!
Key Takeaways:

The ins and outs of bringing on your first new team member
How to get a person unknown to you (not a friend or family member) to join your team
HR policies and procedures to protect yourself and your business legally
Strategies for developing meaningful company culture and systems of support for team members

[:en]Gain Traction While Mitigating Risk[:]
2023-06-23 12:00 - 13:00
About this event

As the founder of an early-stage startup, you’ll face countless challenges in your entrepreneurial journey that will put you and your business to the test. You may struggle with limited access to capital and lack of investor interest. It can be difficult to gain traction due to limited knowledge on market insights that would inform a well-defined sales strategy. Not to mention the complexities that come with bringing your offering to market like finding ways to differentiate yourself in a competitive landscape and establishing scalable marketing and distribution channels. Thankfully, there are some simple yet highly impactful actions you can take to push through it all.
We are excited to be joined by Jason Malki, Founder and CEO of StrtupBoost and SuperWarm, who will guide you through the appropriate steps you can take to mitigate early risk by leveraging no-cost to low-cost strategies. As a founder himself, Jason understands the challenges of leading an early-stage startup to success because he’s experienced them first-hand. He will share lessons he’s learned from his personal journey as well as from other entrepreneurs he’s worked with and been inspired by. Join us for this optimistic and insightful conversation!
Key Takeaways:

Fundraising Strategy: how to properly prepare yourself and your business to raise capital, intentional distribution of the funding you receive across business functions.
Sales Strategy: content creation, customer engagement and feedback, LinkedIn and Email communications.
Go-to-Market Strategy: how to find product-market fit and leverage the insights gained to better prepare for launch.

OUR SPECIAL GUEST

Jason Malki
Founder & CEO, StrtupBoost.com, Co-Founder & CEO, SuperWarm.AI
Jason Malki is the Founder & CEO of StrtupBoost, a 30K+ member startup ecosystem and agency that helps across fundraising, marketing, and design and SuperWarm, and AI matching platform for Founders and Investors.

[:en]Leveraging Strategic Partnerships with Julie Shen[:]
2023-06-28 13:00 - 14:00
About this event

When you’re a startup with a lean budget, it can be challenging to build up your brand without draining your funds on paid marketing. If you do go that route, competition from established companies with high budgets can make it even more difficult to stand out and form strong, impactful connections with the right people. Instead, you must find innovative ways to grow your distribution and consumer base… but how?
The Nasdaq Center is delighted to host Julie Shen, Founder and Managing Director of Springstead, for a dynamic session on how leveraging strategic partnerships can take your business to the next level. Join us to learn how to capitalize on your strengths and forge alliances that will fill the gaps in your expertise, all while tapping into your partner’s established networks.
Key Takeaways:

How to determine if it’s the right time for a strategic partnership
How to identify, source, and close strategic partnerships
How strategic partnerships can enrich your brand

OUR SPECIAL GUEST

Julie Shen
Founder, Springstead
Julie Shen is the founder of Springstead, an advisory and consultancy practice working with founders and businesses to grow their initiatives. With a passion for strategy and innovation, she has 16+ years of experience developing and launching new businesses for startups and organizations like Conde Nast and HBO.
Her experience includes team leadership, strategy, innovation, business development, strategic partnerships, growth, finance, and business management. Julie has led deals and partnerships attributing to an impact of >$200M and scaled a DTC business to 1M paying subscribers in Year 1. Her thought leadership has been published on Nasdaq, BlogHer, and Create & Cultivate.

[:en]Mastering Outreach: Connecting and Converting for Entrepreneurs[:]
2023-07-07 12:00 - 13:00
For entrepreneurs early in their business journey, outreach can often cause undue stress. Cutting through the noise to capture the attention of potential customers or investors is a daunting task. In addition, balancing immediate tasks with the need to nurture long-term relationships can become a time management challenge. Not to mention, the need to maintain enthusiasm and motivation despite rejection is crucial for sustained outreach efforts. What can entrepreneurs do to make this process more manageable?
Join us for an insightful and actionable session with John Hill, Evangelist at Techstars, to learn how to maximize the impact of your outreach and follow-up efforts. Drawing from his vast entrepreneurial journey working with startups to build relationships, John will show you innovative and compelling ways to stand out from the competition and communicate your value proposition effectively. He’ll also guide you towards a deeper understanding of the ways capital can be used to achieve your primary strategic goals, like funding, talent, customer acquisition, and knowledge sharing. You’ll walk away with the adaptability and resilience to embrace outreach as a meaningful way to build connections for you and your business.
Key Takeaways:

