This is Global Entrepreneurship Week, and
Start Co.,
Memphis Bioworks Foundation and other local startup groups and business accelerators will facilitate several events to celebrate innovation and entrepreneurship.
"We know firsthand Memphis has the resources and ecosystem that makes it a great place in which to start a business," says Allan Daisley, Memphis Bioworks Director of Entrepreneurship and Sustainability. "In fact, we'd argue there's no better place in the world to build a medical device business than Memphis."
Global Entrepreneurship Week, founded in 2008 by the
Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, has grown to include more than 25,000 events, activities and competitions in more than 150 countries. Memphis was recently named as one of the top 10 cities in which to launch a start-up by CNN Money, yet many people trying to start their own businesses need mentoring and networking capabilities to get things off the ground.
"Global Entrepreneurship Week is a perfect time to highlight entrepreneurs in Memphis who are building innovative businesses, as well as the challenges and room for growth that we’re trying to address through initiatives like EPIcenter," says Daisley.
On Tuesday at Bridges, 12 Memphians will take the stage for five-minute presentations on their business ideas for an event called "Ignite Memphis, Vol. 8."
On Wednesday, a lunchtime panel discussion will happen at the Memphis Bioworks Conference Center, with medical device, healthcare and technology entrepreneurs talking about the resources and network that led them to start a business in Memphis, as well as their successes and lessons learned. Panelists are set to include Mike Hoffmeyer, President and Founder of
Paytopia; Ryan Ramkhelawan, CTO and Co-Founder of
Restore Medical Solutions; Virág Réti, CEO and Co-Founder at
Cabsolutely; Brad Silver, CEO at
Quire; and Byron Smith, Founder of
EndoInSight.
Then on Thursday, three events will take place at locations across Memphis. "The Growth Workshop: Mastering the Rockefeller Habits," part of the new EPIcenter Growth Academy, will occur all day the Memphis Bioworks Conference Center. The event will help budding entrepreneurs design a road map to success for their businesses.
The Society of Entrepreneurs and
EmergeMemphis will host the 6th Annual Core Conversations on Entrepreneurship at Jim's Place on Perkins Road, with the goal to bring together entrepreneurs from across the area for lunch to discuss entrepreneurship in Memphis.
Memphis women entrepreneurs, business owners, nonprofit leaders, initiative drivers, artists, artisans and freelancers will convene at "Growing the Village" from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at Forge for drinks, hors d'oeuvres and networking.
By Michael Waddell
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