Mange à Entrepreneurs - Des Moines

No, that is not a misspelling; it is just lunch.

You have read me discussing Mike Colwell in this blog before. Mike is a friend of Des Moines area entrepreneurs and is currently assisting several start-ups reach their maximum potential. Mike is not the kind of guy who does your fishing for you. He teaches you how to fish. He is an expert guide with lots of experience. What places him above most others in his field is that he will tell you if he does not think your project has the "Right Stuff." The words may be harsh to hear, but they could just guide you toward another entrepreneurial venture with a better fit and a greater potential.

If you want to meet Mike, sign up for the Business Innovation Zone's (BIZ) first networking event on Wednesday August 22nd from Noon to 1:30. If you are interested, be sure to RSVP by the end of business today, Monday, August 20th. The event will be in the Arthur Davis conference room at the Greater Des Moines Partnership at 700 Locust St in Des Moines. The featured speaker will be Steven Smith, President and CEO of GCommerce. He will be talking about early stage equity funding for startup business, and what has changed in recent years.

Lunch will be provided and there will be plenty of time for networking. The cost for the event is $8 for members, and $12 for non-members. Sign up now by emailing Mike at mcolwell@desmoinesmetro.com

Hope to see you there!

Brett Trout

BIZ Des Moines entrepreneur

Free Resourse For New Online Businesses

The American Bar Association has just launched a new website for online entrepreneurs. SafeSelling.org provides tips and insight on legal issues ranging from legal structure, for which you should probably retain a knowledgeable business lawyer, to registering a domain name, which you can probably do yourself.

Although the site is a little light on patent, trademark and copyright information, next to this blog, SafeSelling.org is probably the most comprehensive resource on the internet for entrepreneurs looking to create an online presence.

Thanks to Mike Cowell for the heads up.

Brett Trout

ABA online business entrepreneur

Inventor Defies Experts

Rob Law, inventor of the trunki ride-on suitcase for kids, is riding high on success the experts said would never happen. According to the Daily Mail, Mr. Law appeared on the BBC show Dragon's Den, where a successful entrepreneur, a tycoon and a business leader all told Mr. Law that the invention was worthless.

The panel declined a £100,000, but now may have egg on their faces. Since appearing on the show, Mr. Law has sold over 85,000 in trunkis in over twenty countries. The trunkis have a retail price of £25 and with airport waits on the rise sales of the child-sized portable seats show no sign of slowing. Says law about the ordeal "It just goes to show you should never give up."

Brett Trout

entrepreneur invention Dragon's Den

SEMEE Showcases Iowa's Entrepreneurial Spirit

Last night in Des Moines, Adam Steen and Transition Capital Management packed the house for their Society for Entrepreneurial-Minded Executives (SEMEE) event. Some of the highlights included an update from Matt Owen of US Rodeo Supply on how his business has expanded beyond expectations through the use of SEMEE, Netsuite and blogging.

Mike Colwell, Executive Director of the Business Innovation Zone (BIZ) of Central Iowa gave a great presentation on how BIZ leverages public and private grants to help entrepreneurs get their ideas off the ground. Mike combines talent, experience, contacts and the huge resources at his disposal to transition big ideas into viable companies.

If you are an entrepreneurial minded individual, SEMEE is definitely the place to be.

Brett Trout

SEMEE Iowa entrepreneur