How to identify the right target audience for your communication
How to establish initial connections and build a robust network
How to stand out and capture the attention of the right people
How to maintain a consistent follow-up strategy with limited resources
How to handle rejection and setbacks
How to navigate relational capital to meet your primary needs

OUR SPECIAL GUEST

John Hill
Keynote Speaker,TechStars

[:en]Discover Your Value[:]
2023-07-07 14:00 - 15:00
Understanding your worth in financial terms translates into more areas of your life than you may realize. If you do not understand your value around money, it can be difficult to manage well. In this two hour class we reflect on your current mindset with money, how your upbringing has influenced your money habits and discuss how these may be good bad or neither to change for your future money culture.

[:en]Amplify and Grow your Business and Personal Brand[:]
2023-07-11 13:00 - 14:00
LinkedIn has seen a significant uptick in utilization by businesses for marketing and sales purposes, and it’s no surprise why. With its expanding user base and robust professional networking features, LinkedIn has emerged as a powerful platform for connecting with targeted audiences and generating valuable leads that drive business growth. So, what can women entrepreneurs start doing now to leverage all that LinkedIn has to offer to continue leading their ventures to success?
Join us for an empowering session with Anne Stills, CEO and Founder of Smashing Daily, who will equip you with the knowledge and tools necessary to create a strong online presence, attract your target audience, and establish thought leadership in your industry on LinkedIn. You’ll walk away with a framework for understanding the needs, challenges, and interests of your target audience, what type of content resonates with them, and how to bring the two together to spark meaningful conversations.
Key Takeaways:

How to optimize your LinkedIn profile to reach All-Star status
How to grow your network and engage with your community
How to create content that attracts your ideal customers

OUR SPECIAL GUEST

Anne Stills
Founder + CEO of Smashing Daily, LLC
Anne Stills is the Founder + CEO of Smashing Daily, LLC, a global image consulting and personal branding boutique firm established in 2014 in New York City. The firm specializes in image management, personal branding, and signature style consulting. She caters to ambitious modern female professionals who understand the significance of projecting a powerful authentic personal brand image and aspire to become dynamic communicators leading with confidence and impact. Anne has over 25 years of corporate experience in executive sales, marketing, and training across multiple industries such as airline, hospitality and financial services. Leveraging her extensive corporate background, she delivers deep value to clients and guides them to define and refine their executive presence, personal brand and leadership skills. She grooms today’s executives and tomorrow’s rising stars to create a unique, memorable, and sustainable personal brand image.

[:en]Capital Strategy: Find and Secure the Right Capital Optionality[:]
2023-07-13 13:00 - 14:00
One of the primary obstacles early-stage entrepreneurs face is the lack of awareness around the complex landscape of capital options. With limited exposure to sources of financing, early-stage entrepreneurs may struggle to identify which option aligns best with their business goals and growth trajectory. Additionally, the ability to build relationships with potential investors or lenders and demonstrate market potential and a strong value proposition can be difficult with limited resources and competition. For underrepresented entrepreneurs, these obstacles can unfortunately be greater. What can be done to overcome these challenges?
The Center is thrilled to be joined by Geri Stengel, President at Ventureneer, for an important conversation on capital strategy. Geri understands the unique capital challenges that entrepreneurs of all kinds face and has worked with thousands to help them align their vision with their strategic goals. Her insight will provide you with a framework to make informed decisions around your capital needs so that you and your business can remain on a sustainable trajectory of success. Join us to learn how best to assess your options and secure the capital your business needs to grow and succeed.
Key Takeaways:

Aligning your capital needs with your vision, your values and your ‘why’.
How to clearly identify your strategic goals before exploring capital options.
How to find and secure the right capital option for your business.

