STARTUP 101: Crash Course for new and aspiring entrepreneurs (MV) October 14, 2009

New and aspiring entrepreneurs take time to look at how to get your business off the ground today! Sign up for one specialty area or all 4 and save $$$! Answer questions such as:

* Which structure of business should I select (corporation, LLC, etc.)
* How do I figure out my break even?
* Where do I spend my LIMITED budget for marketing?
* How do I use twitter and still have time to actually work?

WALK AWAY WITH A PLAN!

Each week features a different focus area with a different expert:

September 30: Business Finance with Elizabeth Weinstein - different ways at looking at pricing and figuring out how much you need realistically to start and how much to get paidL

October 7: Legal issues with Linsey Krolik - business structure pros and cons

October 14: Social Media with Stafania Pomponi Butler- how to generate the story, give to the right auctions, etc. to benefit your business, use social media tools effectively for your kind of business.

October 21: Marketing with Sherry Prescott-Willis - where to market, when, and how; how to create a solid marketing plan

Space is limited to 12 participants to ensure every person benefits.
Childcare available. Reserve separately through contact[at]otcsf.com

Experts:

Legal -Linsey Krolik

Linsey Krolik is a technology, media, and business lawyer in Silicon Valley, California. Linsey has operated her part-time solo law practice since 2004, providing services to a range of clients, from small businesses and start-up companies to established, large corporations, and covering a variety of businesses, including microprocessors, computer hardware, software, Internet, wireless, blog, and medical device companies. Before starting her practice, Linsey was Corporate Counsel for ARM, Inc., a United Kingdom-based intellectual property company and worked for a variety of tech companies in the Silicon Valley, including Palm, Inc, OmniSky Corporation, and 3Com Corporation. Linsey holds a combination JD/MBA degree from Santa Clara University School of Law with a concentration in High Technology Law and has been a member of the California State Bar Association since 2002. Linsey spoke at BlogHer'08 on the topic of legal issues with blogging in the "Taking Care of Business" session. She is the co-author of the book "Virtual Incorporation: A Lawyer's Guide to the Formation of Virtual Corporations" an upcoming release published by the American Bar Association. Outside of her life in the law...Linsey is also a twin mom (plus one more makes three kids aged 5 and under), a twin herself, cancer survivor, and president of the board of her kids' preschool.

http://www.twitter.com/linseyk

Finance - Elizabeth Weinstein

Elizabeth Potts Weinstein, is an attorney, CFP®, author, speaker, coach, radio show host, and mompreneur who specializes in helping helps other small business owners live their truth by finding their core message, taking inspired action, and transforming their “hobby” into a real business.

http://ElizabethPottsWeinstein..com

Marketing - Sherry Prescott-Willis

Sherry is passionate about helping people become better marketers. She is especially interested in helping business owners and entrepreneurs develop effective marketing strategies and tactics that drive revenues. Sherry has over 18 years of strategic, product and channel marketing experience working with world renowned technology and consumer companies such as L'Oreal, Pfizer, Computer Associates, Brocade Communications, and Hitachi. She has also worked with numerous early and mid-stage startups in Silicon Valley in hardware, wireless, content management and software. Sherry’s new book, Market This!: An Effective 90-Day Marketing Tool was released in March and is now available on Amazon and BarnesandNoble.com.For more information, go to http://marketthisbook.com/index.html

Social Media - Stefania Pomponi Butler

Stefania Pomponi Butler is Founder/Owner of Clever Girls Collective LLC and a long-time Blog Editor/Producer & Online Media Consultant. Her past and present clients include Disney, Wondertime (a Disney property), ParentsConnect, Babble.com, The Savvy Source, Edelman PR, Tonic.com, Dex Products, Yummie Tummie, Little Passports, and Uptake.com where she serves on their marketing advisory board. She is often invited to speak on blog-related topics.

Recently named one of Forbes' Ten Mommy 'hood Gurus, Stefania has an extensive background in partner marketing/co-branding and social media consulting. She spent almost a decade working in the audio industry creating marketing opportunities between companies, developers, and audio professionals.

Official Website: http://www.otcsf.com/