2016 Launch Week Events

A week of events relating to innovation and entrepreneurship will take place in Sioux City as part of the 4^th annual Launch Week, November 3^rd – 10^th. The week will consist of inspirational speakers, networking opportunities, business and technical assistance and much more! A special thanks to our featured sponsor, Iowa’s West Coast Initiative, for underwriting the costs of many of these events!

November 3, 2016 7:30 – 9:00am Sioux City Convention CenterJoin Nick Taranto, co-founder of Plated.com, as he presents the 5 P’s of Building a Culture of Innovation & Disruption. Nick will walk you through his framework for building an innovative and disruptive operating model, and how you can apply it to your own organization. The free event begins at 7:30am at the Sioux City Convention Center and RSVP’s are requested by calling 712-224-5500 or  clicking here.

November 4, 2016
9:00 – 10:00am
Springboard Coworking

Join other business professionals, entrepreneurs and business owners at 9:00am at Springboard Coworking for First Friday Coffee. Listen as local entrepreneur, Stacy Orndorff of Heartland Coffee Co., shares her story of starting a coffee company that donates a percentage of sales to help entrepreneurs in disadvantaged countries.

Iowa Startup Games

November 4 – 6, 2016
ISU Design West

This weekend-long event brings college students together on Friday night to pitch their business idea and form teams around the top ideas. On Saturday, teams research and discover information that pertains to their business, conduct customer discovery, and refine their ideas to create a minimal viable product. On Sunday, teams tailor their final pitches, present to a panel of judges, and have a chance to win money and prizes. Local business owners and community members will act as mentors and coaches for the weekend.

The University of Iowa, Western Iowa Tech Community College and Iowa’s West Coast Initiative are partnering to bring the event to Sioux City for the first time.
College students can still register for free by clicking here.

Business Succession Planning

November 7, 2016
8:00 – 9:30am
ISU Design West

Are you ready for your future? Business succession planning is an absolute must to ensure your business gets properly transferred to the successor of your choice and under the terms you desire. Transitioning your business to the next owner requires planning and it is never too early to start.

This course is valuable to anyone looking to buy or sell a business, as the discussion will focus on what every business buyer and seller needs to know for efficient and effective negotiation and planning.

Thanks to our sponsors, Iowa’s West Coast Initiative and the Small Business Development Center, the session is free and a light breakfast will be provided. Attendees are asked to register by clicking here.

Financing Forum

November 8, 2016
1:00 – 4:00pm
ISU Design West

The Small Business Administration (SBA) will host a free public forum about small business financing for startups and existing businesses. This forum is an opportunity for entrepreneurs and small business owners to learn about a variety of financing options from local lenders and government agencies.

Topics will include traditional lending, microloans, government guarantees, crowdfunding and more. The financing forum is free of charge and is sponsored by Iowa’s West Coast Initiative with assistance from the SBA. For additional information and to register, please click here.

Google Workshop

November 9, 2016
12:00 – 1:30pm
ISU Design West

Iowa’s West Coast Initiative and the Small Business Development Center are teaming up with Google to sponsor a new workshop to help local businesses across the region update and improve their information where customers search for them the most: Google.

 

This workshop will show you:

– How to put more information about your businesses into Google
– How to get your company verified for Google searches
– How to add information such as location and hours of operation
– How to add photos to enhance a listing
The workshop is free and lunch will be provided, so attendees are asked to register by clicking here.

 

          

Biz Brew & Base 3

November 10, 2016
5:00 – 8:00pm
Ho-Chunk Centre, 8th Floor

To conclude the week, Biz Brew and Base 3 are joining forces to bring you a night of fun and inspiration.

The popular networking event, Biz Brew, will kick off the evening at 5pm followed by Base 3 at 6pm. Base 3 is a one night event, consisting of 3 speakers, used to cultivate a passion for entrepreneurship, innovation and community building. To get your tickets and learn more about the speakers, visit flyovertechnology.com/base3/.