Eclub News, Events and Happenings
Summer Activities
The Eclub will be hosting leadership meetings to plan the next semester.
Additionally, those folks who are interested in working on the Idea Fair concepts, or another concept, to turn it into a real business plan, will have opportunities to get great feedback from Eclub advisors.
The first business plan development meeting is scheduled for:
Wednesday, May 18th at 4pm in the Mathews building on the 2nd floor
(Mathews building is next to the Business and Economics building)
If you are interested in a leadership position, please contact: nicholas@uky.edu for more information.
Have a productive summer!
Elections Meeting
Monday, April 25 at 7:30 p.m. in BE 301
It is time again for next year's leaders to step up to the plate. Eclub relies entirely on students to take the initiative and get involved. If you want to participate and take up a leadership position, please come to this meeting!
IDEA FAIR 2005: A Shining Success
The UK Entrepreneurs Club did it again--but even more spectacular than before. With the help of the Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship, several sponsors, and many volunteers, the third Annual Idea Fair proved support for Entrepreneurship at UK. The 2005 winners are as follows:
1st Place, $1,500 - "The Kanga Course"
2nd Place, $1,000 - "Hunting Dos Tracking System"
3rd Place, $600 - "Medical Equipment Exporters"
4th Place, $400 - "The Tony Steps"
More information, as well as photographs, will follow.
Speaker Series 4/4/05
With Tim Savage
President of Savage Syndications
When it comes to getting your business in front of potential customers, Tim knows how to get it done. Having started his company, Savage Syndications, is a powerful resource for businesses to use to prospect and develop market opportunities. http://www.savagesyndications.com/
This is your opportunity to learn how to get your business in front of the right customers and make the sale.
Where: B&E room 301
When: Monday 7:30pm
Speaker Series 3/21/05
With guest Bob Farinelli
President of Elan Home Systems
Tonight, we are excited to host another Speaker Series with guest entrepreneur, Bob Farinelli. Bob is the president and CTO of ELAN Home Systems, as well as a Mergers and Acquisition Technical Assessment Team Member for Nortek Inc. In addition, Bob is our newest member of the Eclub Board of Advisors. Please join us this evening!
When: Monday, March 21 @ 7:30 p.m.
Where: B&E 301
Next meeting: Monday, March 7th at 7:30pm
Topics: Building teams for the Idea Fair
Speaker Series and More
Featured Guest: Brian Evans
Eclub is proud to announce that 62 people applied to the VentureQuest Workshop! Unfortunately, as we cannot accomodate every applicant, attendees will be selected based on their concepts. However, everyone is encouraged to participate in the Idea Fair held in April.
Has anyone heard of Indi-Go? They are the second company to be launched with the assistance of the UK Entpreneurs Club. Indi-Go has a long-awaited announcement that they want to share:
On February 22, 2005, we invite you to be a part of a historical moment. Indi-Go, Inc., a company founded and managed by current and former UK students, will begin serving food at the Commons on south campus between 5:00 and 8:00 pm.
Indi-Go began as an idea of four graduate students, quickly expanding to include two MBA students as well. After winning at a nationwide Business Plan competition last spring, UK Dining Services agreed to help us launch Indi-Go as a beta site this spring. Indi-Go is a unique restaurant concept that serves Indian food customized to suit an American flavor. We have variety, quality, and reasonable prices, all served straight to you, fast.
Indi-Go is Indian Food, American Style. You have an opportunity to join us every Tuesday and Thursday all spring as we launch Indi-Go's menu to you, first. We thank you for the support of your fellow students and alumni. Check out our website http://www.indi-go.biz/ for more information.
Go Wildcats!
Indi-Go, Inc.
Go and show your support for fellow entrepreneurs!
On Monday, we host our second guest speaker this semester, entrepreneur Brian Evans. Evans is a great individual with much business experience to date. In fact, you will soon discover his new coffee shop opening up in the same complex as Wildcat Textbooks. As always, your attendance is highly recommended.
Where: 301 B&E
When: Monday, 7:30 p.m.
Does anyone have an announcement to share with other members and entrepreneurs? Please send it to president@eclub.uky.edu and it will be appended to the bottom of the email.
Finally, we are looking to fill leadership roles in the Eclub. If you want to take part in a growing organization and can make some form of commitment, regardless of size, please attend this next meeting.
Sign up for VentureQuest Workshop NOW
Deadline to sign up: Friday, February 11th
How to sign up: Send an email with your name, contact info, major, year, and a 1 paragraph business concept to leekeown@uky.edu
(if you don't have an orginal concept, write 1 paragraph about why you want to work with a startup team)
What you get: 5 days of workshops and training sessions, entrance into the Idea Fair, 2 meals every day of the workshop, thorough understanding of developing a concept, and the confidence in yourself to make your dreams become reality!
