CONNECTS
Our CONNECTS seminar series enhances the experiential education of any individual interested in innovation and entrepreneurship. Tailored mainly for students to help take their ideas from conception to commercialization, the seminars run throughout the academic year. Teams looking for talent and talent looking for teams can CONNECT at these events.
All CONNECTS events will be hosted in-person at the Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, Tepper Quad, 3rd Level. A virtually option will also be available.
Advanced registration is required. Zoom information will be sent before the event to all registered attendees. Please note that the session will be recorded.
Join the CMU Entrepreneurship Slack to connect with fellow entrepreneurs
Spring 2023 Schedule
Landing Your First Five Customers
Wednesday, January 18, 2023
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. EST
Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual Option
Presenter: Alex Salazar, Neotribe Ventures
Please note the speaker will be virtual
Finding your first customers is one of the single most difficult milestones for any new technology company and requires skills most founders don't yet have. At this stage, the product is typically too early for traditional sales, and yet, unlike typical product feedback meetings, you still need to push customers to commit to buying. In this presentation, we'll discuss a set of techniques to help you find those first five, pilot customers-- without having to hire a salesperson.
Finding Follow-on Capital
Thursday, January 19, 2023
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. EST
Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual Option
Presenter: Ben Garber, 7 Mile Advisors
"We've very excited about your company, but it's just not a fit for us right now." Sound familiar? In this workshop you'll learn how to use tools currently available to all CMU students to run the same process used by investment bankers and venture capitalists to target next round investors. We will cover profiling your company and potential investors, available resources and how to use them, getting prepared and what to expect when raising capital. Fundraising is an arduous process. Engaging the right audience can make it easier.
Tax, Business and Accounting Issues for Startups
Tuesday, January 24, 2023
12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST
Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual Option
Presenter: Carissa Habsburg & Megan Rechenberg, Sisterson & Co. LLP
Learn practical tax, accounting and business considerations that startups face in their first few years of operation.
Equity Crowdfunding - the VC alternative, risks, rewards, and when should you do it?
Wednesday, January 25, 2023
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. EST
Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual Option
Presenter: Maggie Zheng, Wefunder
Understand what equity crowdfunding means and why an increasing number of startups are opting for this over raising venture capital. Learn the benefits and tradeoffs of community rounds and why mission driven companies should consider this type of raise.
Legal Considerations for Social Entrepreneurs
Thursday, January 26, 2023
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. EST
Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual Option
Presenter: Eryn Correa, Correa Legal
The legal landscape for for-profit social enterprises is still developing. How can you ensure that your business is fulfilling its mission without exposing yourself to additional risk? In this seminar, learn what the law requires so you can make sure you are protected while doing good in the world.
Pitching: An Investors Perspective
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. EST
Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual Option
Presenter: Catherine Mott & Sreekar Gadde, BlueTree Venture Fund
Understanding human behavior is the key to many successful activities. This discussion will remind founders that there is a formula for knowing your audience and pitching effectively to that audience
START SMART LAW: How to Start a Business on an F-1 Student Visa
Tuesday, January 31, 2023
5:00 – 6:30 p.m. EST
Virtual via Zoom
Presenters:
- David Kalson, Dentons Cohen & Grigsby, Director of the Emerging Business Group
- Larry Lebowitz, Dentons Cohen & Grigsby, Director of the Immigration Group
- Linda Gentile, CMU, Director, Office of International Education
Students with an F-1 Visa can legally start businesses as well as work on a startup team. Come learn the details of how to do this without violating your student status.
Leverage IP to Drive Business Value
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. EST
Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual Option
Presenter: Sreekar Gadde, BlueTree Venture Fund & Jason Somma, Attorney/Consultant
Learn how an IP Strategy drives business value (and investment opportunity) for your early-stage, high-growth, company. IP, in its many forms, defines what differentiates you from your competition. Being able to describe this strategically can drive up valuations and acquisitions. Thus, to better position a company, business owners must own their IP Strategy and not just leave it to their legal counsel. In this session, learn the basics of what IP is, what an IP Strategy is and how to build an IP Strategy that leverages what makes your company unique to drive business value.
CANCELLED: Leveraging Partnerships with FDA: Advice for Startups
Thursday, February 2, 2023
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. EST
Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual Option
Presenter: Dr. Elora Gupta, Drug and Device Advisory Group, and Dr. Courtney Williamson, AbiliLife
This event has been cancelled and will be rescheduled for next year.
