Innovation | Entrepreneurship Series Launches April 5 in Downtown Norfolk
March 22, 2019
The event will include three educational workshops conducted by regional and statewide experts, as well as product demonstrations and hands-on activities.
The Innovation | Entrepreneurship (I | E) Series on Granby, a collaborative effort among Old Dominion University and other several organizations intended to foster entrepreneurship and the exchange of innovative ideas in Hampton Roads, will host its inaugural event from 1-8 p.m. April 5 at several locations on Granby Street in Downtown Norfolk.
The event will include three educational workshops conducted by regional and statewide experts, as well as product demonstrations and hands-on activities. Panel participants will share knowledge of regional resources in areas key to the success of startups such as online sales, digital marketing and finding capital to grow business. Startup founders in the video game and creative markets will describe their entrepreneurial journey and share advice on how to succeed in Hampton Roads.
"We believe there's benefit in collaborating to generate additional capacity for entrepreneurship," said Chris Shelton, executive director of StartWheel. "By leveraging our collective strengths, audiences, and resources, we can cross promote high-impact events under a singular brand, I | E Series."
The I | E Series aims to bring together entrepreneurial support organizations in the region in order for them to have a greater impact and overall reach. Along with Old Dominion University's Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, other partners include Tidewater Community College, StartWheel, Retail Alliance, 757 Angels, 757 Accelerate, SCORE Hampton Roads, PixelFest and Percolator. These organizations have a significant presence in the Granby Street corridor, which has a number of startups, small businesses and entrepreneurial resource centers.
ODU's Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship will co-present two panel discussions.
"Entrepreneurship in the Arts: Keys to Success" will be moderated by Jerry Cronin, director of ODU TempO Business Creation; and "Scaling Up: Ideation to Growth" will be moderated by Nancy Grden, executive director of ODU Strome Entrepreneurial Center. Marty Kaszubowski, senior executive of the ODU Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, will be a member of that panel. Both of those panels will be a Tidewater Community College's Roper Center for the Performing Arts.
"Old Dominion University is excited to be a partner in the I | E Series," Grden said. "Events like this one are catalysts for entrepreneurship, and it is a strong commentary on Hampton Roads that so many partnering organizations are readily involved."
For more information, the full schedule and to register this free event, visit https://startwheel.org/ie_granby.
ODU's Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship is a one-stop shop for the community, students, faculty/staff and alumni seeking resources and services for innovation, entrepreneurship, and new enterprises and programs. It helps build lasting relationships between the community, industry and academia to improve society and the economy.
