GSA Technology Council

FastTrac NewVenture will meet for 10 sessions in Greenville starting on July 6, 2009. Class will be held at the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, 24 Cleveland Street and run from 6:00PM to 9:00PM. The normal cost for the NewVenture course is $895 however through state and corporate funding the cost is reduced to $195.00. Plus, if you pay in full at least 2 weeks in advance you can receive a $50 Early Registration discount! To register contact mdickerson@charlestonchamber.org or call 843-805-3089.

FastTracSC announces the next series of the award winning FastTrac® business education courses for new business owners. FastTrac® is a practical, hands-on business development program designed to help entrepreneurs hone the skills needed to create, manage and grow a successful business. The interactive program, designed and facilitated by entrepreneurs, gives you the tools you need to evaluate your entrepreneurial readiness and to avoid the common pitfalls facing a new business. FastTrac® NewVenture™ assists the start-up or early stage entrepreneur in developing their business concept and evaluating it through each step of the business planning process. The class incorporates peer learning, hands-on group activities and guest speakers.

FastTrac® NewVenture™ meets from 6-9 pm starting Monday, July 6 through September 14 at the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, 24 Cleveland Street. Courtesy of state sponsorship and corporate support from Blue Cross/Blue Shield, NewVenture™ is $195 (normally $695) per person. Students who register two weeks prior to the class start date will receive a $50 discount. Pre-registration is required at www.fasttracsc.org or call Mary Dickerson, State Director, at 843-805-3089.

via: FastTracSC

A new session of the Kaufman foundation’s award winning entrepreneurial training begins this week in Greenville. Kim Williams, now in her second year as facilitator of these FastTrac programs, will be delivering both of these courses.

FastTrac® NewVenture™
An entrepreneurial program that assists the start-up entrepreneur in developing their business concept and evaluating it through each step of the business planning process.

New Venture begins June 16, Meets Mondays for ten weeks, $195. RSVP ONLINE

FastTrac® GrowthVenture™
An entrepreneurial program that assists entrepreneurs in evaluating their current business framework and determine the changes needed to improve performance and grow the business.

Growth Venture begins June 17, Meets Tuesdays for ten weeks, $295. RSVP ONLINE

via: FastTracSC

South Carolinians have big business goals and great ideas! Open to all South Carolina residents at least 18 years old, dreamers and would-be entrepreneurs have until May 1 to enter for the chance to win seed money and access to FastTrac programs to make their business idea a reality.

“It would be a shame for someone to have a great idea and not get it into the committee on time” says GSA Technology Council Executive Director, Phil Yanov. “The contest is designed to get people thinking about what could be and to put their ideas in writing. The best of those ideas get both cash rewards and access to award winning training. Whether the idea wins or not, the would be entrepreneur will be on her way to validating, planning and then executing her dream.”

Prizes for the 2008 contest have increased significantly over last year and will be awarded at the ThinkTEC Innovation Summit June 4 at Trident Technical College in the categories of engineering, information technology, bioscience, environmental sustainability and a wild card category. There will be one $5,000 grand prize, four $2,500 first place winners and five $1,000 runner-ups. Winners are chosen based on the idea’s viability, innovation/vision and profit/revenue potential.

To enter your business idea visit www.newideassc.com. Time is running out — entries must be received by May 1.

Sorry kids, it turns out that there will be no real Stephen Colbert at the awards ceremony for the New Ideas contest this year. Last week, we broke the story that Stephen Colbert would be presenting the award. We had heard this as a public announcement in a semi public place, so we thought that since the person telling it was official, and that there were several hundred people in place, the information was public, reportable, and accurate. We were wrong.

We heard within minutes of posting it, that what we heard wasn’t quite right. Stephen Colbert would not be judging the category, his wife, Evie would. We were informed, via channels, that the Colberts would be jointly presenting the award, but that Evie would be the judge. No problemo… except that wasn’t the end of it.

I just got the following email from the contest’s “PR rep” (self described) that neither Colbert will actually be at the ceremony, but will present the award via video:

Phil,
hi. I noted on your blog that you posted a comment that Stephen Colbert will be judging the Wildcard category for the New Ideas for a New Carolina business idea contest. As the contest’s PR rep, I need to let you know that’s not entirely true. Actually, Colbert’s wife, Evie is judging the Wild Card contest and the two of them will present the award together (via video) at the awards ceremony in Charleston June 4.

