Entrepreneurial Skills Focus of Workshop

Entrepreneurial Skills Focus of Workshop

Due to the hands-on nature of the instruction, the workshop can take only about 30 participants. Those interested can apply as an individual or as a team by sending an e-mail with name, contact information, major, year, and a one paragraph business concept by Feb. 11 to leekeown@uky.edu . For those without concepts, write one paragraph explaining your interest in the workshop.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 8, 2005) -- The University of Kentucky Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship will host a workshop for students, faculty and staff titled "Business Idea Development Workshop” for six days over three weekends. The workshops are scheduled March 4 and 5, April 1 and 2, and April 15 and 16.

The workshop is headed by two of the foremost national experts on entrepreneurship, Courtney Price and Mack Davis. Price is the president and CEO of VentureQuest. As an entrepreneur for the past 30 years, Price founded VentureQuest, utilizing her background and experience to lead and direct high-growth organizations toward new and higher revenue streams. Davis is a partner and one of the founding members of the VentureQuest team. Davis has been an active entrepreneur, educator, and author for more than 40 years.

Price and Davis have authored 17 books and taught more than 250,000 students, scientists and entrepreneurs how to turn their ideas into profitable businesses.

“Price and Davis will help participants assess their idea, teach them about business development, create a plan, and learn how to present the concept to customers and investors. By the end of the six-day workshop, we hope that the students will be well on their way to launching their own business,” said Hormazd Kanga, a graduate student in the UK Gatton College of Business and Economics’ master’s of business administration program. He is helping spearhead the workshop.

In addition, all students who participate in the workshop will automatically qualify for the UK Idea Fair, a business concept competition with more than $2,000 in prizes. The Idea Fair is scheduled April 15.

The workshop is for six days over three weekends, Fridays from noon to 9 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., March 4 and 5, April 1 and 2, and April 15 and 16.

The Von Allmen Center hopes that by further developing the entrepreneurial spirit at UK they might also cultivate more groups to sponsor participation in national business-plan case competitions.

The competitive selection process highly encourages a diversity of academic backgrounds. The program will cost $40 for students and $150 for staff and faculty.

The "Business Idea Development Workshop” is funded in part by the UK Gatton College of Business and Economics, College of Agriculture, Office of Research and Economic Development, College of Engineering, College of Pharmacy, and College of Arts and Sciences.

For any questions contact the Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship at (859) 257-3868, visit 206 UK Mathews Building, or visit the UK e-club Web site or the VentureQuest Web site.