The presentation will discuss the the key elements to build a regulatory framework, the importance of early and consistent FDA engagement and keeping current on FDA 'intelligence '.
Building a startup from 0 to 1: Operations and Fundraising
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. EST
Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual Option
Presenter: Mar Hershenson, Pear VC
You’ve probably heard the phrase “0 to 1.” But how does a founder actually get to 1? What happens in that messy in-between zone? What’s the first thing you should do when you’re at 0? Mar will lend some much-needed clarity to this messy early part of the startup journey, breaking down concretely what it means to go from 0 to 0.5 and 0.5 to 1.
CANCELLED: Growth Hacking Tactics 2023
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. EST
Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual Option
Presenter: Joey Rahimi, aikenhouse.com
This event has been cancelled and will be rescheduled for next year.
Learn online marketing for startups.
How To Design For Production At Super Speed
Thursday, February 9, 2023
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. EST
Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual Option
Presenter: Elijah Wiegmann, Spruce Pup
The gap between early prototypes and production manufacturing can be a huge challenge. Making a plan, understanding constraints and working through puzzle problems in a light, agile way is the key to speeding up the process. Learn about different approaches to problem solving with an eye towards design and manufacturing.
Using Digital to Achieve Business Goals
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
EST
Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual Option
Presenter: Laura Kelly, Dick’s Sporting Goods
In 2019, there's no such thing as digital and IRL (in real life). Individuals and companies online presence is real life, and your online strategy should reflect that. Learn how to choose where to be online, how to establish measurable strategies that impact your business goals and how your digital and traditional strategies work together.
Franchising - Opportunities are Everywhere
Wednesday, February 15, 2023
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. EST
Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual Option
Presenter: Chris Cynkar, FranChoice
With nearly 3,000 franchise brands offering investment opportunities today, how can you determine a good one from a....not so good one? Join Chris Cynkar to explore the world of franchising and start to gain insight into the world of franchising. Chris is an Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Tepper School and is also a Franchise Consultant with FranChoice where he helps investors to find franchises that are well suited to their individual investment goals.
Splitting the Founder’s Pie & Other Aspects of Equity Compensation
Thursday, February 16, 2023
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. EST
Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual Option
Presenter: Frank Demmler, Startup Whisperer, 2 X Frank Entrepreneurial Yoda-for-Hire
Equity compensation can be a very mysterious concept for first-time entrepreneurs. Learn how to make critical decisions from the division of the Founders' Pie through stock option grants.
How Innovation Can Help to Heal Healthcare
Tuesday, February 21, 2023
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. EST
Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual Option
Presenter: Ginny Pribanic, MedRespond, LLC
The damage from the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to disrupt healthcare for a very long time. The workforce stress includes high rates of burnout, psychological stress and suicide with reports that 90% of nurses are considering leaving the profession. This crisis poses an incredible opportunity for innovation, if we can get the attention of leadership overwhelmed by their current struggles.
CANCELLED: Practical Business Negotiation for the Early-Stage Company
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. EST
Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual Option
Presenter: Eric Kline, Troutman Pepper
This event has been cancelled and will be rescheduled for next year.
Negotiating for a startup can be a “David vs. Goliath” battle and conventional strategies rarely work. Eric has advised early stage clients for 25+ years and will discuss important considerations as you bring on key employees, negotiate early customer contracts, finance the company and consider an exit. He will share with you strategies that have worked to level the playing field with bigger companies. Join us for an entertaining afternoon and some practical advice in startup negotiation.
The Hustlenomics Way
Thursday, February 23, 2023
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. EST
Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual Option
Presenter: Damola Idowu, EIC and Founder of Owners Illustrated Magazine
Win a free t-shirt during the event! If you download the app at the event or before and show that you downloaded it you will receive a free t-shirt.
For iOS
https://apps.apple.com/app/id1567771078
For android
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.Impacteers.IntotheDeityDahVarsity
How superhero content creators transformed the music, film, fashion, and video game industries and inspired a new generation of heroes with their innovations.
We feature creators: 50 Cent, Lil Wayne, Bill Giese, Roy Harvey, Forest Whitaker, Daymond John, Nia Long, Tichina Arnold, Da Great Deity Dah, and Salli Richardson-Whitfield.
