Featured Innovator: Ross Fosolino, President, Eagle-Eye Sensor Systems

The MIT Enterprise Forum of Dallas/Fort Worth has changed the format of its usual second Saturday business meeting! We are now featuring an entrepreneur, researcher or thought leader from the local area. This month’s featured innovator is the president of Eagle-Eye Sensor Systems, a local start-up.

Eagle-Eye Sensor Systems, Inc. (EESS) is in the business of allowing the petroleum producer to review and run his entire operation from his desktop, anywhere in the world. They provide petroleum producers instantaneous ‘Situational Awareness’ through the use of accurate measuring equipment coupled with real-time telemetry.

Ross will present his story of growing the company from an idea to a product producing start-up. Beginning with only his personal savings, Ross bootstrapped his company all the way. EESS has now finally made it to market and is beginning to elicit significant interest from the petroleum industry. We will hear about the EESS journey, where it is heading, mistakes made and successes enjoyed.

Agenda:

12:00 – 12:15 Chair’s Introduction and Forum Business

12:15 – 12:35 Innovation Presentation

12:35 – 2:00 Lunch, Discussion and Networking

We will each order from the menu and pay our own lunch expenses. Anyone interested in the MIT Enterprise Forum or innovation is encouraged to attend. Coming to our Monthly Meeting is how you get involved. You do not have to be an MIT Alum.

Location:
Texas Land and Cattle
812 S. Central Expressway
Richardson, TX 75080

Register Now

Time: January 27-28, 2012: Friday 9:am-5:pm, Saturday 9:am-1:pm
Location: Palmer Conference Center for Engineering Leadership, Caruth Hall, Rm. 406, 3145 Dyer Street, Dallas, TX 75205
Contact: beth@lyle.smu.edu

Topics covered include:

• History and Philosophy of Intellectual Property Rights and their role in the information age
• Intellectual property’s impact on information system design and development
• The inventor’s role in recognizing a patentable idea
• Analysis of ground breaking industry patents
• Impact of Emerging Technologies on Intellectual Properties

Take a look at the flyer for more information.

Registration Ends 11:00pm on 12/08/2011

Register Here

Once again we will be collecting unwrapped toys for the Santa’s Helpers organization.  If you would like to contribue, please bring a new unwrapped toy for a needy boy or girl.

Price:
Members: Complimentary registration, please use your Membership ID to receive the discount.  Problems with member discounts should be addressed to secretary@mitforum.com
Non-Members and Guests: $15

Location:
3541 Rosedale Ave, Dallas, TX 75205

Date: 12/10/2011

TeXchange Members Showcase : Celebrating our Local Startup Community
Discover the innovation that is going on in your local community,  and explore what it means to be a part of Dallas’ premier technology networking association by attending the first-ever TeXchange Member Showcase.

Technology on Tap
This month’s program, “Curiosity and Discovery in a World of Science” by Associate Professor of Chemistry John Sibert is perfect for anyone involved in education, as it is designed with a hopeful side-effect: inspiring high school and college students (especially those still considering majors or minor concentrations) to tackle the rigors of science  courses.

Please join the MIT Enterprise Forum of Dallas / Fort Worth for an evening of TECHworking, a networking event for technology entrepreneurs, businesses and supporters.

This month’s event will feature a brief oral introduction to the law by our featured guest.  After that, visitors are free to mingle with the crowd and get their specific questions answered from the featured guests.

On September 16th 2011, a bill was signed into law that fundamentally changed the US patent system.  Forbes Magazine calls this law “trouble for tech entrepreneurs”. The most important change this law caused was moving the US from a “first to invent”  to a “first to file” system.  (Forbes Article)

Small and start-up companies will now have to compete with the financial and legal strength of large and established multi-national companies when trying to protect their innovative and revolutionary designs.

What to know what this law means for your company? How about for your clients and investors?

Want more?  First drink of the night is compliments of the Forum!

This month’s TECHworking event is at The Quarter Bar in Uptown Dallas. The Quarter is a cozy local hangout with a wonderful French Quarter ambiance. Join us in our reserved area or on the rooftop deck overlooking McKinney Avenue. This will be the perfect opportunity to meet fellow entrepreneurs, network with local businesses, and get involved with MITEF!

