Innovation Week ATX is a week-long conference for Central Texas entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders. We’ll celebrate National Small Business Week in style with engaging panels, interactive workshops, and thought-provoking sessions designed to help you grow your business.
Innovation Week ATX 2016 Agenda
Monday, May 2
8:30-10:00 AM Build Your Marketing Toolkit: Engage Customers and Prospects with Email, Events, Social Media, and More with Amy Hajdu, Say It Said Marketing
Are you constantly seeking or wondering the right strategies to make your marketing efforts as effective as possible? If you answered yes, you’re not alone. The majority of businesses and organizations report the same frustrations. With so many different marketing activities you could focus on, often times you miss some of the core concepts that prove a little bit of marketing knowledge can go a long way!
This presentation is designed to uncover the best strategies to make your marketing efforts as effective as possible – especially in this digital, fast paced world.
10:00-11:00 AM Common Accounting Mistakes that are Costing You Money with Dwayne Brisco, Bookkeeping Results LLC
For new business owners or current business owners, there’s often times issues to where you’re not sure if something is a business deduction or not. Learn about common accounting mistakes that can not only cost you and your business money, it can also cost you additional taxes or a potential loan to expand your business. Key points from this session can be immediately applied to your current status following this session and find out how you can save money by managing your finances better.
11:00 AM-12:00 PM Education Technology: Exposure, Inclusion, and Access with Michael Henderson, Doing Development
From Texas to Austin to Malaysia and beyond—from local politics to international collaboration—effective, efficient logistics, coordinated with passion and a smile, are my lifeblood. I am passionate about developing pipelines of talent in community building, education technology, and innovation. I’ve spent the last decade developing my expansive skill set by teaching, sharing, and empowering our world with technology both locally and internationally. For example, I re-imagine volunteerism. If you are a data scientist, front end, or back end developer—why not use your unique talents to transfer know-how to others through education technology-based volunteerism?
12:00-1:00 PM Interviewing & Hiring for Small Businesses 101 with Isis Martinez, E2E Workplace Solutions
Are you in the business planning stage and and can’t get past the hiring/staffing plan? Are you launched and stretched so thin that you need to hire someone, stat? Did you hire employee(s) already and know you need a better system? The answer to these questions can be answered by learning the basics and best practices relating to hiring and interviewing. Please join Isis Martinez, Principal and Founder of E2E Workplace Solutions LLC, and seasoned HR professional with 15 years of experience to learn the following: How to determine a hiring need? How to attract candidates? What are some best practices for interviewing candidates? What labor law issues do you need to be aware of?
1:00-2:00 PM How to Make Infographics that Change the World (for Nonprofits) with Ivy Le, 9terrains
History is made by people who can communicate their ideas to the world. Infographics bring complex ideas to life for audiences who are overwhelmed with competing content. In this workshop, change makers and activists will learn the 6 steps to concept, create, and promote transformative infographics. Whether your communications goal is awareness, advocacy, or fundraising, this course will give you the necessary tools to create the perfect graphic for your cause.
2:00-3:00 PM City of Austin Supports Local Business with Vicky Valdez, Austin Small Business Development Department
Did you know that the City of Austin offers no-cost , individualized coaching to help start or grow your business? Want to become more efficient in running your business? Take our very affordable business classes. Ready to expand your business? The City has a low-interest expansion loan for qualified borrowers. Spend an hour with us and learn all the ways the City’s Small Business Program makes help accessible and affordable.
3:00-4:00 PM Lights, Phone, Action – Capturing the Video Micro-Moments with Ashley Flores, Texas Made TV
Your mobile device is more than texts, calls and cute emojis. In your hand is the key to a video marketing campaign that can get a quick message out. From ideation to creation, we’ll walk you through the getting started process.
4:00-5:00 PM Making Purple Cows: The Art & Science Behind Viral Marketing with Elijah May, The Experience Firm
Word of mouth is not only not new, it’s the oldest form of marketing we have. What has changed – beyond our wildest dreams – is the technology that allows us to share information farther, wider, and faster than ever before in human history. This is how word of mouth became “viral”.
Yes, much has been made of the mystery behind viral marketing, but we’ve read the books, analyzed the case studies, and even tried a few things ourselves… and we just don’t believe it’s that complicated. In fact, we’ve identified four simple factors that – when employed together – seem to consistently produce viral sensations. In this session we’ll tell (and show) you what they are.