Only 15 spots remain, so hurry!!!
More Workshop Details: There is a cost to attend the workshop of $40 for students and $150 for others (note: this workshop actually costs about $1000 per person, but is being sponsored by several colleges to help instigate the entrepreneurial activity here on campus.)
Why you should get involved: Whether you are inspired by the $5000 prize in the Idea Fair or by the search for your personal competitive advantage, this is how you get started. These professional entrepreneurial coaches will teach you how to succeed on your own terms. Without knowledge, you are just another person wanting to get rich with no clue how to do it. SIgn up is easy, but space is limited.
This is leading up to the IDEA FAIR on April 15th with up to $5000 in cash prizes for winning concepts!
All participants in the workshop will automatically make it into the Idea Fair competition. Anyone may submit concepts for this competition.
Read more about the Idea Fair here
Eclub Meeting
Leadership and initiative is the topic of discussion at tonight's meeting. If you are interested in a position at the Eclub, please come to the meeting tonight. We will be lining up the leaders for next year at Eclub.
Also, please remember that the deadline to enroll in the the Business Idea Development Workshop is this Friday, February 11! We cannot guarantee your admittance after this date. This invaluable resource will help you refine business concepts with the assistance of experienced professionals.
When: Monday, February 7 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: B&E 301
1st Think and Drink Social
The Eclub is starting a new tradition here in Lexington, an informal social gathering of entrepreneurs both young and old. This is an opportunity to get to know your fellow student entrepreneurs in-the-making. If you are serious about doing a startup, you better start meeting people that are going to want to work with you. The best way to do that is not usually in a classroom. Sometimes the structured environment can stifle your creativity and lead you down a path of conformity -- a term that no entrepreneur should be described with...
Come on out to our first Think and Drink gathering.
When: Tuesday, February 1st at around 9:30 - 10ish
Where: Pazzo's Restaurant and Bar in the lower level
This completely informal gathering is open to everyone, so be sure to bring a friend. You will be responsible for any food and drink purchases (sorry, we're still too young to have rich entrepreneur alumni to sponsor parties). Stay for as long as you like. There is no agenda, just a common enthusiasm for success.
Spring 2005 Semester Begins
The Eclub is bursting with new opportunities! With the help of the recently formed, Advisory Council, and programs put together by the Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship, the Eclub is working hard to launch your entrepreneurial careers.
New this semester:
* Idea Fair moved to April!
* Formal business concept development workshop
* Bi-weekly meeting schedule -- weekly meetings on 2nd & 4th MONDAY at 7:30pm
* Think & Drink -- informal gathering of the entrepreneurial community at a local coffee shop or pub
* New meeting location
First Meeting: Monday, January 24th at 7:30 B&E rm 301
Last Meeting of 2004
Now is the time to look back on what we did this semester and prepare for the events that lie ahead. We need your feedback on the Eclub and how we may better perform; in addition, we are always looking for leaders to step up and volunteer for a position. Your attendance will help shape the path we take in 2005!
When: Tuesday, 11/30
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Where: Ralph G. Anderson Building, room 203
Workshop IV: Sales and Presentation
Guest Speaker: Wayne Cornwell
Salesmanship and presentation are crucial skills for starting and operating any new venture. The Workshop Series continues this Tuesday with guest speaker Wayne Cornwell covering some of these issues. He will share with us many lessons from his years of experience in sales at DEC.
When: Tuesday, 11/16
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Where: Ralph G. Anderson Building, room 203
No Classes - Rescheduled for 11/9
The building in which we meet is planned to be closed - our apologies for such short notice
Workshop III: Marketing Your Startup
Tuesday 11/02
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: RGAN rm 203
Guest Presenter: Rick Stafford
UK Marketing Department
Brand Advertising Group
Our 3rd workshop focuses on how to develop a marketing strategy for your startup idea. Every company has to sell their product, and figuring out how to do this when you have very limited resources to work with is a daunting task. Please join us for this informative workshop session. You will come away with a number of ideas on how to sell your product or service, a crucial part of your concept.
Eclub Goes to the Movies!
Tuesday 10/26
Time: 9:30 pm
Location: Kentucky Theatre (214 E Main St near MLK intersection)
Cost: $6.50
'If you were intrigued by the many themes and speakers at the 2004 ideaFestival, continue the ride by seeing the film "What the Bleep Do We Know!?" This new film is making its way around the country – and was so popular it's coming back to the Kentucky Theatre for a limited engagement from Friday, October 22 through Wednesday, October 27. (Check local listings for times.) This very thought-provoking film is part documentary, part entertainment, part physics class on quantum mechanics, part animation – starring Marlee Matlin. Don't miss the opportunity to see "What the Bleep" this time around and bring a friend to share the "experience". '
Check out this video clip from a CNN interview with the director off of the movie website.