Featured Guests:

Kevin Afghani, founder Afghani Law Firm: Kevin has extensive experience in preparing and prosecuting patent applications in the United States and around the world.  Kevin has developed or expanded the patent portfolios for numerous distinguished companies, including International Business Machines Corp (IBM), Kinetic Concepts, Inc., Embarq Holdings (now CenturyLink), Micro-Poise Measurement Systems, Halliburton, Independent Natural Resources, Inc., Brooks Instrument, Uniden, JMK, Schlumberger, and various start-up businesses.

Bob Robinson, Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary, BancTec, Inc.: BancTec is a privately held business equipment manufacturing, software and outsourcing company headquartered in Irving, Texas, with approximately 2000 employees worldwide. Responsible for delivery of all legal services and for management of the human resources function on a global basis.  With over 16 years experience, Bob Robinson is currently responsible for management and delivery of all legal services for the multinational conglomerate, including: contract negotiation, formation and compliance; regulatory compliance; corporate governance, planning/managing Board activities/records; managing, directing and implementing all aspects of risk-management and leading a team of 6 legal professionals.  He is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and The University of California-Berkley School of Law.  Bob currently sits on the board of advisers for the MIT Enterprise Forum of Dallas / Fort Worth.

Time
Thursday, October 13, 2011
6:30 PM to 8:00 PM (CT)

Location:
The Quarter Bar
3301 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX, 75204
Second Floor, inside and behind second bar
Dallas, TX 75204
(map)

Cost: $10 Members and General Public

REGISTER HERE

Parking
Free valet across the street (until 8pm)
Street parking available
DART (link) and Trolley accessible (link)

Bootstrapping: Marketing for Start-ups

Register Here

Bootstrapping: Marketing for Start-ups

Thursday, August 18, 2011 from 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Interested in learning how to market your start-up on a bootstrap budget? Looking for
insight into social media marketing and how it can help you? Did you know that high page ranking onGoogle can be one of your largest assets?

The MIT Enterprise Forum of Dallas-Fort Worth has assembled an expert panel of
experienced CEO entrepreneurs with real-life advice and stories on starting, marketing
and
building your business. Please join us for another exciting evening in our popular “Bootstrapping for Entrepreneur” series.

Guest Speakers

Alexander Muse

Alex is an experienced entrepreneur, having started multiple businesses. His current start-up, ShopSavvy, is a mobile shopping application used by millions in more than 24 countries. He has been invited to speak throughout the United States, Europe and India. Last year he was invited to speak about the market for mobile applications at the French Senate. On this evening, he will share his personal marketing experience and stories of raising millions from investors and creating long-term, sustainable businesses.

Eric McGeHearty

http://globerunnerseo.com/

Eric, an expert with Search Engine Optimization and Search Marketing. He is the founder of Globe Runner SEO. Globe Runner SEO offers big provider services to small and medium companies at a fraction of the price. As a start-up and service provider, Eric is accustomed to the growing pains many entrepreneurs face.  Eric will teach you how to optimize your internet presence, take advantage of online marketing and expand your business in the ways you have always wanted.

Babar Bhatti
Babar is CEO and co-founder of MutualMind, a social media management system which enables brands and agencies to measure, analyze and engage with social media, thus increasing ROI of social media work. Babar’s experience is a true success story from starting his business part-time to expanding into a full-time passion. Babar’s understanding of social media has always been on the cutting edge and he will share tips on creating social media marketing campaigns to maximize your marketing dollar.

Aug 18, 2011 Schedule:
6:00 to 6:30pm Networking and Refreshments
6:30 to 6:45 Introductions

6:45 to 7:10 Alexander Muse
7:10 to 7:35 Eric McGehearty
7:35 to 7:45 break
7:45 to 8:10 Babar Bhatti
8:10 to 8:30 Wrap-up

Please contact vcprograms@mitforum.com for questions or comments

Register Here

Wednesday, June 8, 2011, 12:00pm-2:00pm

Startup Bar-B-Q with Congressman Pete Sessions @TechWildcatters

Register Here

Price: $30 – MITEF Members, $40 – Tech Wildcatter Members and MIT Alumni, $50 General Public, $60 Membership & Entrance Combo Ticket

Location: TechWildcatters, 2700 Fairmount Ave, Dallas, TX 75204

Map

Ticket prices cover event expenses.*

Join the MIT Enterprise Forum, the MIT Alumni Association, and TechWildcatters in welcoming Congressman Pete Sessions into the heart of the Dallas Startup Community. This will be the perfect opportunity to let it be known what Dallas and the country needs to encourage innovation, support small business and invigorate the economy!

