Building Intellectual Capital and Business Opportunities!
StartWest focuses on technology-based, entrepreneurial companies. This site reports on events, news and topics that occur in the Sheridan area and beyond that are technology and business related. In addition, the site provides resources for starting a technology-based company in Sheridan or supporting and growing a company that is already here and established.
Drop us a note:
Do you have an announcement to make that is technology based? Do you have a lead on a story regarding technology or business in the Sheridan area? Or, are you looking for resources?
The Eureka! Winning Ways program is a scientific method to accelerate reliable growth in your business. The program is founded around the disciplined principles of Powell native Dr. Deming. The Eureka program helps businesses to develop their growth leadership skills, and to develop a real growth pipeline. The Eureka program will provide a systematic process that can help companies learn:
“Customer pull selling”–using the 3 laws of marketing physics
How to engage your entire team in growth
How to get products to the market much faster
A system for continuous growth
Manufacturing-Works will provide a free growth assessment for any company that attends. This assessment will indicate how ready the company is to grow, and what obstacles that they may encounter.
This program is for all types of companies in Sheridan and Johnson Counties. Eureka is for any company that is serious about growth.
Two seminars will be held in Tuesday, July 29th:
12:30 pm to 2 pm (lunch served)
5 pm to 6:30 pm (Hors D’oeurves served)
All seminars will be held at the Wyoming Business and Training Center, 1831 South Sheridan Avenue, Suite A in Sheridan, WY. Seminars are free to attend; to register, please contact Philippe Chino at 673-8004 or via email at philippe@forwardsheridan.com
Small Business Development Center’s popular
Business Counselor Training Course
Holiday Inn, Cheyenne
August 12-15, 2008
Four days of comprehensive, interactive sessions include:
§ opportunities to network with your business development peers and discover new resources
§ a great crash course on everything that an economic development professional needs to be aware of to work with businesses in Wyoming
§ training in 12 Modules (Code of Professional Conduct, Counseling Techniques, Public Speaking and Training, Cross-Selling Services, Product Development, Government Regulations & Services, Market Research and Planning, Financial Statement Analysis, Sources & Requirements for Funding, Business Plan Development, Starting a New Business and Human Resources)
§ New this year: social networking, Web 2.0, and the future of business development
$150 registration fee includes training, lunches and materials
Registration Deadline, July 25, 2008
Sign up now. This class won’t be offered again until 2010.
Free CD gives sneak preview of this year’s Idea Expo
Wyoming business counseling and training goes “Web 2.0″!
Farmers’ market grants offset high fuel costs
Adverting grants offered to Wyoming small businesses
Need a small amount of capital? Try a Wyoming microloan!
Wyoming Travel and Tourism hosts signage workshops
SBDC’s popular business counselor training course slated for August 12-15
Business Week seeks top 25 under 25
Secretary of State offers new website
Grant opportunity announced for veteran franchisees
Community assessment team member training planned for August
Interested in selling to the government? We’re here to help!
Free CD gives sneak preview of this year’s Idea Expo
The Wyoming Business Council is giving away copies of Doug Hall’s audio CD Jumpstart Your Business Brain to whet your appetite for the Idea Expo, slated for October 9-10, Little America, Cheyenne. Hall, described by Dateline NBC as “an eccentric entrepreneur who just might have what we’ve all been looking for - the happy secret to success” will share his secrets as keynote speaker. Hall is the founder and CEO of Eureka! Ranch, an “invention & research think tank” specializing in igniting bold thinking on new products and services for corporate clients. A sought after speaker on innovation he’s authored four books including the national bestseller, Jump Start Your Business Brain. Mark your calendar for October 9 - 10 and contact Brandon Marshall today for your free CD, 307-777-2820; brandon.marshall@wybusiness.org.
Wyoming business counseling and training goes “Web 2.0″!
WyomingEntrepreneur.Biz has launched a new Web 2.0 interface allowing Wyoming businesses to interact with SBDC counselors through a secured dashboard. This enables you to log into the site, access a library of valuable business information, communicate regularly with consultants and coaches and register for classes.
The Wyoming Business Council has created the Farmers’ Market Fuel Reimbursement Grant to help Wyoming producers offset transportation costs associated with participating in farmers’ markets. To qualify for a grant applicants must: be a Wyoming producer travelling to a Wyoming farmers’ market; sell fruits, vegetables, meats, or other value-added ag products; and, meet income eligibility requirements based on annual net farm income and family size. Fuel costs will be reimbursed at half the federal mileage rate, currently 29 cents per mile. Application deadline is August 30. Contact Kim Porter, 307-777-6319; kim.porter@wybusiness.org.
