North Carolina joins states around the U.S. by hosting several EntrepreneurshipWeek USA events
Posted: 02-22-2007 : NORTH CAROLINA

NORTH CAROLINA -- EntrepreneurshipWeek USA kicks off later this week in what may be the nation’s largest organized event designed to celebrate entrepreneurship, and inspire, educate, and prepare young people to consider entrepreneurship and innovation in all aspects of their lives.

“Educating our young people about entrepreneurship and reinforcing the value that entrepreneurs and innovators bring to our economy is critical to America’s long-term prosperity – more so now than ever before,” said Carl Schramm, president and CEO of the Kauffman Foundation, one of three national sponsors of EntrepreneurshipWeek USA. The others are Inc. magazine and the New York Times.

Entrepreneurs, government officials, university and non-profit leaders, educators and economic development officials, representing more than 1,000 organizations and universities from across the country, have organized and will host activities during EntrepreneurshipWeek USA -- February 24 through March 3, 2007. Activities are scheduled in all 50 states and nearly every major city in the U.S.

Events worth noting in the state of North Carolina include:

Framing our Economic Future: An Entrepreneurship Agenda for NC, Raleigh, NC
At this day-long event on Tuesday, February 27, the state’s first entrepreneurship policy agenda will be presented. It will include information about entrepreneurship education, community support for entrepreneurs, and capital needs for entrepreneurs. Additionally, winners of the first Hop on the BUS! high school youth business plan competition will be announced. For more information, call Michelle Hall at 919-250-4314, ext. 335, or e-mail her at mhall@ncruralcenter.org.

Young Entrepreneurs Symposium (YES!), Boone, NC
This forum, sponsored by Appalachian State's Center for Entrepreneurship and Backyard Burgers, will feature Appalachian State University graduates in their 20s who have launched successful businesses, including Jon West (3tailer.com); Whitney Graham (Bejeweled); Tyler Brunson (Waste Consultants, United Shipping); Chad Michael (ArborCare Tree Service); and Jonathan Seabolt (Bolt Investments). The forum, scheduled for Thursday, March 1, begins at 3:30 p.m. in the Raley Hall Faculty Lounge. For more information, call Bryan Toney at 828-262-6106 or e-mail him at toneybc@appstate.edu.

Carolina Entrepreneurial Initiative Launching the Venture Tourney, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
Two semesters of lectures, workshops, lab sessions, and hands-on expert coaching all come down to this: the final competition of the 2006-2007 Launching the Venture program. Teams will pitch their ventures to investors and receive feedback from leading Research Triangle Park entrepreneurs and venture experts as they seek to launch their entrepreneurial dreams into reality. Sponsored jointly by UNC's Kenan-Flagler Business School and the Office of Technology Development, the event will be held on Monday, February 26, from 5 to 8 p.m.,in the McColl Building on the UNC campus . For more information, contact Ted Zoller at 919-962-3103, zoller@unc.edu, or Randy Myer at 919-843-6124, randy_myer@unc.edu

In addition to these and other regional events, several national events will be held to mark the occasion. On Saturday, February 24, EntrepreneurshipWeek USA officially kicks off from the campus of Stanford University, with a high-energy launch event featuring Stanford President John Hennessey, Kauffman Foundation President and CEO Carl Schramm and venture capitalist Steve Jurvetson. In addition to highlighting the role of the university in an entrepreneurial economy, the EntrepreneurshipWeek USA Innovation Challenge competition will be unveiled.

In Washington, D.C. on Monday, February 26, a policy summit will examine key policy areas with a view toward promoting economic growth and innovation, as well as lowering barriers that make it harder than it should be for individuals to form and sustain businesses. The Kauffman Foundation will release a white paper that outlines those key policy areas in order to prompt and further public debate. Additionally, the National Governors Association will conduct a news conference in support of policy measures to help spur entrepreneurial activity.

Also on Monday, EntrepreneurshipWeek USA will be celebrated at NASDAQ’s bell closing ceremony, signaling the day’s end of trading. This landmark New York City event will be followed on Tuesday with a networking and mentoring event scheduled at New York University and the release of The 2007 State New Economy Index, a nationwide state-by-state ranking of how state economies are adapting to the challenge of a new economy marked by innovation and entrepreneurship.

To learn more about these and many other events taking place in North Carolina and across the country, please log on to www.entrepreneurshipweekusa.com.

About EntrepreneurshipWeekUSA
With the theme, “What’s Your Big Idea? Take it On!,” the EntrepreneurshipWeek USA initiative is designed to serve as an inspiration for young people to think creatively and to turn their ideas into action – whether that means starting a new business, developing an innovation for an existing company or solving a problem that makes society better. The week is sponsored nationally by The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Inc. magazine and The New York Times. Events on the state and local level are being coordinated by 1000s of organizations and individuals with an interest in entrepreneurship. To learn more, visit the official Web site of EntrepreneurshipWeekUSA at www.entrepreneurshipweekusa.com.