Oprah. Jay –Z. Mark Zuckerberg. All of these entrepreneurs became successful because of one factor, they used their passions to start a business. In this keynote, Kathryn Finney, founder of digitalundivided, teaches you the five simple principles you need to know to help get your business STARTed.

Take Away: How to start your business in five simple steps.

Speaker: Kathryn Finney – Founder, digitalundivided

Ideas, passion, drive, creativity – many people have these traits, but few manage to translate them into successful companies. So what does it take to make it? How do great entrepreneurs think? Via key insights from successful women entrepreneurs and research on the brain of the Small Business Owner, OPEN Forum shares just what it takes to be an expert entrepreneur.

Take Away: Mindset of the successful small business.

Speaker: Elisabeth Yarbrough – OPEN Forum

You don’t have to be a computer programmer to start a digital company, but you do have to have a passion for your business. In this panel, four different types of digital entrepreneurs talk about how they got started in the digital/tech industry and how they overcame challenges to become successful women business owners.

Takeaway: Key tips for growing and starting your digital business.

Moderator:
Tai Beauchamp – Blueprint, LLC

Panelists:
Candace Mitchell , CEO, Techturized
Kendra Bracken Ferguson – Co-Founder/COO, DBA
Tracey Solomon – Founder, Hoseanna
Rachel Brooks – Founder, Citizen Made Co.

Rap Genius, a site that decodes the meaning behind rap lyrics, recently raised 15 million dollars in venture capital funding. Can urban digital entrepreneurs do it? What things should you say and do when wooing prospective investors? Our panel of well-respected tech investors will explain key concepts of digital funding. You’ll learn the difference between venture capital, angel funding, government grants, and traditional bank loans. They’ll also reveal why they invest in some projects, but don’t invest in others.

Takeaway: The five questions you should ASK when seeking funding.

Moderator: Simone Castillo, Angel Investor

Panelists:
Kesha Cash – Managing Director, Jalia Ventures
Eghosa Omoigui – Managing Director, ECHOVC
Lauren Maillian Bias – Venture Capitalist, Gen Y Capital
William Crowder- Managing Director, DreamIT

In these workshops, successful web entrepreneurs teach you how to dig deep into tech, funding, and marketing your business. Specific attention is paid to the needs of the urban digital entrepreneur and attendees are encouraged to attend several sessions.

What You Need to Know BEFORE You Leave Your Day Job: Room 130
You’re ready to leave the office cubicle and venture out in the wild world of online entrepreneurship. But first, our expert panel will give you the lowdown on what it’s like to be an online entrepreneur, how to test out your idea BEFORE leaving your day job, how to get your family on board, and how to navigate financial issues. They’ll tell you the relationships you need to build and questions to ASK before taking the leap into entrepreneurship.

Takeaway: How to leave your day job and START your business.

Moderator: Ella Gorgla – Founder, i-Ella

Panelists:
Candace Mitchell , CEO, Techturized
Elisa Camahort Page – Founder/CEO, BlogHer
Cheryl Contee – Founder, Attentive.ly

Tech Speak for Beginners: Room 133

If you’ve ever found yourself intimidated by tech terms like HTML, JavaScript, or WordPress, then you MUST attend this workshop. Our panel of experts ALL had to teach themselves how to “speak” tech. This workshop teaches you the key tech terms you need to know to run your online business, awesome FREE online resources to grow your tech skills, and the importance of speaking the tech “language”.

Takeaway: Become fluent in tech speak.

Workshop Moderator: Kelechi Anyadiegwu, Social Media Manager, digitalundivided

Panelists:

Rachel Brooks – Founder, Citizen Made Co.
Tracey Solomon – Founder, Hoseanna

Everything You Need to Know to Build Your Site/Product: Room 232

In this session, technology experts guide you through the process of developing your site. They’ll explain the term “Minimal Viable Product,” how to use outsourcing services like oDesk to quickly develop your site, and the questions you should ASK any web developer BEFORE hiring them.

Takeaway: How to build your product (your site, mobile app, blog) as a non- programmer.

Workshop Moderator: Sian Morson – Founder & CEO, Kollective Mobile

Panelists:
Navarrow Wright – CTO, Interactive One
Tobias Wright-  Front End Developer, Victoria’s Secret

How to Market Your Company on the Cheap: Room 226

During the session, our entrepreneurs will share their insights on how to get your first paying customer, including how to generate buzz, the difference between marketing and PR, and how to create a solid marketing plan. You’ll learn the right questions to ask to engage media, partner organizations, and supporters in promoting your business.

Takeaway: How to use marketing to attract paying customers.

Workshop Moderator: Kat Calvin, Blerdology

Panelists:
Lauren Maillian Bias – Venture Capitalist, Gen Y Capital
Kendra Bracken Ferguson- Co-Founder/COO, DBA

How well can you sell your idea in 60 seconds? In this session, up to 12 attendees who completed our pre-event survey will have one (1) minute to pitch their business idea to top investors. The winner will receive up to $5000 in prizes to help them START and GROW their business.

Prizes Include
- Dell Inspiron 15 Laptop Computer
- Five hours with a top web developer
- $500 gift card to Office Max

Moderator: Kathryn Finney, Managing Director, digitalundivided

Judging Panel
William Crowder- Managing Director, DreamIt
Navarrow Wright – CTO, Interactive One
Eghosa Omoigui – Managing Director, ECHOVC
Lauren Maillian Bias – Venture Capitalist, Gen Y Capital
Donna Ennis, Project Director, MBDA Business Center Atlanta, Georgia Tech
Elisa Camahort Page, COO and founder, BlogHer

Mentors will be available in the lobby of the Science center for informal mentorship sessions. We encourage you to use this time to receive feedback on your business idea and get sound advice on how to start your tech company.

Event Ends at 6pm