5:00-7:00 PM How QuickBooks Can Make Your Business More Profitable with Dwayne Briscoe, Bookkeeping Results LLC
If you’re not sure if QuickBooks is the right software for your business accounting needs, or you’re currently using it and have questions, then this is going to be a fun and informative program to attend. Learn the different types of editions to show the benefits of your particular business. Determine what different types of information are needed to be tracking everything to help maximize your profits. If you have specific questions regarding your current business please feel free to bring them to this program and have them addressed by a Certified QuickBooks Pro Advisor with over 10+ years of experience.
Tuesday, May 3
9:00-10:00 AM Striving to Build your Business or Start a Business? with Beth Tracy, IBM
Don’t miss out! Learn about the IBM Small Medium Enterprise (SME) Toolkit. This resource site may be exactly what you are looking for to establish a small business or grow systemically. SME Toolkit was developed to assist Asian, Black, Hispanic, Native American, Women-owned businesses, Veterans and persons with disabilities with essential business tools. Within five minutes or five hours, you can find the tools, content, resources and more to serve your business development needs. Additionally, learn about Supplier Connection, a free cloud based IBM initiative to grow small businesses and create jobs in the U.S.; connecting your small business to the supply chains of Fortune 500 corporations and other large organizations.
10:00-11:00 AM Tax Reduction Strategies for Business Owners: Leveraging Credits, Deductions, and Time with Mimi Le, New York Life Insurance
This will be a discussion for business owners on tax deferrals, credits and deductions, tax-advantaged retirement savings, controlled timing of year end income/billing as well as a brief overview of tax implications of chosen business entities.
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM WordPress 101 for Business Owners with Lindsey Tyner, Alt Creative
This session will cover the basics of WordPress. Whether you want to setup your own WordPress site or you already own one and want more information about how to use it effectively, this session will explain the basic structure of WordPress and the various options available to business owners. We will go over the differences between wordpress.org and wordpress.com and how frameworks, themes, widgets and plugins fit into the picture, and how to effectively integrate with Social Media.
12:00-1:00 PM 6 Thinking Hats – A Tools Based Approach for Faster and Better Thinking with Lisa Bargsley, Operational Strategies
Where do you do your best thinking? How do you come up with that one special idea that shines above all the others? Are you managing your business with the same tried and true tools you learned along the way? Do you have more questions than answers?
If you are ready and committed to make a thinking change, this workshop is for you. Experience Parallel Thinking, a practical, radical and innovative change management tool that produces measurable results for your company’s bottom line.
1:00-2:00 PM Banker Brown Bag Lunch: Consumer Products
This special session will feature local bankers as they share information on consumer checking, savings, credit cards, and more.
2:00-3:00 PM Business Law Basics: What and Who You Need to Know with Sung Je Lee, The Fowler Law Firm
This session will go through the various types of business entities available to entrepreneurs as they begin their journey of owning a thriving business. This session will also cover basic business law issues that every business owner should know and will also cover the major pitfalls to avoid when starting one’s business. The session will focus on the keys to success in navigating the beginning stages of business ownership from a legal and business perspective.
3:00-4:00 PM The Power of Mobile Marketing with Amy Hajdu, Say It Said Marketing
Consumers are using mobile devices to find what they need, assess their options and make quick decisions including on-the-spot purchases. Small businesses and non-profits who embrace mobile are in the best position to take advantage of this growing trend. This session will help you understand the phenomenon of mobile marketing, help your business stay ahead of the competition and how you can leverage it as a service opportunity to help your clients/members access the information they are searching for.
4:00-5:00 PM HR Models for Small Businesses with Rebecca Stewart, Insperity
Wednesday, May 4
9:00-10:00 AM Panel: Developing a Diverse & Inclusive Austin Business Community
Often cited as the one of the fastest growing cities, Austin also carries the weight of being the most economically segregated metro area in the country. What steps have we taken thus far to alleviate this disparity? How can we maximize the efforts of government, business, philanthropy, non-profits and citizens to develop a more diverse and inclusive business community?