Adverting grants offered to Wyoming small businesses
“Bresnan Business Incubator Grants” for cable advertising are now available from Bresnan Communications, Inc. in partnership with WyomingEntrepreneur.Biz Small Business Development Center. Grant funds range from $500 to $10,000 and must be matched dollar for dollar by grant recipient. Each grant provides free commercial production and assistance with advertising strategies. Applications must include a business plan, legal business documentation and historical financial data. Contact the Wyoming Small Business Development Center at 800-348-5194 or apply online.
Need a small amount of capital? Try a Wyoming microloan!
The Wyoming Women’s Business Center makes loans to individuals needing small amounts of capital. The center is now accepting applications for microloans ranging from $500 to $10,000 to help fund business start-ups or expansions. Your credit must be C+ or better to receive a microloan with a maximum term of six years. Individual technical assistance is available for the duration of the loan. Contact WWBC, 307-766-3084; wwbc@uwyo.edu.
Wyoming Travel and Tourism hosts signage workshops
Wyoming Travel and Tourism is presenting workshops around the state on the basics of developing interpretive signs. Topics include developing interpretive text, standard design guidelines, fabrication methods and installation requirements. Workshop binder and reference materials included. Applicants and recipients of the WTT Turnout and Sign grant are strongly encouraged to attend. Seating limited to 20 participants. Upcoming dates and locations: Cheyenne, August 5; Rock Springs, September 9; Pinedale, September 10; Lander, September 17. $50 Fee. Contact Leslie Kedelty, 307-777-2839 or 307-214-0465; Leslie.Kedelty@visitwyo.gov.
SBDC’s popular business counselor training course slated for August 12-15
Sign up now this four-day crash course on everything an economic development professional needs to know to work with businesses in Wyoming. Network with business development peers and dig into the basics of counseling, statewide resources, government regs, marketing, finances, business startup, human resources and public speaking. This year we’ve added a module on social networking and Web 2.0. $150 fee includes training, lunches and materials. Register by July 25. Contact Candy Lane, 307-234-6691; sweetone@uwyo.edu.
Business Week seeks top 25 under 25
Business Week announced it’s fourth annual search for the Top 25 US entrepreneurs who are 25 years old or younger. If you know someone who fits, whose business shows a clear potential for growth, nominate him or her at the Business Week site. Nominations accepted until July 21.
The Wyoming Secretary of State’s new website is easy to use and filled with valuable information for entrepreneurs. If you want to register a business name, use the eCommerce section to see if it is available. Check out the pros and cons of various forms of business such as partnerships, LLCs and corporations. Filing forms available on the site.
Grant opportunity announced for veteran franchisees
The VetFran Business Grant Fund, sponsored by the IFA Educational Foundation and the PepsiCo Foundation, assists veterans who have been awarded a franchise through the IFA VetFran program. Financial grants of up to $10,000 may be used for business development, education, training, technical assistance, the purchase of equipment and products or services necessary for the operation of business. Candidates must have received an honorable discharge from any branch of the US Military or Coast Guard.
For more information and application
Community assessment team member training planned for August
If you would like to be a team member of the Wyoming Rural Development Council’s community assessment process, sign up for the training scheduled for August 14 in Cheyenne. Community assessments give you an opportunity to delve into community topics such as agriculture, education, volunteerism, economic development, infrastructure, health and social services, housing needs, planning, town beautification, town communications, youth activities and recreation. 9:30 am - 3:00 pm, Little America, Cheyenne. Contact Jo Ferguson, 307-777-5812; jo.ferguson@wybusiness.org.
Interested in selling to the government? We’re here to help!
Learn how to complete required registrations and receive one-on-one assistance in this workshop scheduled for EWC Community Training Center, Torrington, August 12, 8:00 am - 10:00 am. We will register you for our bid match service, review helpful websites and share examples of products and services agencies are currently buying. For more information and to register call Shannon Howshar, GRO-Biz, 307-637-5029; Lisa Johnson, Goshen County EDC, 307-532-5162.
Wyoming Small Business Development Center is a partnership between the U. S. Small Business Administration, the Wyoming Business Council and the University of Wyoming.
I thought this was an interesting coda to the recent presentation on SecondLife by Debra Kayser of Sheridan College:
TOKYO (AFP) — A paralysed man using only his brain waves has been able to manipulate a virtual Internet character, Japanese researchers said Monday, calling it a world first.The 41-year-old patient used his imagination to make his character take a walk and chat to another virtual person on the popular Second Life website.