Insurance for Startups
Tuesday, February 28, 2023
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. EST
Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual Option
Presenter: Laurie Kuzneski, Kuzneski Insurance Group
Need insurance for your startup? Learn what you need and when you need it.
START SMART LAW: Hiring & Firing
Tuesday, February 28, 2023
5:00 – 6:30 p.m. EST
Virtual via Zoom
Presenters: David Lehman and Mike Pavlick, K&L Gates
You have a cofounder. Now what? Learn the ins and outs of staffing a company, including hiring employees and/or retaining independent contractors, interns and volunteers, important terms of employment or retention, restrictive covenants, and the use of employee equity to attract and retain personnel.
CANCELLED: Startup Branding
Wednesday, March 1, 2023
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. EST
Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual Option
Presenter: Ellie Javadi, Sapphire Ventures
This event has been cancelled and will be rescheduled for next year.
Exploring Eight Types of Entrepreneurship
Thursday, March 2, 2023
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. EST
Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual Option
Presenter: Laurie Barkman, M&A Advisor and CMU Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship
Thinking about entrepreneurship? Join Laurie Barkman for a discussion about entrepreneurial career options, success factors, and how to find the right fit for you.
Scaling from Scratch: Launching Network-based Startups
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. EST
Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual Option
Presenter: Allison Braund-Harris, Hardly
What do Airbnb, Tinder, Uber, and Venmo have in common? They all rely on network effects— the larger you are, the more value you can offer. Successful network-based startups are rewarded with solid defenses against newer competition, but getting them off the ground is extremely difficult. In this seminar, we'll cover parts of Andrew Chen's book The Cold Start Problem and discuss strategies for growing buyer-seller networks, data networks, social networks, and more.
START SMART LAW: How to Structure Your Capital Raise -- Part 1 -- The Fundamentals
Tuesday, March 14, 2023
5:00 – 6:30 p.m. EST
Virtual via Zoom
Presenters: David Lehman, K&L Gates
Learn about the legal and economic/business issues associated with raising capital through Friends and Family, Seed Funding and Series A rounds. This session is a prerequisite to understanding and participating in Part 2 – Negotiating the Term Sheet.
Topics to be Covered:
- Structuring investments to maximize growth
- Funding from incubators/accelerators, angels, VCs, government, and foundations
Launching Hardware Startups with Monozukuri, The Art of Making Things in a Creative Way
Thursday, March 23, 2023
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. EST
Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual Option
Presenter: Nobuhiro Seki, Monozukuri Ventures
Hardware is no longer hard: Manufacturing in a Japanese way has become more accessible for startups, especially when it comes to low-volume production with good quality. Come learn how you can get started!
START SMART LAW: How to Structure Your Capital Raise -- Part 2 -- Negotiating the Term Sheet Workshop
Tuesday, March 28, 2023
5:00 – 6:30 p.m. EST
Virtual via Zoom
Presenters: David Lehman and Adam Kelson, K&L Gates
Join us for a fun negotiation exercise in which you’ll play the role of either startup or investor! We’ll begin the evening with a quick overview of the legal issues associated with investing in startups. We’ll then divide into investor and startup groups, who will meet separately with lawyers to decide on the terms that they want. We’ll end the evening with a negotiation led by workshop volunteers playing the part of founders and investors and two of Pittsburgh’s top startup lawyers.
Accelerating Your Startup via Corporate Partnerships
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. EST
Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual Option
Presenter: Sean Ammirati, CMU Swartz Center and Dr. Ed Rakiewicz, PPG
PPG has a long history of transformation, spanning 140 years. Today, it is a global manufacturer of paints, coatings, and specialty materials, having been founded as a plate glass company. PPG divested the last segment of its glass business in 2017.
In this fireside chat, Dr. Ed Rakiewicz [LinkedIn Link], a corporate entrepreneur and PPG Fellow will discuss corporate startup collaboration with professor Sean Ammirati, director of CSL. They will explore case studies from PPG's startup collaborations, providing general advice to leaders of early-stage startups seeking to partner with large companies. Additionally, Ed and Sean will discuss innovation in the chemical industry more broadly.
START SMART LAW: Worst Mistakes Made by Startups
Tuesday, April 11, 2023
5:00 – 6:30 p.m. EST
Virtual via Zoom
Presenters: FJ Lucchino, Lucchino Law, Deborah Walker, Innovation Works and David Kalson, Dentons Cohen & Grigsby
A panel of lawyers will share the ‘horror stories’ of mistakes that they have seen startups make and the consequences of their decisions. Learn from the mistakes of others so you can avoid the same pitfalls!
