A panel discussion September 24 at the University of Tampa aims to help students and the community better understand microfunding for entrepreneurial ventures.
The sixth installment of the
MainStreet Speaker Series at the University of Tampa (UT)'s
Entrepreneurship Center will allow students to network and connect with business leaders in Tampa Bay, as well as hear from a panel about crowdfunding for their business.
The Speaker Series originally began in 2012 as a way to provide information and inspiration to UT entrepreneurship students from local business leaders. Past speakers have included Jeff Stevenson, founder and CEO of VinoPro and Bonnie Harvey and Michael Houlihan, co-founders of Barefoot Cellars.
This fall, the focus will be on crowdfunding. The topic was selected strategically, to help give students a deeper look into non-traditional ways to fund their business. Often, students’ entrepreneurial plans come to a halt when they realize the amount of capital needed to make them a reality. The event’s goal is to help these students understand funding mechanisms as well as encourage the community to support Tampa Bay-based start-ups.
"We’re trying to pinpoint those burning topics for entrepreueurs and connect our students with this amazing entrepreneurship community that we have in Tampa," says James Zebrowski, program assistant for the UT Entrepreneurship Center and recent UT graduate.
The panel is moderated by Reid Haney of
Hill Ward Henderson, P.A. and will include Roland Chase, Hill Ward Henderson, Roberto Torres,
Black and Denim and David Chitester,
Florida Funders.
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