9:30AM - 10:15AM | SESSION I

Do You Have What it Takes to Become a Successful Entrepreneur?

Alicia Terry, President & CEO, OnPoint Communications & Training

Do you have a never-say-die attitude? Do you have the most valuable skill of networking? Are you objective and have tough skin as one of your strongest personality traits? Do you have the profile of an entrepreneur: perseverance, the desire and willingness to take the initiative, competitiveness, self-reliance, a strong need to achieve, self-confidence, and good physical health?

This session is a great place to discover whether you have the core qualities needed to make it as an entrepreneur. Some of the traits are attitudes you can adopt. Some are skills that can be easily learned. And the rest are aptitudes that few of us have naturally - but with a little practice - can be successfully mastered by all. Don’t let fear stop you from starting a business - acknowledge the fear - and do it anyway!

10:30AM - 11:15AM | SESSION II

How to Find Startup Funds

Barbra Boeta, PeopleFund

Claudia Conner, BigAustin

Now that you have determined that you have what it takes - or willing to develop what it takes - you’ll need money and resources to launch your vision. And unless you personally have deep pockets, or quick and easy access to someone who does, figuring out where you’re going to get the money to start your own business is going to be one of the most important components of planning for your success.

Finding adequate business start up money is especially critical because there’s no guarantee that your business is going to generate revenue immediately, and no guarantee that it will bring in enough money to support your lifestyle. You can of course boot-strap your venture and launch it with guerrilla-style financing and tactics; but the stress and toll of such methods is only for a very small percentage of entrepreneurs. In an ideal setting, you will need the proper amount of start-up capital that will allow you to open your doors for business, and to keep them open until sufficient revenue streams can be generated for the business to be self-sustaining.

This session will explore all of the various methods and options you have for financing your venture. Some of the various options include bank and micro loans, friends and family, angel investors, government funding and self-financing.