Our very own Dave Barger was mentioned in a Commercial Appeal article earlier in the week. It recognizes Dave’s role in working with entrepreneurs in our community through LaunchMemphis (which he co-founded) and the Society of Entrepreneurs. This article gives a small glimpse into Dave’s role and impact on our community. You can find Dave on Twitter at www.twitter.com/davebarger.
The journey from an idea for a new startup to a working, successful business is a confusing and dangerous one. Real, practical advise from objective outsiders can make all the difference in helping a fledgling venture reach its goal.
LaunchMemphis, with Mercury Technology Labs, is hosting the Business Plan Boot Camp, where new entrepreneurs will be given a push towards business success. Experts from several fields will be on hand with hard-earned advice, while attendees can get tailored feedback on their business plans in several break-out sessions.
Covered topics will include:
LaunchMemphis’ goal is to foster entrepreneurial growth within the Memphis community. The group is non-profit and the cost for the Boot Camp is $60 for two days filled with insight (lunches included).
The two sessions will take place on August 15th and 22nd from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the Mercury Launchpad located at:
EmergeMemphis, Suite 133
516 Tennessee Street
Memphis, TN 38103
For more information email Chris@LaunchMemphis.com or call (901) 628-4657.
Don’t forget other important dates coming up:
BarCamp Chattanooga
July 25
Chattanooga, TN
Social South (SoSo)
August 21 and 22
Birmingham, AL
SocialCamp Memphis (Organized by LunaWeb through LaunchMemphis)
September 19
Memphis, TN
WordCamp Birmingham
September 27 and 28
Birmingham, AL
BarCamp Nashville
October 17
Nashville, TN
BarCamp Memphis (Organized by LunaWeb through LaunchMemphis)
November 14
Memphis, TN
Memphis may not be used to being in the spotlight, but the city has received its fair share of attention over the past several months, due in large part to the efforts of LaunchMemphis and their partners. The latest TechFuel event, that took place in the Launchpad of the Emerge Memphis building, was just the most recent of those efforts.
C.C. Chapman and Adrian Ho, two of the top thought leaders in the online community, joined us to share their passion about Social Media and the new climate of “online marketing”. Both men gave insightful presentations that went far beyond the tools and how-to of Social Media. They also allowed for exhaustive Q&A in which great questions were met with equally strong answers. The real value, as always, was in the conversation.
A great turnout to the event translated into a valuable forum for networking, brainstorming, sharing ideas and meeting the movers and shakers of the Memphis community. C.C. and Adrian stuck around through the late evening hours, and tirelessly conversed with Memphis’ entrepeneurs.
Check out the Commercial Appeal coverage of the event.
Next for LaunchMemphis is the 2nd Startup Weekend in Memphis. A wide range of thinkers and creators will be needed to band together in an ambitious attempt to launch a new startup in just one weekend.
The post “TechFuel: New Modes” by lunaweb is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
It’s usually not hard to walk into a conference unprepared and find something useful along the way that you can take back with you. However, since BarCamp Memphis is so much more than a conference, here are some ways you can go about getting the most out of your BarCamp experience.
Come Ready to Present
This is first on the list because it is simultaneously one of the most beneficial and least used BarCamp options. Speaking gets you noticed, helps you network, and lets other people know what your expertise is. Not to mention, sharing helpful info is great for the Karma. In keeping with promoting the sharing spirit of BarCamp, if you come prepared with a topic to present to your fellow Campers, BarCamp Memphis is free for you. Otherwise a small fee will go to help defray the cost of the conference.
What not to do
Don’t turn your presentation into a live infomercial for your company. BarCamp is about learning, networking, and sharing, and people will notice if you’re shamelessly plugging your brand.
Give your presentation a catchy title, but don’t get so focused on it that people can’t figure out what you’re speaking on. Topic clarity helps everyone.
Join the Conversation
BarCamp Memphis is about networking, making connections, and fostering a forward-thinking tech community in Memphis. The presentations will be a great learning experience for everyone, but your biggest benefit for the day will be from the people that you meet. BarCamp will be a focal point for movers and shakers in the tech community and will be a great place where people with ideas can meet people with talent. Don’t let that opportunity go! Bring your business card, shake hands, speak up, share your ideas, and brainstorm for new ones. Whatever you do, you’ll get more out of your BarCamp experience if you avoid being a wallflower.
Vote
BarCamp Memphis is happening right after election day, so the importance of voting should not be lost on anyone. Be sure you arrive early enough to vote on the topics for the day. Voting makes sure that topics of the day are relevant to you, which is, after all, what makes BarCamp different from everything else.
BarCamp Memphis is on November 8! In the meantime, here are some other great blogs about BarCamp to check out!
What is BarCamp?
LunaWeb
Launch Memphis Rocks Social Media in September
LunaWeb
BarCamp Tips
LaLunaBlanca
Attn Entrepreneurs and Would-Be Entrepreneurs: BarCamp Memphis is Coming
Paul Ryburn
BarCamp Memphis Planning Underway
LunaWeb
BarCamp Evolution
LaLunaBlanca
BarCamp Fee Discussion on Twitter
LaLunaBlanca
BarCamp Memphis – Calling All Thought Leaders BarCamp Memphis: November 2008 BarCamp Memphis 2008 – Be There, Share, Learn
One Half Amazing
Conmergence
LaunchMemphis
The Social Expedition Blog