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Information for the Innovative, Enterprising and Brave
January 2014 |
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Get Your Foot in the Federal Door, Part 1 |
The D.C. region accounts for more than $70 billion in annual federal contracting dollars. For businesses that qualify for the 23 percent of contracts eligible for federal small business set-asides, including those that are woman-owned, veteran-owned, run by the economically disadvantaged or located in HUBZones, the opportunities can be great.
Navigating the federal procurement system, however, can be daunting. In this first of a two-part story, we list tips for getting your foot in the door from Virginia Procurement Technical Assistance Program Director Anna Urman. Read the tips here. |
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People You Should Know: Your Best Press Contacts |
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Looking to gain better results from your outreach to the press? Corporate public relations executives, along with Washington-area newspaper and television reporters, provided their best tips for building media relationships at the December PR News media conference. Learn more. |
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Using Postcards for Marketing |
At a time when everybody else is advertising online, you can make your business stand out from the competition by using a time-tested offline tool. Sending postcards to potential customers is one of the most effective ways to promote your business. Read what the research shows. |
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Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything by Don Tapscott and Anthony D. Williams
This international bestseller explores the application of technology in business and mass collaboration. The book discusses seven new models of mass collaboration, including "peering," which is harnessing the collective intelligence of the investment community; "ideagoras," which is linking experts with unsolved research and development issues; and "prosumers" - enabling customers to be producers in virtual worlds. The authors argue that all companies need to either embrace and implement a global collaborative model, or risk perishing. Check it out at the Loudoun County Public Library. |
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To qualify to win a prize, just click at least two of the links for our main stories above. On January 15 we'll award one participant a cool multi-port USB hub. This useful gadget allows you to connect up to four USB devices through one port on your computer.
Congratulations to Ann Meeks of Sterling Investigations for winning last month's prize! Sterling Investigations is a full-service and insured private investigations company serving the Northern Virginia area. |
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Up Skill: Entrepreneurial Events |
Small Business and Entrepreneur Networking Event
This Northern Virginia Tech Council event will be a great opportunity to discover your future business partners and grow your company in a relaxed atmosphere.
Date: January 15, 2014
Time: 6 to 8 p.m.
Place: Chima Brazilian Steakhouse, Vienna
Price: $10 to $25; register online
One Million Cups
Each week, the 1MC program offers two local entrepreneurs an opportunity to present their startups to a diverse audience of mentors, advisors and entrepreneurs. Each entrepreneur gives a six-minute pitch, followed by 20 minutes of questions and answers focused on providing helpful guidance.
Dates: January 8, 15, 22, 29
Time: 9 to 10 a.m.
Place: Mason Enterprise Center, Leesburg
Price: Free; register online
Spring 2014 FastTrac® TechVenture™ Program
The 10-week FastTrac program provides the knowledge you need to tackle important challenges like protecting intellectual property and securing financing. The flexible course combines instruction from experienced business professionals, one-on-one business mentoring, peer learning, and ample tools to help entrepreneurs produce all the elements of an effective business.
Date: Tuesday evenings from February 18 to April 29
Time: 6 to 9 p.m.
Place: Apply and read more online; application deadline is January 17 at 5 p.m.
Price: NVTC members: $550 per person. Non-members: $650 per person |
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" ... I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're Doing Something. So that's my wish for you ... make glorious, amazing mistakes ... Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it isn't good enough, or it isn't perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life. Whatever it is you're scared of doing, Do it. Make your mistakes, next year and forever." - Neil Gaiman, whose works include bestselling books, theater productions and television, including Dr. Who: The Doctor's Wife. |
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