OUR SPECIAL GUEST

Amy L. Simmerman
A Wilson Sonsini Practice Leader
A leader of Wilson Sonsini’s Delaware office and governance practice
Comprehensive Experience in Delaware Law
Amy’s practice focuses on providing advice on all aspects of Delaware corporate law and related corporate governance issues, including fiduciary duties, mergers and acquisitions, stockholder activism, corporate formation, stock issuances, preferred stock investments, and various statutory matters
Amy Simmerman is a partner in the Wilmington, Delaware, office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. Amy is a leader of the firm’s Delaware office and governance practice. Her practice focuses on providing advice on all aspects of Delaware corporate law and related corporate governance issues, including fiduciary duties, mergers and acquisitions, stockholder activism, corporate formation, stock issuances, preferred stock investments, and various statutory matters. Amy regularly represents special committees of boards of directors in mergers and acquisitions, internal investigations, and other matters, and she provides corporate advice in the context of governance litigation.
Amy frequently speaks and publishes on Delaware law and governance issues and has guest lectured at Harvard Law School, the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and UC Hastings College of the Law. Within Delaware, she has served on a committee of the Council of the Corporation Law Section of the Delaware State Bar Association to vet potential amendments to the Delaware General Corporation Law. Amy is also a member of the Board of Advisors of the Institute for Law and Economics at the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Founder and President, Ventureneer
“A baby boomer with the heart and soul of a millennial” describes Geri best. She grew up believing that dedicated, thoughtful people can change the world by working together.
She is a believer still. In fact, Geri is even more committed to the possibility of meaningful change because she realizes that we have a huge, untapped resource: Women!
For the last few years, Geri has researched and written about the challenges women face in the entrepreneurial world and the success factors that help them break through barriers, whether they are starting a business or scaling to a multi-million dollar enterprise.
Geri’s passion to get women on the radar as leaders of mega-firms led her to write Forget the Glass Ceiling: Build Your Business Without One. To find out best practices for investment crowdfunding — a great alternative for women entrepreneurs! — Geri undertook a successful rewards-based crowdfunding campaign herself and published the results in Stand Out in the Crowd: How Women (and Men) Benefit from Equity Crowdfunding [add link]
Geri is a questioner and a builder, and is passionate about eliminating barriers to entrepreneurial aspirations.
Geri’s accomplishments include:

Mentor for WE NYC: 2016 to present
2015 Madam C.J. Walker Business Leadership Award from the National Minority Business Council.
2013 and 2012 Small Business Trends Small Business Influencer
Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at The New School
Facilitator, Kauffman Foundation FastTrac courses for entrepreneurs
Researched and published Ditch Digital Dabbling: How Small Businesses + Nonprofits Can Master Online Marketing
Former board member for the New York City Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners. Was on the board for eight years.

[:en]Cultivating an Entrepreneurial Mindset of Success[:]
2023-07-18 14:00 - 15:00
You dream of being comfortable in your own skin. You dream of more influence, income, and success. Yet the constant doubt and nagging thoughts of what could go wrong are holding you back. Are there times when you feel overwhelmed by your inner critic and powerless to change your situation? Do you feel like you’re doing everything recommended to grow your business but you’re still not seeing the results you expect? Let’s get you a clear vision and compelling mission that becomes both your master plan AND your superpower.
Join us for an uplifting conversation with Meshell Baker, Founder and Owner of Meshell Baker Enterprises, who will show you how to cultivate a mindset that is focused and committed yet unleashed from the negative self-talk that’s limiting your progress. Meshell will share stories from her own business journey and others she’s witnessed to demonstrate how a confident mindset can lead to unparalleled outcomes. You’ll walk away with a universal framework for turning setbacks into opportunities so that you and your business can stay on a trajectory of success!
Key Takeaways:

Replace negative self-talk and become your own #1 fan
Repurpose mistakes as opportunities to learn
Respond and leverage problems as opportunities to grow

OUR SPECIAL GUEST

Meshell Baker
Owner/Founder | Meshell Baker Enterprises
Meshell Baker the Chief Confidence Igniter has been described as “a breath of fresh air” and “the power of her story combined with her passion and enthusiasm is enough to make anyone want to tap into their potential.” She masterfully guides audiences to embrace challenges as new chapters that enhance their capabilities. Encourages moving away from “trying” to sell and towards value-add conversations that confidently communicate win-win for all involved!
Meshell is the gift of clarity empowering women around the globe to ignite confident belief and enable their people to develop high-performance resilience and unstoppable confidence. She is renowned for her value-based and no-nonsense approach to sales and business success. Meshell has phenomenal results, accolades, and awards and has compiled an incredible track record of raving recommendations with clients over the past 25+ years. She is on a mission to ignite “confident belief” in as many women as possible.

[:en]Unpacking Debt[:]
2023-07-21 14:00 - 15:00 | Mni Sota Fund, 817 South 5th Street, Minneapolis, MN, 55415
Join us in exploring the difference of “good” vs ‘bad” debt, what types of expenses you may incur each month, and how to help yourself create a manageable debt load.

