EntrepreneurshipWeek USA at Stanford

The Kauffman Foundation is launching EntrepreneurshipWeek USA from February 23rd to March 3rd. The theme is “What’s Your Big Idea? Take it On!” There will be educational programs around the country. Stanford is embracing this program in a big way starting with the kickoff event on Saturday. The schedule for the week is packed with interesting sessions:

2/24 Saturday

OPENING CEREMONY & LAUNCH PARTY, 4:00-6:00 PM, William R. Hewlett Teaching Center, Room 200, Host: Stanford Entrepreneurship Network, Join the National Kickoff of EntrepreneurshipWeek USA with President Hennessy, Carl Schramm, and Steve Jurvetson. Festivities include audience prizes and the unveiling of the campus-wide Innovation Challenge competition.

2/25 Sunday

SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP: MAKE A DIFFERENCE, 3:00-5:00 PM, Wallenberg Learning Theater, Wallenberg Hall, Hosts: Center for Social Innovation, Graduate School of Business, and Reuters Digital Vision Fellowship Program. Hear leading funders discuss ways to support social ventures, and attend a fair showcasing early-stage social ventures from around the world.

2/26 Monday

INTERNATIONAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP: TRAILBLAZERS IN CHINA, 4:00-6:00 PM, Bechtel Conference Center, Encina Hall, Hosts: Stanford Project on Regions of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SPRIE) and Asia-Pacific Student Entrepreneurship Society (ASES). Think global. Meet Stanford entrepreneurs breaking ground in China’s dynamic high-technology industries, from mobile to Web 2.0. Hear their advice, meet in groups, and network over Chinese appetizers.

2/27 Tuesday

ENTREPRENEURSHIP MIXER, 5:00-7:00 PM, Lower Arbuckle Lounge, Graduate School of Business, Host: Graduate School of Business. Network with entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, students, and other members of the entrepreneurial community.

2/28 Wednesday

DFJ Entrepreneurial Thought Leader Seminar Series: THE ROLE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN SOLVING WORLD PROBLEMS, 4:30-6:00 PM, William R. Hewlett Teaching Center, Room 200, Hosts: Stanford Technology Ventures Program and Business Association of Stanford Engineering Students (BASES). Hear a panel of Stanford University leaders and successful entrepreneurs discuss approaches to solving major world problems related to energy, health sciences, and international security.

STANFORD TECHNOLOGY SHOWCASE AND RECEPTION, 6:00-7:30 PM, D. Packard Electrical Engineering Building Atrium, Host: Office of Technology Licensing. Network at a reception following the Entrepreneurial Thought Leader Seminar and see products developed from technologies licensed from Stanford.

3/01 Thursday

BASES START-UP JOB FAIR, 10:00-4:00 PM, White Plaza, Host: Business Association of Stanford Engineering Students (BASES). Explore job opportunities with over 100 startups representing a wide range of industries, from Web 2.0 to clean energy. Raffle prizes will be given away throughout the event.

INTERVIEW: SILICON VALLEY’S FAVORITE F-WORD – FAILURE, 5:30-6:30 PM, Wallenberg Learning Theater, Wallenberg Hall, Host: Stanford Graduate Program in Journalism. Listen to Guy Kawasaki of Garage Technology Ventures share his provocative views on risk-taking, failure and success in this live interview with journalism professor Ann Grimes, formerly of The Wall Street Journal.

3/02 Friday

GREEN IS THE NEW RED, WHITE, AND BLUE, Presentation by Thomas Friedman, Author, The World is Flat, 1:00-2:30 PM, Memorial Auditorium, Host: Energy Crossroads Consortium. Hear renowned author and columnist Thomas Friedman address the strategic role of sustainability and conservation for the U.S. and world at large. President Hennessy will give the introduction.

VENTURE CAPITAL SPEED-DATING, 3:30-6:30 PM, Wallenberg Learning Theater, Wallenberg Hall, Host: Asia-Pacific Student Entrepreneurship Society (ASES). Students, pitch your business idea to Silicon Valley venture capitalists. Apply in advance for opportunities to give three-minute pitches and receive feedback. The networking reception at 5:30 PM is open to all members of the Stanford community.

3/03 Saturday

ENTREPRENEURSHIP WEEK CLOSING CEREMONY, 4:00-5:30 PM, William R. Hewlett Teaching Center, Room 200, Host: Stanford Entrepreneurship Network. Watch an entertaining showcase of the Innovation Challenge results. Prizes will be awarded to teams that make the most money, generate the most social value, are the most creative, and have the biggest flop.

There’s also an interesting pitch contest. If you’re eighteen to twenty-five years old, all you have to do is submit a two-minute video. In this video, you should explain your answer to this question: What product or service would you offer to help reduce America’s dependency on oil and other fossil fuels?

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As you saw, I’m tasked with the topic of failure— perhaps based on recent ValleyWag coverage. :-)

Comments

[FLV Hosting]

This is cool especially as Stanford is a client of our hosting firm

[Jeff Jordan]

If anyone's in the Rocky Mountain area during Entrepreneurship Week, we're hosting a free event with TechStars that will give entrepreneurs a chance to pitch their ideas and get feedback. The registration deadline is this Wednesday. More info here: http://www.fundinguniverse.com/aboutus/283/396/livepitch-&-networking-in-colorado.html (Sorry for the long URL.)

[RM]

Guy, great that you are giving attention to this event. It looks exciting and I particularly like that they are covering the social entrepreneurship trend. SE is somewhat under the radar, but I think it is ready to explode in the next decade or so. My blog often covers the trend: (www.dowellanddogood.com).

By the way, haven’t seen anyone mention “Rules for Revolutionaries” in a while so I thought I would give it a much deserved mention.

[Sonshi]

Guy, you're tasked with the topic of failure because your books and insights PREVENT us from failure!

Will your interview be recorded for later viewing? Let me know since I can't attend on that date (though I show up at Stanford every so often). Thanks! sonshi

[Jonas Antonsson]

I would love to see something similar over here, in Europe.

I think many first time entrepreneurs find it pretty hard to find practical information and education about the entrepreneurial role.

I, for example, studied computer science. This, along with years of experience, formed a solid foundation for the idea behind my company. It didn't help at all with my new role as an entrepreneur, though. Books, sites and seminars were needed. I would have loved it if I could have attended an event like this.

J#

p.s. "The Art of The Start" was, and is, a lifesaver.