Fall 2022 Schedule
Getting Dirty with Product Design
Tuesday, September 13, 2022
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. EST
In Person: Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual: Zoom will be sent the day before event
Presenter: Brad Eiben, Carnegie Mellon University
Presentation
Learn design thinking with a hands-on approach toward problem solving and learn the importance of getting dirty alongside your customer.
Investment Banks: What are they Good For?
Wednesday, September 14, 2022
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. EST
In Person: Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual: Zoom will be sent the day before event
Presenter: Peter Finn and Adriana Salazar, Cowen
Investment banks can be value-add partners to growing companies as they hit various inflection points in their journey. How can startups benefit from the services that investment banks deliver and what is the most efficient way to engage with them? Importantly, what should founders look for and expect from an investment banking relationship? As the leading investment bank for high growth companies, Cowen has been “ahead of the curve” in our institutional commitment to delivering the full range of services required by fast growing, entrepreneurial businesses, with dedicated resources across research, asset management, and investment banking capabilities.
How to Know That You are Ready for an Investment
Tuesday, September 20, 2022
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. EST
In Person: Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual: Zoom will be sent the day before event
Presenter: Christine S. Ferguson-Rau, Ferguson Financial Consulting
Presentation
Learn a checklist that will help you decide if you are ready to raise capital for your startup.
Customer Discovery: Is My Idea a Good One?
Thursday, September 22, 2022
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. EST
In Person: Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual: Zoom will be sent the day before event
Presenter: Kit Needham, Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship
Presentation
Have an idea or a technology that you think solves a big problem? Before you start building your product, learn how to correctly do “customer discovery” so you create a solution that customers will want and pay for. Saves time, prevents unnecessary pivots, and sets the stage for your first pilot.
START SMART LAW: Introduction to Startup Law
Thursday, September 22, 2022
5:00 - 6:30 p.m. EST
Virtual
Presenters: David Lehman, K&L Gates & Reed McManigle, CMU
Join us for a lightning round of Q&A with top startup and intellectual property lawyers. We will kick off the evening with a quick overview of the most common startup legal issues: contract law, IP protection, raising capital, entity formation and employment law and exit planning. Then you’ll get to ask YOUR most pressing legal questions.
Business Model Canvas: A Practical Guide
Tuesday, September 27, 2022
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. EST
In Person: Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual: Zoom will be sent the day before event
Presenter: Craig Markovitz, CMU Swartz Center
Presentation
Many aspiring entrepreneurs have heard of the business model canvas, but few actually use it correctly. This workshop will focus on the proper techniques to leverage the full value of this important tool for business planning and validation.
Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition
Wednesday, September 28, 2022
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. EST
In Person: Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual: Zoom will be sent the day before event
Presenter: Len Caric, Carnegie Mellon University
Presentation
Why interview for a job when you can be the CEO of your own company after graduation? No ideas for a business? No problem, acquire an existing business and be in control of your future.
The Lean Startup
Tuesday, October 4, 2022
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. EST
In Person: Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual: Zoom will be sent the day before event
Presenter: Dave Mawhinney, CMU Swartz Center
Presentation
The Lean Startup is a technical approach to generating and managing startups, helping to get an anticipated product or service into the hands of customers faster. Learn how to make your startup lean and efficient using entrepreneurial best practices in this seminar.
Exploring Blockchain Technology and Potential Applications
Wednesday, October 5, 2022
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. EST
In Person: Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual: Zoom will be sent the day before event
Presenter: David Kroger, Cowen
Cowen Digital’s presentation looks over a variety of core topics including what is a blockchain, the future of the internet, decentralized finance, non-fungible tokens, and more. This comes at a time when institutional adoption is rapidly growing and allocating hundreds of millions towards development and talent.