Lunch will be provided in the form of Dallas’ own Sonny’s Bar-B-Q. Vegetarian options are available upon request, please let us know when you register of any dietary requirements. The event is casual attire.

Format:

Pete will spend about half an hour circulating among the businesses at TechWildcatters, meeting with attendees and learning about Dallas’ best Startups–including yours! Take advantage of this opportunity to express your concerns or triumphs with one of our leaders in Washington. At approximately 12:30 an “entrepreneur all-around town hall” will happen. What do we mean by “all-around town hall?” Well, yes, you will have the opportunity to ask Pete some questions (please send a couple in advance to secretary@mitforum.com, if you’d like–you’ll get the credit for the question), but Pete also wants to hear from you. Pete has some questions of his own, so that he can take your feedback to Washington and share it with his colleagues. Only questions relating to entrepreneurship will be entertained by the moderator. Together we will put Dallas’ startups on the map and give DFW something to brag about!

Logistics:

Although TechWildcatters has chairs for those that need them, this event is expected to reach full capacatity. Please be prepared for standing room only. Parking is available surrounding the location on the street and behind TechWildcatters in various parking lots. However, arrive early for the best parking options. Address is 2700 Fairmount Ave., Dallas 75204.

*No portion of your ticket price is sent to any campaign for any candidate of any political party.

Please Register Here.

11 April, 2011

It’s Official! Technology Review Magazine replaces the MIT Alumni Assoc as manager of the MIT Enterprise Forum effective July 1.

11 April, 2011

Promotion

DFW TeXchange Workshop Series — Revive and Thrive: Small Business Strategies for Success in 2011

Early-Bird Online Registration has been extended to Web, 13 April.
Details and Registration.

24 March, 2011

Creating from Landscape Waste

A lecture by Dr. Alan M. Berger, MIT Associate Professor of Urban Design and Landscape Architecture

This lecture will explore some of the most pressing environmental issues concerning landscape waste in the near and distant future. Global examples of creative adaptive reuse and reclamation projects will be explained, revealing the breadth of landscape waste accumulating while challenging conventional notions of sustainability. Original analysis and research from P-REX, Professor Alan Berger’s design research laboratory at MIT, will be presented.

Date: Thursday, 24 March, 2011, 6:30pm-8:30pm

Price: Regular admission $30, Forum Members $20, Students with school IDs $0.

Registration Link

All attendees must register. Students with school IDs will be admitted to the lecture free of charge. Those holding paid registrations are also invited to the pre-lecture reception and refreshments.

Schedule and Location:

• Pre-Lecture Reception: 6:30-7:30pm, Palmer Conference Center, 4th floor of Caruth, SMU Campus, 3145 Dyer St., Dallas, TX 75205
• Lecture: 7:30-8:30pm, Vester-Hughes Auditorium, 1st floor of Caruth, SMU Campus, 3145 Dyer St., Dallas, TX 75205
• Parking instructions.

More information: secretary at mitforum dot com

December 16

Holiday Party

Date: Thursday, 16 December, 2010, 7:00pm-9:00pm

Price: $15, dinner included

Registration

Location: BlackFinn, 4440 Belt Line Rd., Addison, Texas 75001, 469.374.7667

http://blackfinndallas.com/ADDISON

Come expand your network by celebrating the holidays with MIT alumni, volunteers, leadership, friends and fellow entrepreneurs. .

Relive the memories with your fellow MITEFers! Once again, we are holding our annual holiday party with the MIT Alumni Club of Relive the memories with your fellow MITEFers! We will also be collecting presents for needy children. Everyone is encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy to donate to the Santa’s Helpers charity.

Registration

November 10

Ultimate Networking

Our good friends at DallasBlue are hosting an Ultimate Networking event from 6pm until 10pm. Onsite registration opens at 5:30pm.

It’s being held at Heritage Square I, 4835 LBJ Freeway, Suite 1000, behind the Sheraton Hotel on the northwest side of LBJ and Tollway.

Ultimate Networking is a computerized event that optimizes and enhances your chances of making the contacts you need. It’s normally a little more expensive than regular networking, but people are enthusiastic about the results.

