For that last few years, the topic of conversation has been what we need.  We need more businesses.  We need more jobs.  We need more innovation.  We need entrepreneurs. We need capital.  We need …

Add it all up…we need more growth.  But if growing a business was as simple as talking about it – every new idea would grow to be a billion dollar business.

 

AZEC 11 created by HGM-INNOVATIONS (c) (s) 2011 from Professor Henry G. Miller on Vimeo.

 

This year at AZEC11 the focus is GROWTH.

Connect, Engage, Grow!

1. Collaboration: the first ingredient is to get the community to work together, pulling in the same direction for the same goals. If well-intentioned efforts spring up all over the place, each claiming its own piece of the territory, sooner or later, those efforts collide and weaken their combined effect. We  gather the high growth business community  to achieve critical mass.  Join us to hear the story of one of the most successful Entrepreneurial Centers in the country. Learn how they started, how they grew, and how we can do it too.

2. A Team: No one succeeds alone.  You need a team to move up the growth curve.  But where do you find the right people, with the right skills and at the right time? And… once you find them, how do you keep them engaged and moving your company forward.

3. Shared Knowledge: AZEC Startup Panels share what they have learned at each stage of the process from launch to growth to success in their chosen market place

4. Marketing: Mobile is exploding in 2011. What is Mobile Marketing and what opportunities  does it create for business? Where is it going?

5. Investment Capital: This comes last. Money follows community and talent. Building the ties between the money and the people who need it is a major objective.

What does this all add up to? Creating a sense of place. When you create such a sense of place, people will want to move there, start their businesses there. and most important, stay there. Be here now!

Where does the money from your ticket go?

It goes to help entrepreneurs who are disadvantaged receive training and resources to continue the tradition of entrepreneurship. The Opportunity Through Entrepreneurship Foundation, a 501 (c)3, was founded in 2005 to help grow the community by growing our entrepreneurial culture. Every penny above our costs goes to fund programs.  There is no overhead and no administration in this organization. Visit the OTEF blog to see the results of our previous programs.

OTEF is grateful to all of the individuals, companies and community organizations who have supported us over the last SIX years. Here is a listing of a few of these great organizations.

Passing the Torch

AZEC11 is the place where entrepreneurs gather to Connect,  Share ideas, and Be Inspired.

We hope to see you there.

Even if you can’t make it, you still have the opportunity to participate by passing the entrepreneurial torch and sponsoring a student.  (Simply click REGISTER NOW up above) and select “Sponsor a Student”.

Each student is asked to complete a short essay after the event on their Three Best Take Aways from AZEC11 and share it with their sponsor.