Keys to Building a Successful & Sellable Startup: Cashflow Forecasting & Digital Organization
Thursday, October 6, 2022
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. EST
In Person: Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual: Zoom will be sent the day before event
Presenter: Kelley Lynch, ,
Presentation
Excel Sheet
After creating the right product and hiring the right people, a company's next most critical elements needed to grow, thrive and have a successful exit strategy are Cashflow Forecasting and Digital Organization. I initially created a Cashflow Forecasting model to help the company I was working with get out of the 2008 financial crisis. Since then, I have worked with numerous companies and have easily adapted the model for each company's needs, which also included three successful exits. You will learn how to make a 13-week rolling cash flow model that will give you better insights to your company’s operations, create different forecast scenarios, and be the basis of 12+ month cashflow forecast. We will also talk about how being disciplined with your Digital Organization is needed to do cashflow forecasting and is crucial if you plan to bring in investors, bankers or pursue an exit strategy. The best part – this modeling is not intimidating to the non-financial oriented entrepreneurs!
START SMART LAW: How to Handle Your (and Others') Intellectual Property
Thursday, October 6, 2022
5:00 - 6:30 p.m. EST
Virtual
Presenter: David Lehman, K&L Gates, Lauren Murray, K&L Gates & Reed McManigle, CMU
Intellectual Property is an asset to be protected. This session will cover how to deal with IP issues including:
- Different ways to protect your company’s IP (copyrights, trade secrets, patents, trademarks, etc)
- Do you really need a patent?
- Difference between a provisional patent and a formal patent filing
- Developing a patent strategy
- How to handle IP created by class projects when one or more of the student team members want to pursue commercialization
- Tips on searching the US Patent Office Database (for prior ‘art’ e.g. existing patents)
- What to expect after filing a patent (time and expenses)
Early Stage User Acquisition and Marketing
Tuesday, October 11, 2022
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. EST
In Person: Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual: Zoom will be sent the day before event
Presenter: Matt Spettel (CEO) and John LaGue (COO), CoPilot
Presentation
Matt Spettel (CEO) and John LaGue (COO) of CoPilot break down the basics of acquiring your first 10, 100, and 1000+ customers as a consumer business. The talk will cover the basics of growth hacking, channel experimentation (across advertising, influencers, and partnerships), acquisition funnels, and unit economics.
Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Creating Value with IP
Wednesday, October 12, 2022
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. EST
In Person: Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual: Zoom will be sent the day before event
Presenter: Matt Kirmayer & Pete Gutsche, Perkins Coie
Presentation
Perkins Coie LLP attorneys will discuss the legal fundamentals involved in monetizing your intellectual property (IP) during this panel. The seminar will cover the basics on the “big three of IP” – patent, copyright, and trademark – and how you can use legal agreements to protect and monetize your IP, including a discussion of common IP licensing terms and conditions.
To Trust or Not to Trust: What Every Startup Needs to Know about Privacy and Cybersecurity
Tuesday, October 25, 2022
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. EST
In Person: Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual: Zoom will be sent the day before event
Presenter: John Funge, DataTribe
Presentation
Privacy and cybersecurity are no longer back-office tasks sequestered away from the core of a business. With a steady drum beat of high-profile security breaches and cases of customer data mismanagement, privacy and security are increasingly becoming board-level topics for companies large and small. They are both a threat and opportunity. This seminar will provide an overview of key privacy and cybersecurity regulations, trends and practices that every startup needs to know.
CANCELLED: Splitting the Founder’s Pie & Other Aspects of Equity Compensation - Rescheduled for the Spring 2023 Semester
Wednesday, October 26, 2022
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. EST
In Person: Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual: Zoom will be sent the day before event
Presenter: Frank Demmler, Startup Whisperer, 2 X Frank Entrepreneurial Yoda-for-Hire
Equity compensation can be a very mysterious concept for first-time entrepreneurs. Learn how to make critical decisions from the division of the Founders' Pie through stock option grants.
START SMART LAW: HOW TO FORM YOUR STARTUP COMPANY, PART 1: THE BASICS
Thursday, October 27, 2022
5:00 - 6:30 p.m. EST
Virtual
Presenter: David Lehman, K&L Gates, Stephanie Dangel, University of Pittsburgh & Law School
University of Pittsburgh Law School Students
Presentation
Learn the basic legal issues involved with new company formation, including choice of entity (LLC, C-Corp, social enterprise options such as non-profit (501c), Benefit Corporation, and B Corps certification, and other company structure alternatives, basics of founders agreements, splitting equity and employee vesting. We’ll start the evening by hearing from lawyers and a startup who will share their experiences forming startup companies. This is a prerequisite for participating in How to Form Your Startup Company – Part 2
Financial Modeling
Tuesday, November 1, 2022
12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST
In Person: Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual: Zoom will be sent the day before event
Presenter: Phil Compton, Locomation
Presentation
Cap Table
Financial Model Template
If you’re going to start a company, mapping out your financial projections will be an important part of that process. Learn the basics and gain insight on how to incorporate assumptions and flexibility into a model. Understand and be able to discuss key terms such as burn rate, cash runway and EBITDA which will allow you to more confidently support projections to your investors, Board and fellow team members. Includes both a financial model template and a user-friendly simple cap table.
