Eastside Cities Launch Free Resources for Entrepreneurs
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY March 27, 2018
CONTACT Lisa Maher, Communications & Marketing Manager lmaher@redmond.gov 425-556-2427
Redmond, WA – Five Eastside cities have partnered through the Startup 425 program to
bring free training resources to entrepreneurs.
Startup
425 Foundations is a series of free workshops for individuals who have a great
idea for a product or business. The program seeks to bring together innovators, business advisors and entrepreneurs for a broad
overview of the startup process, from ideation and business planning to
financing and marketing. Workshops are held weekly in the evenings to allow for
mid-career exploration and include light refreshments.
The workshops include topics such as:
-
Ideation. Develop and
assess your idea to determine whether it might be viable as a product. Discuss
the ideation process with a panel.
-
Business Licensing. Learn about
business structures and licensing structures under Washington state and city
requirements.
-
Business Plans. Understand the business planning
process and what elements are crucial when developing your plan.
-
Financing. Explore your
financing options. Determine which option might make the most sense for your
business.
-
Marketing. Define your
target customer and how to reach them. Consider how social media can be an
effective tool.
-
Networking & Mentoring. Learn more about
the resources available to you on the Eastside to support and grow your
business.
In its
first year, the Foundations program served more than 150 Eastside residents at
16 workshops. More than 60 percent of attendees identified as women and almost
two-thirds identified as people of color.
“We are
excited that our workshops are attracting such a diverse audience,” said Jesse
Canedo, Program Manager for Startup 425. “Startup 425 is dedicated to
supporting aspiring entrepreneurs—no matter what their background—as they begin
the journey of starting a business.”
Startup
425 is a partnership of the cities of Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland,
Issaquah and Renton, with support from the Port of Seattle and the King County
Library System. Speakers are provided by Greater Seattle SCORE, a program of
the Small Business Administration.
To learn
more about Startup 425 and the Foundations workshop series, including the
schedule and locations, visit www.startup425.org. For questions about this press
release contact Lisa Maher, Communications & Marketing Manager, at lmaher@redmond.gov or 425-556-2427. This press
release is available on www.redmond.gov.
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