This engaging panel will feature:
10:00-11:00 AM Creating a Strong Online Presence with Responsive Web Design and SEO with Eric Shelton, SpaceCraft
No matter what size your business is or what industry you’re in, having a strong online presence is a vital component of your marketing strategy.
Your online presence is important for outbound marketing, as it reinforces your brand to your customers and separates you from your competitors. When you connect with your customers, you’ll need to have a web presence that reinforces your value, leading to more potential clients! It’s also crucial for inbound marketing, because quality online content will attract new customers even if they have never heard of your brand. This interactive course will teach you how to build a successful online presence and SEO campaign without breaking the bank.
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Why Do People Buy From You? with Ivy Le, 9terrains
Your business is not your product or service. Customers have probably chosen to buy from you from among dozens if not hundreds of other businesses who offer something similar. Why? This workshop helps entrepreneurs identify the brand promise that’s resonating with your clients, the customer experience that turns buyers into your biggest fans, and how to communicate these through your brand story and brand identity to attract even more people.
12:00 AM – 1:00 PM Employment Issues Facing Small & Mid-Sized Businesses with Marrero PLLC
How do I treat my employees fairly, while at the same time protecting myself and my business from potential liability? What do I do if a former employee files a claim for unemployment benefits? What types of insurance do I need? Whether you have five, 50, or 150 employees, these are questions every business owner needs to know the answers to. This session will address the importance of written policies and procedures for employees, with a focus on employee grievances, claims by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and claims for unemployment benefits. We will also discuss the various types of insurance that your business may need, including workers’ compensation and employment practices coverage.
1:00-2:00 PM Banker Brown Bag Lunch: Small Business Banking
This special session will feature local bankers as they share information on small business checking, savings, credit card merchant services, and more.
2:00-3:00 PM 10 Questions to Ask Before Starting a Food Business with Patricia Bauer-Slate, Sweetish Hill Bakery
Sweetish Hill Bakery, Restaurant & Deli founder Patricia Bauer-Slate knows food and how to make dough! Learn from her the rise and fall of the food business before getting burned. How can you grease the wheels for your business? Find the right ingredients from the start. Here’s her recipe for success that you can apply to your creation.
3:00-4:00 PM Practical PR Tips for Startups and Small Business with Dave Manzer
This workshop will help startups and small businesses learn the basics of PR. We will discuss how to find newsworthy stories about what you are doing, which kinds of media to approach with your story ideas, how to pitch reporters, and even discuss some pointers on how to write news pitches and press releases. The workshop is designed to be interactive, so plan to share your stories and have a little fun along the way.
4:00-5:00 PM The Crowdfunding Rundown with Eugene Kim, NextSeed
Imagine a website where you list your business and people pledge money or invest in your business. You can raise funds in different ways from the community and reward or repay your backers. That’s the essence of crowdfunding. It’s not just about money, though. Fortune 500 companies are crowdfunding because of another critical part of doing business – marketing.
Learn about the three key types of crowdfunding websites, how they work and how you can use them to help grow your business.
Thursday, May 5
(FULL) 9:00-10:00 AM What’s Better than Shark Tank Dollars? The Team Mentoring Approach to Growth with Profit Mover Team, Business Success Center
Money is nice but if you watch these kinds of shows, most entrepreneurs really want and need more. No matter if you’re new to business or have a going business with growth issues, we have a golden opportunity for you. Sign up to meet simultaneously with the Business Success Center’s Profit Mover™ mentoring team of business experts for 30 minutes. This group mentoring approach to business will provide you with direction and advice on legal, marketing, funding, financial, HR and sales issues based on a proven unified approach to achieve a successful launch or growth. Your company might even be selected by the team to be part of an upcoming TV series and receive additional group mentoring and possibly funding assistance. To make the best use of everyone’s time and to prepare the team, please complete the survey at http://bit.ly/Mentoringrequestquestionnaire
10:00-11:00 AM Paperwork: What Records Do I Really Need and Why? with Lisa Bargsley, Sage Speaking LLC
Paperwork! I don’t have the time to spend keeping up with details – I’m too busy growing my business and doing the work! Is this your thinking? Have you ever asked yourself – what do I really need to have and to keep as records for the IRS, the State of Texas, my bank, or even the people I want to do business with? If so, this class is for you! Learn the basics of what records to create, how long to keep them, and how to use this information to grow your business even more!