We will all meet at 9:30 in front of the theatre. Bring a friend!
Speaker Series II
Mark Sievers
Tomorrow evening at 7:00 p.m., we will be hosting our next Speaker Series event. Our guest is Mark Sievers, a man of many talents who holds a laundry list of accomplishments.
Mr. Sievers was the former Chief Innovation Officer for the Long John Silver's/A&W division of YUM! Brands and has over 27 years experience in the hyper-competitive fast food industry in a wide variety of disciplines.
Currently, he is the President and CEO of Lexington Wi-Fi, Inc, a start-up Wi-Fi technology company that offers extended-range wireless internet service in its deployment area. It is owned by a group of local investors including Mr. Sievers. It also provides Wi-Fi and other wireless consulting and implementation services.
In addition, Mr. Sievers is working with our Eclub Enterprise Team, Indi-Go, to facilitate its launch to a fully operational company in Lexington.
When: tomorrow, Tuesday, October 12
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Where: room 203, Ralph G. Anderson Building
Workshop 2: Idea Research
Speaker: Bill Dotson
Date: Tonight! (Tuesday, October 5)
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: 207 Ralph G. Anderson Building
Download Powerpoint Presentation
Workshop 1: Mission Accomplished
Anyone who missed our first workshop sure did miss a lot! Current or budding entrepreneurs met to hear serial innovator, John Williamson, present an organized approach for digging up business ideas. The attendees were guided through a process of brainstorming and refinement to locate ideas most reflective of their interests. When it comes to ideas, "the more the merrier".
In case you could not attend, we have made the worksheet available for download. Your assignment is to start generating business ideas, so please use this worksheet as an aid. Remember -- all businesses begin with a single idea! We want YOU to develop some good ones, refine them, and bring one to fruition. Multiple businesses have been created in the Eclub, and more will follow. Will yours be next?
Homework:
1. Download this worksheet
2. Brainstorm for business ideas
3. Use the worksheet procedures to focus and refine
Please bring your ideas to the next workshop on October 5th! Bill Dotson will advise you on what to do next. More details on this will follow shortly...
Equities Cup Stock Market Competition
Urgent! We need some Eclubbers to compete in a national, intercollegiate investment portfolio competition. Schools such as Carnegie-Mellon, Cal-Berkeley, and many more will be participating. Trading will be performed over the internet via StockTrak, and the school with the highest-valued portfolio will receive a CASH PRIZE! So, if you already manage your own portfolio or have an interest in investing, please get involved! We need to get a team together soon -- the trading begins October 4. If you are interested, please contact nicholas@uky.edu AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!
What do I get: Cash prize, recognition, experience
When: October 4 - December
Contact nicholas@uky.edu immediately!
ASTeCC Seminar Series
"One Lawyer's Unauthorized, Uncensored Advice for Start-Ups",
Speaker: Kenneth R. Sagan, Esq. of Partner, Stites & Harbison - Lexington Office
Date: Thursday, September 23
Time: 4 p.m. (Refreshments available at 3:45 p.m.)
Location: A149 ASTeCC Bldg
The Emerging Leader Institute
WHAT IS THE EMERGING LEADER INSTITUTE?
The Emerging Leader Institute is a 3-credit Pass/Fail class that meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:30pm to 4:30pm in the Student Center. Throughout the semester the students will participate in leadership presentations from members of the UK faculty and staff. This is a great opportunity for students to develop their leadership skills as well as network in the UK and Lexington community. In addition, each student in the class develops an individual leadership project of their choice, along with helping to facilitate a one-day class leadership project. Each student is also a member of a mentor group, which is co-led by a UK faculty or staff member and a previous ELI participant.
HOW DO STUDENTS ENROLL?
ELI is only open to freshmen and sophomores, and participants must apply and be accepted prior to registering for the class. Applications can be found online at http://www.uky.edu/StudentCenter/StudentOrganizations/ELI/apply.htm, or may be picked up in room 106 of the Student Center (the Student Organizations Center).
Applications are due by October 15th.
If you have any specific Sophomores or Freshmen you would like to recommend please send their names to Jared Tippets or Angel Lee as soon as possible. Recommendations or other questions may be directed to Jared Tippets, 257-4673, jaredtippets@uky.edu or Angel Lee, 257-3589, angel.lee@uky.edu.
