Have a great idea for a product but not sure where to go next?
A small business event Thursday is aimed at helping direct would-be entrepreneurs and innovators toward seeing the profits from those million-dollar concepts.
Organized by Jim Roberts, former director of UNC-Wilmington’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the session is set for 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20, at Ironclad Brewery, 115 N. Second St.
According to Roberts, the free event has been so well received thus far that it sold out at 100 tickets. He recently added 15 additional tickets for those who are still interested in attending.
Working under the concept that “many people believe they have the greatest idea since shark repellant” but don’t capitalize on it, the session will focus on the next three steps to take.
“Many people create a solution when they don’t yet know the problem or if there is enough of a market to buy the product to make it worth starting a company around–selling ice cream in winter in Alaska?,” Robert said. “Many people ask me if they should start a company or license the idea to an existing company. How much time and resources do you have personally to follow through with company creation?”
Those questions and more will be put to a panel of experts joining the discussion.
UNCW graduate and former Seahawk golfer Ron Pontiff, maker of Safe T Stool, will be on hand. The anti-slip, anti-tip utility stool has seen success on QVC. Also joining the conversation are Doug Scholer, a locally based patent attorney with Toler Law Group of Austin, Texas and Andrew Williams, founder of Elite Innovations Makerspace, which produces prototypes for Wilmington-area entrepreneurs.
Mitsi Kincaid of Kincaid and Associates will moderate the discussion, and Ironclad brews will be available.
There is no cost to attend but registration is required. Click here to register.