[:en]SAVE TIME AND MONEY WITH SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT TOOLS[:]
2023-07-26 09:00 - 10:00
Event Details
All of the emphasis on social media may leave you feeling like managing your brand is a full-time job! While it’s true, there is also another, sustainable way for you to part-time manage your social media presence without sacrificing too much of your time and energy. In this session, we’ll go over free or cheap tools that can help you save time in content creation and posting, as well as some best practices for maintaining a mentally healthy approach to social media.

Additional Information
To learn more, click here.

Special Instructions
Please click ‘Learn More’ to register in ECDI event.

[:en]HOW TO IDENTIFY HIGH-POTENTIAL FOUNDERS: INSIGHTS FROM A GLOBAL ACCELERATOR[:]
2023-08-01 11:00 - 12:30
Event Details
The greatest variable in the success or failure of a startup is the Founder, especially at the earliest stages. Still, most investors and accelerators rely on old-fashioned interviews and ‘gut feeling’ to judge Founders. At this live event, Jonathan Greechan (Co-Founder and CEO of Founder Institute) will share insights from FI’s Entrepreneur DNA Assessment, leveraging 14+ years of data and research of top-tier Founders. If you are interested in learning how your organization can make better investment decisions based on social science, you won’t want want to miss this.

Additional Information
To learn more, visit The Founder Institute website.

Special Instructions
Please click ‘Learn More’ to register in The Founder Institute event.

[:en]Bootstrap Your Business to Success[:]
2023-08-02 11:00 - 12:00
When and where

Date and time

Wednesday, August 2 · 11am – 12pm CDT

Location

Online

About this event

1 hour
Mobile eTicket

For early-stage founders, access to funding is crucial to keep the business operating efficiently. Oftentimes, these founders are more intrigued by investor support than other sources of capital and center their strategic goals around securing that support. The problem is that many founders view raising investment as a way out of their problems instead of as a key driver to scaling their business. Thus, they have forgotten how to play the game of business. That’s where bootstrapping comes in.
The Nasdaq Center is delighted to be joined by Emma Joy Obanye, CEO of OneTech, to cover the key elements and best practices of bootstrapping effectively in 2023. Drawing from her vast experience as a founder, Emma will demonstrate why now is a good time to bootstrap and how evaluating your business like an investor can help you develop an bootstrapping strategy that will sustain your business as it continues to grow. Join us to gain actionable guidance on developing and executing your bootstrapping strategy.
Key Takeaways:

How bootstrapping can be an effective driver for business growth and sustainability
How to evaluate your business like an investor to create a strong bootstrapping strategy
How to execute your bootstrapping strategy with success

OUR SPECIAL GUEST

Emma Joy Obanye
CEO – OneTech
Emma Joy Obanye is an entrepreneur, advisor, mentor and tech geek from Hackney (in the UK) and has spent the last 18 years building products and leading teams in tech for both corporates and startups.
On a mission to make the UK tech startup ecosystem more inclusive, diverse and equitable, Emma leads OneTech as CEO, which has supported over 3000 individuals with access to knowledge, networks and funding to start and scale their businesses.
An entrepreneur herself, Emma does this whilst splitting her time between OneTech and her new venture The Startup Game, an app and board game about the journey of entrepreneurship.
Emma previously co-founded and exited the award-winning, music-focused loyalty and influencer platform BuddyBounce. Emma was recognised by the Inclusive Boards and Financial Times as one of The UK’s top 100 black and minority ethnic leaders and most recently startups magazine as one of the most influential women in 2022.

[:en]Capital Raising Readiness[:]
2023-08-09 12:00 - 13:00
When and where

Date and time

Wednesday, August 9 · 12 – 1pm CDT

Location

Online

About this event

1 hour
Mobile eTicket

Investor funding can empower startups with essential resources and strategic guidance, but navigating this complex landscape with so many equity options can present itself with challenges. Thankfully, there are resources to help entrepreneurs make sense of it all. The Center is thrilled to be joined by the U.S. Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) to explore the tools they have created to help early-stage entrepreneurs prepare to raise capital. These resources will help you better understand the fundamentals of raising capital as well as the various regulatory pathways that are available to raise capital from investors. You’ll walk away with insights into where capital is being raised and used, as well as a clear understanding of how your business needs to be registered with the SEC in order to offer or sell securities.
Key Takeaways:

What pathways are available to raise capital from investors
Capital raising challenges
Educational resources to inform each stage of the capital raising journey

For more information, please visit the SEC’s Capital Raising Hub.
OUR SPECIAL GUEST

Julie Zelman Davis
Senior Special Counsel, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation
Julie joined the Office in February 2019 as one of the first team members, overseeing strategic projects and serving as Senior Special Counsel. Prior to joining the Office, Julie served as Senior Special Counsel to the Director of the Division of Corporation Finance, an attorney in the Division’s Office of Small Business Policy, and before that as Deputy Director of the Office of Legislative Affairs at the SEC. Prior to her public service, Julie worked on capital raising transactions at the law firm Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP in Boston, MA.

[:en]Invest in Your Brand with Gwen Murray[:]
2023-08-15 12:00 - 13:00
When and where

Date and time

Tuesday, August 15 · 12 – 1pm CDT

Location

Online

About this event

1 hour
Mobile eTicket

When beginning to think about brand identity, it can be easy for our minds to jump to those visual elements like logo, color palette, and font. While these elements can help support recognition and consistency among brand touchpoints, there’s much more to brand identity than what meets the eye! Identifying and communicating a distinctive and valuable Unique Selling Proposition (USP) is essential to differentiating your brand amidst a crowded market. What can early-stage entrepreneurs do to help their business stand out to the right people?
Join us for a lively conversation with Gwen Murray, Fractional CMO at Up & To The Right Solutions, to explore questions that you can ask yourself as you look to convey your USP and differentiate yourself in the marketplace. Gwen’s experience working with both startups and larger enterprises help to inform a brand strategy that any kind of business can adopt to establish a memorable and competitive presence in the marketplace. You’ll walk away with practical guidance and frameworks on how best to develop your brand identity and create a lasting, emotional connection with your customers.
Key Takeaways:

How investing in your brand now can yield positive outcomes in the future
How to differentiate yourself in today’s crowded market
The crucial elements of brand identity beyond logo, color palette, and fonts

OUR SPECIAL GUEST

Gwen Murray
Fractional CMO, Up & To The Right Solutions
Gwen Murray is a Fractional CMO and Marketing Strategist. It can be hard to manage a holistic marketing strategy when things are moving at a fast and furious pace. With executive level marketing experience from Fortune 500’s (Amazon, Staples, L’Oreal) to smaller technology startups, Gwen helps her clients create GTM strategies that result in increased revenue, drive brand awareness, and generate full-funnel engagement. She started her company, Up & To The Right Solutions to help CEO’s and Founders create innovative campaigns that cut through the noise and show traction.

[:en]IMPRESS INVESTORS WITH YOUR PITCH DECK: A STEP BY STEP SYSTEM[:]
2023-08-16 12:00 - 14:00
Event Details
With the fundraising winter upon us, don’t let your pitch deck be an obstacle to your raise. Join us at this interactive webinar to seriously upgrade your pitch deck! In this session, Sam Eisenberg will share 6 steps to a winning pitch deck- a step-by-step system for crerating pitch decks that will help you build efficiently, effectively, and help your deck win investor attention. After the presentation there we will also have a Q&A and networking session where you can connect with other aspiring entrepreneurs.

Additional Information
To learn more, visit The Founder Institute website.

Special Instructions
Please click ‘Learn More’ to register in The Founder Institute event.

[:en]PRE- CERTIFICATION WORKSHOP[:]
2023-08-22 13:00 - 14:00
Event Details
The Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council (OMSDC) is one of 23 affiliates of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), a nonprofit corporate membership organization that advances business opportunities for its certified Asian, Black, Hispanic and Native American business enterprises and connects them to its corporate members. One of the country’s leading corporate membership organizations, NMSDC was chartered in 1972 to provide increased procurement and business opportunities for minority businesses of all sizes.

Additional Information
To learn more, click here.

Special Instructions
Please click ‘Learn More’ to register in MSDC event.

[:en]SAFETY AND RISK MANAGEMENT…PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS AND PEOPLE[:]
2023-08-24 12:00 - 13:00
Event Details
In this interactive workshop, attendees will gain an introduction to risk management and recognizing hazards, resources to protect their interests and mitigate risk and ideas to kick-start their risk management program.

Additional Information
Visit SCORE website, to learn more.

Special Instructions
Please click ‘Learn More’ to register in SCORE event.