Check it out!
ideaFestival 2004
One of the largest events taking place Lexington, the ideaFestival is an incredible, five-day event bringing in speakers, innovators, and leaders from around the world. Presentations, performances, activities, and discussions will take place all day long, drawing some of the most enlightened visitors from the area and abroad. Some consider it an intellectual Woodstock for the mind and imagination, an event from which everyone can benefit. Please visit their website to learn about all the events taking place: http://www.ideafestival.com/
Date: September 21-25
Time: All day long
Location: Downtown Lexington and NKU METS
Careers in Intellectual Property Law
Open to all UK students, this informal session will feature speakers who discuss IP Law as a career field. Many questions will be answered! Pizza and soft drinks will be provided.
Date: Monday, October 4
Time: 12-12:50 p.m.
Location: 110 Law Building
Workshop 1: Idea Generation
Our Workshop series kicks off with the first of a series of interactive seminars designed to guide you through the entrepreneurship learning curve. We are excited about getting everyone involved in the development of an innovative idea. This workshop will help you learn to look at the world with an opportunistic eye. There are a lot of great ideas out there, and it only takes one to make all of your dreams a reality. We will also look at the important, and oftentimes overlooked, process of critical analysis. You have to know how to distinguish a good idea from a great idea and a realistic business concept from a pipe dream.
We are all about getting you involved in the startup process. This is what we like to think of as entrepreneurship training, a highly focused session that challenges you to think and act like real entrepreneurs. This isn't "The Apprentice", but no one's going to fire you either. We are here to help you learn what it takes and get your hands dirty in the process.
Date: Tuesday, September 21
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Ralph G. Anderson Bldg Room 203 (where our meetings now take place)
(this is the new bldg in the engineering complex, closest to the Whitehall classroom bldg)
Welcome meeting next Tuesday
Tuesday, September 7
It's time to get started on our journey toward entrepreneurship! This meeting will give you an overview of what we do and an outline for the upcoming events. Everyone will get an opportunity to network with one other and learn what other members are doing. Bring your ideas and ambition along!
Date: Tuesday, September 14
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Ralph G Anderson Bldg Room 203 (our new home this year!)
(this is the new bldg in the engineering complex, closest to the Whitehall classroom bldg)
Eclub Honors Club Founder, Dr. Lee Todd
Tuesday, September 7
UK Entrepreneurs kicked off another spectacular semester this past Tuesday by honoring those leaders who made Eclub what it is today. UK President, Dr. Lee Todd, received an award and plaque, along with the former Eclub presidents who also received awards.
For those unaware of our history, Eclub was an idea formed several years ago by our President, Dr. Lee Todd. Realizing that the University of Kentucky and the local economy would benefit from an organization encouraging entrepreneurship, he decided to take action and gather a group of individuals to guide the development of the club. In early 2002, the UK Enntrepreneurs Club was born.
Eric Mills, now a UK alumnus, was the first president and student leader of the UK Entrepreneurs Club. He set many goals and established many social connections we now take for granted today. Thanks to him, we have impact dinners and speaker series where high profile guests visit and share their story. In addition, our presence is now known across the state, on the internet, and among schools all over the country. As Mills approached graduation from law school, John Williamson accepted the title of president.
Williamson spread the organizational roots outward, building more support networks and planning entrepreneur curricula. The Idea Fair, Advisory Council, and workshops throughout the semester are the results of his efforts to maximize our potential. John plans to graduate at the end of the fall 2004 semester, so he passed the the position down to Nicholas Solon. Solon plans to add to the momentum begun by the previous leaders.
Dr. Bruce Walcott, an Associate Dean in the College of Engineering, serves as the acting faculty advisor for Eclub. Previous advisor, Dr. Tim Woods from the College of Agriculture, is on a mission in the Ukraine to teach entrepreneurship concepts in a developing economy. While Eclub may appear to involve exclusively the College of Business, our advisors demonstrate the support of entrepreneurship across other UK colleges, including agriculture and engineering. For that matter, one only need to look at the diverse crowd in attendance; majors represented include finance, marketing, English, pre-med, computer science, and many more.
As usual, the Eclub audience stayed around after the event and networked for the remainder of the evening. "I heard some tremendous business ideas and stories passed around," remarked Eclub president, Nicholas Solon. "It amazes me how much is going on here in Lexington and at UK -- students are coming forth and talking about their own enterprises."
Solon, along with previous president John Williamson, took the initiative to start their own Enterprise Team, 3rd Dimension Design. That team is now an internet company which they incorporated over a year ago. Eclub technical director, Scott Burns, met the two in the organization and soon joined the startup company. Not only does Scott work with 3DD, he also runs his own web hosting company, BQ Internet, based in lower Manhattan.
dAnyone finding this unusual is warmly encouraged to meet the type of people involved with Eclub..
