Eric Spellmann is Bringing Social Media Understanding to SC!

If you've never heard Eric Spellmann speak, you're in for an eye-opening experience!  He's not only the kind of social media, but he's figured out how to explain what to do, when to do it, and how to do it for us mere mortals!  You can hear him speak at the SBDC's "Business Success Extravaganza" on March 24th!

Taking America’s Largest Seed Fund on the Road

By Javier.Saade, SBA Official

Originally Published as News on: February 12, 2015

Javier Saade, SBA Assoc. Admin.
Office of Investment and Innovation

At the SBA, we oversee America’s Largest Seed Fund, formally known as the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.
These highly competitive programs provide the needed impetus for many advanced technology firms to move from ideation to commercialization, supporting our country’s innovation driven economy.  Since the programs’ inception, there have been over 150,000 awards totaling about $40 billion to help this country’s innovators and de-risk technology investments needed to keep our country competitive.   Annually, thousands of American innovators gain access to $2.5 billion in non-dilutive seed capital through the SBIR/STTR programs. While these programs are national in scope, not all communities have fully utilized this opportunity.

We recognize that American innovation is not restricted by geographic boundaries, and to ensure that all of America’s future innovators are aware of this advantageous funding opportunity, SBA and 11 federal agencies are taking the show on the road and embarking on an 18 state SBIR Road Tour.
The SBIR Road Tour “Seeding America’s Future Innovations”, is a nationally focused outreach initiative targeting advanced technology communities, including women-owned and minority-owned firms, in states that have underutilized this funding opportunity. Over the course of 2015, I am glad to announce that more than 20 individual program managers from the 11 participating agencies will travel by motor coach to convey the non-dilutive technology seed fund opportunity.  Each SBIR Road Tour stop is hosted by a local organization committed to supporting technology-based entrepreneurship, and will provide attendees with a coveted local opportunity to hear directly from federal agency program managers, and meet one-on-one with program decision makers.
The first series will take place the week of March 23rd, with stops in Louisville, KY, Nashville, TN, Atlanta, GA, and Columbia, SC.  The next stop is the week of April 27th in Long Beach, MS, Ruston, LA, Oklahoma City, OK, Wichita, KS, and Columbia, MO.  Trips to the North Central region is planned for July and the last to the Northwest in August.

It’s like a rock band tour with a twist - the rock stars are America’s innovators and we want to give you a stage to explore these amazing programs.

 If you’re a small technology firm, innovator, scientist or researcher, I encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity. Since the SBIR/STTR programs inception, it has provided seed funding to companies including Qualcomm, iRobot, Symantec, and Genzyme. Through this outreach initiative, I am confident we will continue to expand on the program’s success, and am excited to see what innovation we seed next.

For more information on the SBIR Road Tour and the SBIR program visit www.sbir.gov.

Student Entrepreneur Competition

TECHNOLOGY INCUBATOR @ KNOWEDGE PARK HOSTS ITS FIRST ENTREPRENEUR COMPETITION

The Technology Incubator @ Knowledge Park is hosting its first Entrepreneur Competition beginning on Friday, February 27^th at 6 pm and finishing on Friday, March 6^th.  This initial competition is specially designed for college students attending Winthrop University, York Technical College, or Clinton College.  In addition, a parallel pilot competition for middle school students in Rock Hill School District Three will also be conducted.  Both the kickoff and final pitch sessions will be held at Whitton Auditorium in Carroll Hall on the Winthrop University campus.

The purpose of this event is to raise awareness for students and the community at large of the importance of entrepreneurship in building the 21st Century economy in Knowledge Park and beyond.  Through the process of holding this event, it is intended that potential local entrepreneurial talent will be identified and cultivated.

Student teams will be challenged to build a business model (using Alexander Osterwalder’s Business Model Canvas) for an innovative idea that could be launched in Knowledge Park. Teams will have one week to research and compile the elements of a business model around their key value proposition.  A panel of judges will hear the pitches from each team entered and determine the winners. 

Cash prizes will be awarded as follows: 1st Place Grand Prize of $1,500, and an 8-week Summer Scholarship to the Technology Incubator; 2nd Place $ 1,000; 3rd Place $500, and  a $500 Special Prize for the most innovative/compelling business concept (that didn’t place).  There is no entry fee for the student teams to compete.  For registration and more details, visit the Technology Incubator Center’s web site: www.tirockhill.org

Business Success Extravaganza 2015!

Unbelievable speakers and instructors ....... fantastic information ....... all for YOU, the business owner determined to succeed!   

We're very excited about this day-long opportunity to learn lessons and hear speakers who've never been available in our area before. Come join us, won't you?!  It will be a day to remember, and information to put into action as soon as you go home!

Register now on our EventBrite registration page.

Business Success Extravaganza 2015 ... March 24, 2015, offered by the Winthrop Region SBDC and Winthrop University

Selling to Federal and State Governments

Course -- Understanding How to Sell to Federal + State Governments

Sponsored by Winthrop Region Small Business Development Center

Tuesday, April 7, 2015 at 6:00 PM - Tuesday, June 16, 2015 at 8:00 PM (EDT)

Rock Hill, SC

This is a 6-session Course taught by export specialist, Richard Speights, on preparing to sell to federal and state governments through government contracting.  Class sessions are held from 6 - 8 pm over a period of 12 weeks, on the following dates:    

• Tuesday, April 7, 2015
• Tuesday, April 21, 2015
• Tuesday, May 5, 2015
• Tuesday, May 12, 2015
• Tuesday, June 2, 2015
• Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Cost for this comprehensive course is $150 Total for all sessions.

For complete details, visit the course registration page at EventBrite:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/course-understanding-how-to-sell-to-federal-state-governments-tickets-15441714584  

For more information, call (803) 323-2283 or email the staff at WinthropRegionalSBDC@gmail.com 

Export University 101 ... Feb. 19, 2015

Export University 101

Rock Hill, South Carolina

February 19^th, 2015 (8 a.m. - 4 p.m.)

Winthrop University, Thurmond Hall

Room 415
1708 Memorial Circle | Rock Hill, SC  29733

Thurmond Hall is located at the intersection of Park Avenue and Memorial Circle, across from Byrnes Auditorium.

Parking is reserved in the parking lot across from Carroll Hall on Ebenezer Avenue

Directions to campus: http://www.winthrop.edu/directions/

Registration fee is $75 per person and includes

breakfast, lunch and all training materials.

This one-day workshop on export sales, finance

and logistics will help you compete globally!

Getting back to the export basics is good business, whether you are new to exporting or an experienced international company. Topics will include:

·         Export sales techniques

·         Letters of credit and other export payment methods

·         Pricing strategies and how to offer financing to your customer

·         Credit insurance to minimize risk and maximize sales

·         Transportation and freight forwarding

·         Practical tips

Who Should Attend?

• Companies currently exporting but want guidance to expand overseas markets and sales.
• Companies new to exporting that want long-term success by avoiding typical, costly mistakes.

Click here to register for Export University 101– Rock Hill, SC  (http://www.sctrade.org/events.html)

Seating is limited for this popular event so registration & payment are required to guarantee a seat.

For more information: contact Anita Patel at 

803-737-0247, APatel@sccommerce.com or Dan Holt, US Small Business Administration, at 704-333-4886 x226, Dan.Holt@trade.gov

Event Sponsors:

For the holidays ...

Ho-Ho-Ho!!  We'll be taking a break from blogging through the holidays ..... we know you're busy with business, decorating, shopping, and most importantly, celebrating with your family. We think you deserve the rest and time to meditate and prepare for the year ahead.  

God bless you ... every one