But DallasBlue has arranged this event for a $5 donation! Register here. Do it now!

October 30 Event

SBIR: Funding Innovations with Government Money

Saturday, October 30, 2010, 9:00am-3:00pm, registration starts at 8:00am

UT Dallas TI Auditorium, ECSS 2.102, 800 West Campbell Rd, Richardson, TX 75080

Map

Registration

• $30: General Admission
• $25: MIT Alums, MITEF Paid Members, All College Students with ID, UTD Alums, Faculty, and Staff

Flyer

If you’d like a chance to receive as much as $150K to try out your great idea, and if it works, to receive upwards of $1M more to turn it into a product, while retaining essentially ALL of the IP, then this event is for you!

Our SBIR programs have proven to be among the most popular events we present. This time, our event is happening during the height of the SBIR “proposal season.” Again leading the presentation will be Nick Lawrence. A serial entrepreneur and winner of nearly a score of SBIR contracts, Nick is an acknowledged expert in effectively winning and leveraging the SBIR program. Joining him this time will be Keith Guttierez of Texas Instruments and Mike Bartlett, President of Vital Science, Inc. Keith is a commercial and technical proposal reviewer for the National Science Founcation’s SBIR/STTR program for both Phase I and Phase II grants. Mike is a recipient of NIH/NEI SBIR grant funding and is well versed in the NIH/NEW SBIR Program. He also happens to be a founder and the current Chairman of the North Texas Angel Network.

Our last two events have sold out quickly. If you’re interested in attending this one, you should register without delay!

October Event: 3rd Thursday Networking Social

Thursday, October 21, 2010, 6:30pm-8:00pm

The Quarter Bar, 3301 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 75204

Registration: No event fee! Just RSVP to vcprograms@mitforum.com.

Flyer

The Networking Social is now a regular monthly event! It will be held every third Thursday at various locations. This month, we’re at the Quarter Bar in Uptown Dallas.

There is no event fee. Just show up, take care of your own tab, and mingle with entrepreneurs, technology experts, marketing gurus, management specialists, and maybe even a few VCs and Angel investors. You never know who might appear. Come and see!

September Event: 3rd Thursday Networking Social

Thursday, September 16, 2010, 6:30pm-8:00pm

The Quarter Bar, 3301 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 75204

Registration: No event fee! Just RSVP to vcprograms@mitforum.com.

Flyer

We have decided to make the Networking Social a regular monthly event! It will be held every third Thursday at various locations, which will be announced here.

This month, we are returning to The Quarter Bar in Uptown Dallas.

There is no event fee. Just show up, take care of your own tab, and mingle with entrepreneurs, technology experts, marketing gurus, management specialists, and maybe even a few VCs and Angel investors. You never know who might appear. Come and see!

July Event: Networking Social and New Year Kick-Off

July 22, 2010, 6:00 PM-7:30 PM

The Quarter Bar, 3301 McKinney Ave, Dallas, TX 75204

Registration $20; $15 for MIT Alums, Students, dues paying Members of MITEF, and their guests. Registration includes “heavy” hors d’oeuvres, vegetarian options available. Drink specials: $2 well drinks and $2 domestic beer.

Map Free valet parking across the street until 8pm. Street parking may be available. Good alternatives: DART and Trolley.

1 Page Flyer (PDF)

Please join the MIT Enterprise Forum officers, volunteers, and supporters in kicking-off the new fiscal year. This year’s networking social is at The Quarter Bar in Uptown Dallas. The Quarter is a cozy local hangout with a wonderful French Quarter ambience. Join us in our reserved upstairs room or on the roof-top deck overlooking McKinney Avenue. This will be the perfect opportunity to meet fellow entrepreneurs, network with local businesses, and get involved with MITEF!

For more information, please contact vcprograms at mitforum dot com.

June Event: Breakfast with Louis Goldish

08 June 2010, 8:00 AM-9:30 AM

Marriot Courtyard Cafe, 15160 Quorum Drive, Addison, Texas 75001 USA

Registration No fee to register, pay for what you order

Join us for breakfast, networking and Q&A with Louis Goldish.

