The mindset of the entrepreneur is at the core of organizations who are attempting to create social benefit in the world. As the old saying goes, give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach the man to fish and he can feed his family for life. Social Entrepreneurs add: teach the man how to market and sell fish and he brings economic prosperity to himself and his village. The capacity for doing well and good at the same time drives the social entrepreneur and is the focus of this session.

Coming up with a great new invention or creative work is nice, but unless you take steps to protect it for your own economic benefit, you may not reap any of the gains from your invention or creation. On the other hand, if you are careful, you will receive a government granted monopoly for a specified time. This can be the key to success. This session will discuss the many forms of intellectual property and how they are obtained.

A business plan is the laboratory of the mind where the business opportunity is organized and made real in a way that the entrepreneur can communicate it to others – potential team members, partners, investors, employees, government, etc. Proper planning can prevent disaster as well as make it possible to capture the imaginations (and resources) of others. This session outlines the requirements of a plan and shows how to write one.

Without question the most stunning new tool that entrepreneurs have at their disposal is the internet and the communications/information revolution it has caused. The E-Commerce revolution is already reshaping entrepreneurship and its impact will only grow. Understanding the internet, as well as the many ways it provides opportunities and supports new ventures is the focus of this session.