Early Stage Fundraising from Silicon Valley Investors: Terminology, Milestones, Expectations
Wednesday, November 2, 2022
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. EST
In Person: Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual: Zoom will be sent the day before event
Presenter: Kelly Coyne, Grit Ventures
Presentation
Please Note: Speaker will be virtual for this event
CANCELLED: Launching Hardware Startups with Monozukuri, The Art of Making Things in a Creative Way
Thursday, November 3, 2022
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. EST
In Person: Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual: Zoom will be sent the day before event
Presenter: Nobuhiro Seki, Monozukuri Ventures
Hardware is no longer hard: Manufacturing in a Japanese way has become more accessible for startups, especially when it comes to low-volume production with good quality. Come learn how you can get started!
Creating a Successful Video Pitch
Tuesday, November 8, 2022
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. EST
In Person: Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual: Zoom will be sent the day before event
Presenter: Brian Staszel, Carnegie Mellon University
Presentation
Is your video pitch effective for competing in an online business competition for entrepreneurs? Learn how to create a successful video and capture the attention of venture capitalists.
If you are planning to participate in the McGinnis Venture Competition, your first video pitch will determine if you advance to the second round.
Pitching Innovation to the C-Suite
Wednesday, November 9, 2022
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. EST
In Person: Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual: Zoom will be sent the day before event
Presenter: Melissa Murphy, Carnegie Mellon University
Presentation
One of the most common complaints of corporate entrepreneurs is being blindsided by questions from outside their areas of expertise. Even well-prepared corporate entrepreneurs have higher-stakes conversations than traditional startup CEOs with stakeholders coming from narrower perspectives.
Before pitching the idea, think about it from the perspective of the functional areas of leadership in the C-Suite. Through what lenses will the most powerful decision-makers in the company view new ideas?
Join us for a lively discussion about better ways to prepare for pitching innovation to the C-Suite, the much higher communications burden placed on intrapreneurs in the early days of innovation and how to better leverage tools such as the Pitching Innovation to the C-Suite Canvas.
START SMART LAW: HOW TO FORM YOUR STARTUP COMPANY, PART 2: LEGAL ROADMAP WORKSHOP
Thursday, November 10, 2022
5:00 - 6:30 p.m. EST
Virtual
Presenter: David Lehman, K&L Gates, Stephanie Dangel, University of Pittsburgh & Law School
University of Pittsburgh Law School Students
Presentation
Your team will be matched with one or more law students to design a “legal roadmap” that will recommend the best entity option for your startup and the basics of a founders agreement – all under the supervision of experienced startup lawyers!
**This workshop fills up quickly, so if you want to work with a law student, please send a description to sad111@pitt.edu by Friday, October 21.**
Agile Product Development
Tuesday, November 15, 2022
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. EST
In Person: Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, 3rd Level, Tepper Quad/Virtual: Zoom will be sent the day before event
Presenter: Sean Ammirati, Birchmire Ventures
Presentation
Learn an iterative and interactive framework to manage the process of building your startup's technology solution. Master specific tips for implementing this framework in your venture and hear case studies from local Pittsburgh companies who have taken advantage of these techniques.
START SMART LAW: Building and Leveraging Your Professional Team
Tuesday, November 15, 2022
5:00 - 6:30 p.m. EST
Virtual
Presenter: David Lehman, K&L Gates, Stephanie Dangel, University of Pittsburgh, Kit Needham, Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship & Rhonda Schuldt, University of Pittsburgh's Big Idea Center
Presentation
In addition to your cofounders and team members, startups need a knowledgeable team of professionals from a variety of fields who are experienced working with startups. This includes your lawyer, accountant, insurer, and banker as well as advisors. This session will start with how to find the lawyer that is the best fit for your startup and then give some advice on rounding out your professional team, recruiting advisors and maximizing the value of the relationship.
Upcoming CONNECTS Events
START SMART LAW Sponsored By
CONNECTS Series Schedules
Thank you to our Swartz Center Patrons
