Thursday, November 15, 2012

Technological Research and Development Authority (TRDA) Announces Entrepreneurship Workshop Schedule

Do you need assistance with business plan development, raising capital, legal matters, customer acquisition strategies, government contracting, grant opportunities (including SBIR) and networking?  

The TRDA has developed one day entrepreneurship workshops to provide small existing businesses with assistance to accelerate the migration of clean energy technologies into high growth business ventures.  The content of each of the workshops is the same to enable you to select the workshop most convenient with your calendar
(including a Saturday dates in January and April 2013!)

SCHEDULED WORKSHOPS:
      • Tuesday, December 11, 2012
      • Saturday, January 19, 2013
      • Tuesday, February 12, 2013
      • Saturday, April 20, 2013 
 What are the Benefits of Participating in a  
TRDA Entrepreneurship Workshop?
  • Immediate, honest feedback on your business plan, and its potential attractiveness to angels, venture capitalists or other sources of capital
  • Ongoing access to a deep, statewide network of experienced "been there, done that" mentors that have walked in your shoes and raised capital for their own companies
  • Quick-drop education on best practices for business plan development, financial modeling, market strategies and closing your first customers
  • Access to a statewide network of critical business service providers at reduced rates
What are the Criteria to Participate in these Workshops?
Florida-based technology Clean Tech companies with the following criteria are eligible:
  • Potential for rapid revenue growth within five years
  • Relevant technical expertise on team for product strategy
  • In the Clean Tech/Alternative Energy sectors
What is the Cost to Participate?
CleanTech companies in the State of Florida may qualify by location or business type for a scholarship for the workshop fees.   There will be a charge of $250 for companies outside the CleanTech arena or for those companies who do not meet the specific criteria of the two granting scholarships.
  
Two grants provide funding for qualified CleanTech companies in the state of Florida:

The Space Coast Clean Energy Jobs Accelerator (http://www.trda.org/acceleration-programs/cleanenergyjobsaccelerator) grant from Small Business Administration (SBA) provides cleantech entrepreneurs and small existing cleantech businesses with business and commercialization assistance to accelerate technologies into high growth business ventures.  This assistance is provided to 8(a) certified firms, small disadvantaged businesses, businesses operating in areas of high unemployment or low-income or firms owned by low-income individuals in the following counties: Brevard, Volusia, Seminole, and Orange counties. This initiative is a collaborative effort between TRDA and Space Florida.

The Florida Cleantech Acceleration Network (FL-CAN) (http://www.flcleantech.com) is a statewide initiative that connects Florida-based universities, incubation networks, investors and industry resources together to create a network of Proof of Concept centers to accelerate the creation and commercialization of innovative clean technology research into new technology companies or to license into existing firms.  This is a collaborative program with University of Central Florida (UCF) and the Florida Energy Systems Consortium (FESC).

 
How Do I Apply?
To find out more information and to discover if you company might qualify for a CleanTech scholarship for the entrepreneurship workshops, email Ryan Greenough or call 321-872-1050 x111.

  

FL CAN web
Technological Research and Development Authority (TRDA)

"These workshops are funded by a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).  SBA's funding should not be construed as an endorsement of any products, opinions, or services.  All SBA-funded projects are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis."

Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made, if requested at least two weeks in advance.  Contact Ryan Greenough | 1050 West NASA Boulevard, Melbourne, FL 32901 |  3221-872-1050 x111

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