Expanding the Pool of Tech and Bio Entrepreneurs is the Goal of a Seminar Being Hosted by The St. Louis Virtual Incubator to Educate Would-be Entrepreneurs on How to Jump-start a New Tech or Bio Business

On Saturday, January 29, 2005, The St. Louis Virtual Incubator will host a seminar on "How to Jump-Start a New Tech or Bio Idea or Invention" from conception to a fully functioning company. The seminar will be held at the St. Louis University John Cook School of Business near the Anheuser-Busch conference area. The suggested contribution of $95 to attend the event is completely waived for the first few "would-be" entrepreneurs to pre-register at www.startupimpact.org. A primary goal of the event is to expand the pool of tech and bio entrepreneurs in the region.

(PRWEB) December 21, 2004 -- The Tech and Bio business cluster is a special breed, especially during the start-up phase. Unlike opening a more typical business (e.g., restaurant, retail store, ad or insurance agency, law office, etc.) this Cluster requires a complex, experienced and robust support structure from idea conception to the point in time at which the company is up and running.

Given the St. Louis Region's Technology and Life Sciences focus, and the need to expand the regional pool of entrepreneurs, The St. Louis Virtual Incubator will host a seminar on How to Jump-Start a new Tech/Bio Idea" or invention from conception to a fully functioning company. To encourage participation at the seminar from potential entrepreneurs, the $95 suggested contribution to attend the event is completely waived for the first few tech/bio potential entrepreneurs to pre-register at www.startupimpact.org. Also, any attendee who brings along, or pre-registers with, a would-be entrepreneur receives a discount. Students with a valid ID, who pre-register, are at no charge.

The seminar will be held on Saturday, January 29, 2005, from 8-Noon at the St. Louis University John Cook School of Business located at 3674 Lindell Avenue, St. Louis, MO USA 63108 near the Anheuser-Busch Conference area. Networking and registration begins at 8AM.

"Tech/bio entrepreneurs who are looking for a business idea will be pleased with the planned discussions on transferring technology ideas and inventions from research centers and universities to startup companies." says Mike Fink, President of OffiStart and one of the event sponsors. Experienced Entrepreneurs will be discussing the following critical areas for the Tech/Bio Cluster:
- Is your idea or invention marketable? (aka:Will the Believers Buy my Lemonade?)
- 45 Steps in 45 Days to Jumpstart your New Tech or Bio Company
- Business Plan,your Way to Success
- Funding (aka: Where do I get the Cash to Start this Thing?)
- Matching Research Center and University Technology with Entrepreneurs (aka: What if I don't Have the Main Ingredient--an Idea or Invention?)

There will also be a moderated panel discussion on local resources to support a start-up business along with Q&A. Additional information on an impressive line-up of speakers will be published as the event nears.

Current event participants/sponsors are; The Entrepreneurship Program at Saint Louis University, OffiStart, SCORE/SBA, The Technology Entrepreneur Center (TEC), Southern Illinois University (SIU) Medical School, and Impact Business Developers. Sponsorships are available for an additional fee to benefit The St. Louis Virtual Incubator operating fund.

About the St. Louis Virtual Incubator
The St. Louis Virtual Incubator (STLVI) is a six-month business coaching and mentoring program set-up specifically for early stage companies in the Information Technology, Biotech and the business-to-business Industrial sectors.

Business Statistics prove that those early stage companies who enter an incubator program have a dramatically higher chance of success. The STLVI is an affordable, flexible and value-packed program designed to optimize the results of a company's first six months of operation creating a solid foundation for future business success.

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