Know any good candidates for tech pitch competition?
More than a dozen events - most offered free of charge - will provide learning and networking opportunities to entrepreneurs during Loudoun Small Business Week May 12-16.
One of the week's highlights will be "iNNOVATE LoCo: A Tech Pitch Competition" that will be held on Thursday, May 15 at AOL Fishbowl Labs in Dulles. Entrepreneurs will demonstrate their product to a judging panel of tech startup experts. The winner will receive $1,000 and the runner-up will receive $500; both will also win a package of free legal services from global law firm Holland and Knight. April 30 is the deadline to apply to pitch; the application can be found at iNNOVATELoCo.com.
"This is a great opportunity for our businesses. Actionable feedback from successful business owners can make or break a new company," said Loudoun Economic Development Director Buddy Rizer. "We encourage as many entrepreneurs as possible to sign up for this competition; even those who don't win a prize can still come away with ideas that can help them achieve much more in a fraction of the time than they might have otherwise." Loudoun Economic Development is partnering on this event with the Mason Enterprise Center.
Members of the Board of Supervisors will visit farms, I.T. companies and other types of small businesses in their districts during Small Business Week. According to Chairman of the Board Scott K. York, "More than 80 percent of Loudoun businesses have fewer than 20 employees. Small businesses are Loudoun's economic engine, and the Board wants them to know that we appreciate them starting and growing their businesses here in our county."
Monday, May 12
Small Business Week Kickoff
11 a.m - 1 p.m. (lunch provided)
Regus, 20130 Lakeview Center Plaza, Suite 400, Ashburn - Free
GovCon Biz Dev Strategies: Teaming Agreements and Agency Relationships
11a.m. - 1 p.m. (lunch provided)
Mason Enterprise Center, 202 Church St. SE, Leesburg - $10
Tuesday, May 13
Creating an Effective Advisory Board
7:30 - 9:30 a.m.
AOL, 22000 AOL Way, Dulles - $25
Learn the Basics of SBIR/STTR Funding to Support your R&D
11 a.m. - 1 p.m. (lunch provided)
CIT, 2214 Rock Hill Rd., Herndon - Free
Small Business Essentials
9:00 a.m.; 11 a.m.; 1:30 p.m.; 3 p.m.
Mason Enterprise Center, 202 Church St. SE, Leesburg - Free
Special Screening and Discussion: Farmland the Movie
7 - 9 p.m.
Alamo Drafthouse, 20575 East Hampton Plaza, Ashburn - Free
Wednesday, May 14
1 Million Cups
9 - 10 a.m.
Mason Enterprise Center, 202 Church St. SE, Leesburg - Free
Connecting From the Start: Networking That Creates Business
10:30 - 11:45 a.m.
Mason Enterprise Center, 202 Church St. SE, Leesburg - Free
Town of Leesburg's Business Awards
6 - 9 p.m.
Tally Ho Theater, 19 W. Market St., Leesburg - Free
Thursday, May 15
iNNOVATE LoCo: A Tech Pitch Competition
1 - 6 p.m.; Reception 6 - 7 p.m.
AOL Fishbowl Labs, 22000 AOL Way, Dulles - Free
Loudoun Chamber Business After Hours Mixer & New Member Reception
5:30 - 7 p.m.
ProJet Aviation, 957 Sycolin Road, Leesburg - $20
Navigating Free Online Business Resources
10:30 a.m.; 1 p.m.; 2:30 p.m.; and 4 p.m.
Mason Enterprise Center, 202 Church St. SE, Leesburg - Free
Friday, May 16
Growing Your Small Business - Entrepreneur Panel
9 - 11:30 a.m.
Lovettsville Game Club Association, 16 S. Berlin Pike, Lovettsville - Free
Get event descriptions and registration details at www.LoudounSourceLink.org/SBW. 