11:00 AM-12:00 PM Focus on Your Strengths for Success with Carol Johnson, Connected Teams
Have you ever wondered why doing some things exhausts you, and doing other things exhilarates you? We are each wired with unique talent themes that make certain tasks (and careers) come more easily for us. When we add education, practice, skill-building and intention, these talent themes can become our super strengths. Using them gives us not only success, but energy. The StrengthsFinder Assessment by Gallup, Inc. is a quick, easy way to find out how you are wired. Learn about what the StrengthsFinders Assessment measures (and what it does not), so you can approach your work and life from a strengths-based approach, as opposed to the weakness-fixing approach that we have all been taught. This will introduce you to a whole new way of living.
12:00 AM-1:00 PM 50+ Ways to Fund a Business with Jan Triplett, Business Success Center
If you heard how many ways there are to fund your business, you wouldn’t believe it! There will be more than 50 funding options presented and you can do any of them to some degree no matter how small your business is or how long you’ve been in business. How do you choose? Presenter Jan Triplett will also discuss the 5 key factors to consider based on which one is best for your situation and timing and how to have a reasonable funding backup plan. Join the discussion and add your own ideas.
1:00-2:00 PM Banker Brown Bag Lunch: Special Savings, Insurance & Investments
This special session will feature local bankers as they share information on special savings programs for retirements, investments, money markets, and college savings.
2:00-3:00 PM Maximize Your Facebook Marketing Strategies with Bill Combes, No Time for Social
Most of the 1.59 Billion people are Facebook do not own businesses but for the ones that do, having a Facebook business page is about as important that having a website. In fact for some businesses Facebook is more important. If you visit 100 random business Facebook pages you will find companies that do an excellent job managing their pages and some doing an abysmal job. We’ll cover the techniques and strategies needed to effectively manage your business Facebook page. In addition, we’ll show you techniques to use Facebook (and Instagram) ads to connect with your customers and future customers opposed to older traditional advertising mediums.
3:00-4:00 PM Intro to the Cooperative Model: Improving Communities Through Ownership with Nicole Renaux, Black Star Co-op
Co-ops exist to meet the needs of their members and communities. In this session, you’ll hear an overview about the cooperative model, learn how this model can be applied to various business types, and explore stories of co-ops that are transforming their communities. After discussing some advantages and struggles of cooperative ownership, you’ll leave this session with resources to find out more about starting a co-op or converting an existing business.
Nicole Renaux works on the Business Team at Black Star Co-op, a member-owned and worker self-managed pub and brewery serving house crafted beer and sustainably sourced pub fare in North Central Austin. Nicole also serves as Board President of the Austin Cooperative Business Association.
4:00-5:00 PM The Marketing Core – Cover the Basics to Win More Customers with Grant Chambers, Workhorse Marketing
Grant Chambers, CEO of Austin-based Workhorse Marketing, presents a series of fundamental marketing activities that any small business should be using to efficiently acquire and retain more customers. Based on their program, The Marketing Core, he will explain how to approach the organization and execution of these activities on a monthly basis.
Friday, May 6
9:00-10:00 AM Women’s Power Networking: Entrepreneur Meetup
10:00-11:00 AM Find Out What it Takes to Lead the New Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas with Christann Vasquez, Seton Medical Center
Join Christann Vasquez, the first president of the Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas, to learn how to be an effective leader during major growth and innovation. During this session, she will speak about her role in building the new teaching hospital, provide insights on managing others in times of change, and answer questions about the positive impact the hospital will have on small businesses and for entrepreneurs.
11:30 AM-1:00 PM Social Impact as an Innovation Strategy, with Ruben Cantu, Core Media Enterprises
In today’s age, the secret to longevity in a company is when they are truly invested in the social impact of their community. By creating a business model of putting People, Planet first it can result in higher Profits. Now more than ever consumers and especially the younger generation are demanding this of their companies they do business with. It is now more important to know the path and nuances. We will talk about the difference between giving to charity, contrasting that to Corporate Social Responsibility and finally the ideal, a B Corp, which is to use your skills and strengths of your company to make a social impact on your community and the world while still making a profit.
We will talk about how to brainstorm the process, how to measure success and how to apply for B Certification. We will bring leaders who are already doing this and have them share their process and how to evaluate the decision with pros and cons for your business.
