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THE IEN WEEKLY CONNECTION
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October10, 2006
In Today's Weekly Connection:
- Midwest Venture Summit 2006
- Angel Investing Continues to Grow
- Business.gov Live Web Chat
- Free Charter Subscriptions to The American
-Workshops forConstruction & Demolition Industry& Building Code Officials
Midwest Venture Summit 2006
We know where you can find the most fundable businesses in the Midwest AND the most successful Venture Capitalists!
Midwest Venture Summit 2006
November 1st
Marriott Hotel Chicago
8:00 – 4:00
www.MidwestVentureSummit.com
Click here and register today!
The Midwest Venture Summit is the only Midwest capital conference presented by Venture Capital firms. These VCs are seeking new investment opportunities and created a venue where companies at different stages of development can present their plans. The Midwest Venture Summit is the place to network with the most active VCs, attorneys and accountants that specialize in early stage companies and entrepreneurs.
The Midwest Venture Summit 2006 will include:
companies that are seeking equity funding in 3 tracks:
1.Series A – D Track –20 companies have been rigorously selected by our panel of VC and coached by experienced entrepreneurs, professionals from the most impressive firms serving growth businesses and VCs.
2.Seed or Angel Track – 15 companies will present. These companies have been vetted by local Angel groups.
3.Business Schools’ Plan Competition- will showcase the winners of 5 Illinois University Business Schools’ Plan Competitions. Each plan will beevaluated by a panel of experienced Angel investors and the best plan will be selected. The winner will receive a $50,000 award from Illinois’ Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to establish the business in Illinois!
VCs who are actively looking for investments – 22 local venture firms are sponsoring the event.
Professional service firms who cater to early stage companies. (See Attached Flyer for more Details).
Angel Investing Continues to Grow
The latest data on angel investing trends from the University of New Hampshire (UNH) shows that the angel investor market remains quite healthy. According to UNH professor Jeffrey Sohl, the value of angel investments reached $12.7 billion over the first two quarters of 2006. The growth rate of these investments was 15% higher than occurred in the first half of 2005. The average size of investments grew (up 22%) as angels backed 24,500 firms in the first half of 2006 – representing a 6% drop from the first half of 2005. ‘Health care and medical devices’ is the hottest sector for angels, accounting for 27% of total deals. Other hot sectors include software, biotechnology, and retail. To learn more, access the University of New Hampshire’s September 20, 2006 press release entitled “Angel Investor Markets Grows in First Half of 2006.” It is available at: www.unh.edu/news/cj_nr/2006/september/lw_092006vc.cfm?type=n (This article is provided in cooperation with the National Dialogue on Entrepreneurship www.publicforuminstitute.org/nde).
Business.gov Live Web Chat
SBA Hosts Business.gov Live Web Chat on How to Stay in Compliance - Business.gov will respond to questions on Thursday, October 12, 2006, from 1 p.m.
to 2 p.m., EDT.
WHAT: Business.gov, a new one-stop compliance Web site for businesses will host the U.S. Small Business Administration’s October Web chat on "How Business.gov Can Help You Stay in Compliance with Federal Regulations." The site helps businesses easily access compliance information, federal forms and compliance contacts from multiple government agencies. The live, interactive Web chat will engage business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs in a national dialogue on how businesses can utilize www.Business.gov to help them save time and money when searching for federal compliance information.
WHEN: October 12, 2006, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. (EDT) Business.gov’s program manager, Nancy Sternberg will answer questions for approximately one hour.
WHY: Business.gov provides business owners with a one-stop Web site that searches the federal government for compliance information and resources. The site finds compliance information from all major U.S. federal government agencies regulating or serving businesses and helps businesses save time and money. Participants will have direct, real-time access to the Web chats via questions they submit online in advance and during the session, with instantaneous answers.
HOW: Participants can join the live Web chat by going online to www.sba.gov, and clicking "Your Small Business Voice Online Chat." Web chat participants may post a question before the October 12 chat by visiting http://app1.sba.gov/liveMeeting/liveSternberg/intro.cfm and posting their questions online.
Free Charter Subscriptions to The American
A new national magazine on the unique mix of business and life in the US will hit the newsstands soon. The American will range widely, focusing on how the spirit of free enterprise and entrepreneurial initiative runs through our national life – from politics and media to culture, art and fashion. Launching in November and publishing six times a year, it promises to combine compelling prose with arresting images. As a special offer to those interested in following the entrepreneurial economy, The American is offering complementary yearlong subscriptions to the first thousand people who sign-up.
To claim your free subscription, visit www.tamagazine.com/comp_sub.php and enter your name and address. (This article is provided in cooperation with the National Dialogue on Entrepreneurship www.publicforuminstitute.org/nde).
Workshops forConstruction & Demolition Industry& Building Code Officials
The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Small Business Environmental Assistance Program along withthe Illinois EPA, Department of Public Health, Emergency Management Agency, Department of Natural Resources andnumerous industry co-sponsors will be holdingsix workshops around the state inJanuary& February to educate the construction industry andother related industriesabout requirements for asbestos, lead,radon, mold,floodplains, endangered species and safety and health.In addition, participants will learn aboutenergy efficient building andenergy programs. Commercial & Residential Contractors, Demolition Contractors,Realtors, Property Managers, Building Maintenance Providers, Home Inspectors, Local Building& ZoningOfficials & Inspectors are urged to attend. A $35 nonrefundable fee will be chargedto cover meal expenses.Registration will from 8:00 AM to 8:30 AM. Workshops will be held from 8:30-4:30 on the following dates and locations:
Construction & Demolition Debris Industry Workshops
Wednesday, January 31, 2007 John A. Logan College
F Building, Room 118-119
700 Logan College Road
Carterville, IL 62918
618/985-2828, ext. 8525
Directions: www.jalc.edu
Thursday, February 1, 2007 Gateway Center
#1 Gateway Drive
Mississippian Room
Collinsville, IL 62234
618/345-8998
800-289-2388
Directions: www.gatewaycenter.com
Wednesday, February 7, 2007 Waubonsee Community College
Route 47 at Waubonsee Drive
Bodie Hall, Room 147
Sugar Grove, IL 60554
630/466-7900
Directions: www.waubonsee.edu/about/sgdirpark.php
Thursday, February 8, 2007 Wilbur Wright Community College
4300 North Narragansett
Science Building, Theater
Chicago, IL 60634
773/777-7900
Directions: www.wright.ccc.edu
Wednesday, February 21, 2007 Heartland Community College
Community Commons Building
Room 1406 & 1407
1500 West Raab Road
Normal, IL 61761
309/268-8016
Directions: www.heartland.edu
Wednesday, February 28, 2007 Stoney Creek Inn
101 18th Street
Main Ballroom - Salon C
Moline, IL 61265
309/743-0101
Directions: www.stoneycreekinn.com
Registration information maybe found atwww.ienconnect.com/enviro If you have questions or would like to register for one of the workshops, please contact the Illinois Small Business Environmental Assistance Helpline at 800/252-3998, or send an e-mail
“Providing Guidance for Business Growth"
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The WEEKLY CONNECTION is distributed by the Illinois SBDC each Monday to the members of
the DCEO Illinois Entrepreneurship Network to provide these service delivery partners with
regular updates on small business issues, opportunities and resources. Please forward this update
to any other interested resource providers and key stakeholders. www.ilsbdc.biz
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