So, no Colbert at the event, but there will be two on the screen. Sure, you could watch one of the Colberts on TV at home, but you’ll never get two Colberts to admit that you have a really cool idea for a business until you SUBMIT YOUR IDEA to the contest. Do that now. It’s really easy.

via: New Ideas (Deadline is May 1)

If you win, it might go something like this:

FastTrac is the award winning entrepreneurial training that helps would be entrepreneurs prepare, existing entrepreneurs overcome hurdles and grow. The following programs are now accepting students:

FastTrac NewVenture Greenville
Date: April 01, 2008
Time: 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Meets Tuesdays for 10 sessions in Greenville.
Call Kim Williams at 864.414.4508 or
Register

FastTrac GrowthVenture Greenville
Date: April 03, 2008
Time: 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Meets Thursdays for 10 sessions in Greenville.
Call Kim Williams at 864.414.4508 or
Register

FastTrac TechVenture Greenville
Date: April 08, 2008
Time: 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Meets Tuesdays for 10 sessions in Greenville.
Call Greg Hillman at 864.634.9670 or
Register

See the full calendar.

See the article that appeared in a January issue of GSABusiness: Download - FastTracSC in GSABusiness (pdf)

FastTracSC announces the next series of the award winning FastTrac® business education courses for new and existing business owners. FastTrac® is a practical, hands-on business development program designed to help entrepreneurs hone the skills needed to create, manage and grow a successful business. The interactive programs designed and facilitated by entrepreneurs can help move a venture to reality or new levels of growth. FastTrac® NewVenture™ is for those interested in starting or in the early stages of a new business. FastTrac® GrowthVenture™ is designed for existing owners who want to take their business to the next level of profit and success. Both classes incorporate peer learning, hands-on group activities and guest speakers.

Both FastTrac® NewVenture™ and GrowthVenture™ meet from 6-9 pm and are 10 weeks long. NewVenture™ starts on Tuesday, April 1 at the YWCA on Augusta Street in Greenville. GrowthVenture™ starts on Thursday, April 3 at the Greenville Chamber of Commerce. Courtesy of a state sponsorship, NewVenture™ is $195 (normally $695) and GrowthVenture™ is $295 (normally $895) per person.

Pre-registration is required at www.fasttracsc.org. Call 864.414.4508 for more information.

FastTracSC, with programs all across the state, announces upcoming Entrepreneurial Training Programs. Join the network of hundreds of other South Carolina Entrepreneurs and get your business off the ground or take your existing business to new levels.

FastTrac TechVenture - Charleston
Date:TBD
Time: 6 – 9 p.m.
Meets for 10 sessions in Charleston

FastTrac GrowthVenture - Myrtle Beach
Date: TBD
Time: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Meets Fridays for 10 sessions in Myrtle Beach

FastTrac NewVenture - Myrtle Beach
Date: TBD
Time: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Meets Saturdays for 10 sessions in Myrtle Beach

FastTrac GrowthVenture - Georgetown
Date: TBD
Time: 6 – 9 p.m.
Meets Mondays for 10 sessions in Georgetown

FastTrac NewVenture- Greenville
Date: 04-01-2008
Time: 6 – 9 p.m.
Meets Tuesdays for 10 sessions in Greenville

FastTrac GrowthVenture- Greenville
Date: 04-03-2008
Time: 6 – 9 p.m.
Meets Thursdays for 10 sessions in Greenville

FastTrac NewVenture- Columbia
Date: 04-03-2008
Time: 6 – 9 p.m.
Meets Thursdays for 10 sessions in Columbia

FastTrac TechVenture- Columbia
Date: 04-08-2008
Time: 6 – 9 p.m.
Meets Thursdays for 10 sessions in Columbia

The FastTrac Entrepreneurial Training courses, FastTrac NewVenture, geared toward the budding entrepreneur, and FastTrac GrowthVenture, geared toward entrepreneurs with existing businesses who want to take it to new levels, led by experienced facilitators in conjunction with mentor workshop leaders who are entrepreneurs with extensive company building, bootstrapping, and fund-raising experience. For more information visit www.fasttracsc.org or call Vickie Waller, FastTracSC Coordinator at 843.805.3110 or vwaller@charlestonchamber.org.