As 2017 begins, so too does another year of great programming from 1Berkshire’s Berkshire Starts program. Coming off of a very successful year, the program will be expanding and improving its events to better serve the growing audience. More than 300 people attended Berkshire Starts events in its inaugural year and we look forward to engaging, even more, entrepreneurs and small business owners in 2017.
Kicking off the Berkshire Starts program in 2017 will be our first 2017 Pitch Camp, tonight, January 17 at 5:30 PM at 1Berkshire. The Pitch Camp is offered as a preparation tool to those who are interested in applying to an upcoming pitch competition or for those who simply want to learn about or perfect their pitches. The camp will provide experienced insight into developing an effective “pitch deck,” including key dos and don’ts, for 30-second “elevator pitches,” presentations to investor groups, and pitches to single investors.
Following the Pitch Camp will be the continuation of the Berkshire Starts Pitch Competition series with an event scheduled for February 15 at 5:30 PM at the Stationery Factory in Dalton. Five entrepreneurs/small business owners will present their ideas before a panel of judges, comprised of successful local entrepreneurs, for the chance to receive advice and counsel, win a cash prize and gain access to mentors, advisors, and resource providers through the Berkshire Starts Mentorship Program.
This year is marked by the addition of more Entrepreneurial Meetups on a regular schedule. These Meetups will now be held on the last Tuesday of every month, except in April. Berkshire Starts Entrepreneurial Meetups have grown from small gatherings of 8-10 entrepreneurs to larger networking and resource opportunities with 30-35+ attendees. These events are great for making connections with fellow entrepreneurs, mentors, and advisors. We hope you join us for one.
The largest undertaking for 2017 will be the launch of the Berkshire Starts/MCLA Business BootCamp. This series of 3-hour workshops will take place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for ten sessions over the course of six weeks, March 14 through April 18. Each workshop will be led by a professor from MCLA in collaboration with a practitioner/mentor from the Berkshire Starts program. Topics covered will include Design Thinking, Lean Canvas business model, accounting, funding options, legal structures, intellectual property and pitching investors.
This certainly looks to be a great year for the Berkshire Starts program, our local entrepreneurs, and the region’s small business owners. Contact David Curtis to get involved.