From his online Bio:

Louis Goldish – Senior Venture Advisor

Lou Goldish is primarily responsible for intake of new ventures at VMS. He was a founder and Managing Director of the consulting firm Data and Strategies Group and spent 35 years as a management consultant to corporations offering industrial, commercial, and technology based products and services. Prior to joining VMS he was Relationship Manager for a leading supplier of management software for very large databases and data-based enterprise systems. Goldish received a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Case Institute of Technology and M.S. degrees in both Mechanical Engineering and Management from MIT.

From the MIT webpage about VMS:

The MIT Venture Mentoring Service (VMS)

VMS supports innovation and entrepreneurial activity throughout the MIT community by matching prospective entrepreneurs with skilled volunteer mentors. We use a team mentoring approach with groups of 3 to 4 mentors sitting with a fledgling entrepreneur(s) in sessions that provide practical, day-to-day professional advice and coaching. VMS mentors are selected for their experience in areas relevant to the needs of new entrepreneurs and for their enthusiasm for the program. Mentors are required to subscribe, in writing, to a Statement of Principles that govern their behavior, outline their responsibilities, guard against conflicts of interest, and control financial involvement with the entrepreneurs and their ventures. Relationships between mentors and entrepreneurs are formed based on the needs of the entrepreneur and the interests of available mentors.

VMS assistance is given across a broad range of business activity, including product development, marketing, intellectual property law, finance, human resources, and founders issues. VMS services are offered without charge to MIT students, alumni, faculty and staff in the Boston area.

VMS complements and works cooperatively with the many MIT centers and programs promoting entrepreneurship and providing many resources to encourage formation of businesses and to move technological knowledge from the laboratory to the marketplace.

Space is limited, so please register right away.

May Event: Open Source for Entrepreneurs

27 May 2010, 6:30 PM-9:00 PM

12404 Park Central Drive, Suite 400, Dallas, TX 75251
Parking: Enter through automatic gates on NE corner, east side of bldg

Hosted by:

Map

Registration Includes dinner. $25 General Admission; $20 Forum Member; $18 MIT Club Member.

1 Page Flyer (PDF)

Slides from Nick Lawrence (PDF)

Everything you need to know about open source technology to save money, build intellectual property and speed up time to market WITHOUT making mistakes which can get your company and product in trouble.

Steven Thrasher will help us explore the sometimes bewildering world of Open Source licenses. Some of the things we will hear about include.

• Introduction to the open source landscape
• Landmines waiting to explode: open source meets due diligence
• Managing OS across state lines—Are Reps and Warranties good here, there, or anywhere?
• Open source the “right” way (selecting the best libraries, tracking the origin of code, the OS Text file)
• Working with your attorney to manage OS Compliance

Steven is an intellectual property attorney who helps businesses, particularly start-ups and early-stage companies, identify and map intellectual assets, craft licenses, and deal with litigation related to intellectual property. Steven received M.B.A. & J.D. degrees from Baylor, and degrees in Electrical Engineering & Finance from Auburn. He completed additional studies in international law at Oxford University, England, & the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara.

Nick Lawrence has been using open source software almost exclusively for business and technical work for nearly twenty years. He will discuss:

• Why should you be interested in open source?
• Do you have to be a geek?
• What software is available for the office?
• How do you get started using open source?
• Where do you get help?

Nick is a computer scientist and entrepreneur. He has founded seven companies, holds many patents, and has conducted nearly a score of Federal R&D projects. He took his undergraduate degree at MIT in EE/CS and his PhD at UT Austin in Computer Engineering.

In our section on Open Source Cloud Computing, Paul Stedman will examine some key questions.

• What is cloud computing?
• What are its benefits and risks?
• Why use an open source solution?
• What open source cloud computing systems are available?

Paul is a recognized leader in the Software Professional Services industry with over 25 years of Strategy, Sales, Leadership, Operations and Service Delivery experience. He holds an MBA from MIT’s prestigious Sloan School of Management with select studies at the Harvard Business School. He oversees cloud computing strategy at Solutions to Order which he co-founded.

March Event: SBIR Workshop.

March 27, 2010, 9:30am-3:30pm

SOM 1.508, UT Dallas

$25. Lunch included.

1-Page Flyer (PDF)

Workshop Slides (PDF)

During its multi decade lifetime, the Federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program has poured tens of billions of dollars into small high tech firms. Have you received your fair share? Would you like to learn how?

Last October, we offered our first SBIR Workshop. The event was quickly over-subscribed. Now it’s back, with room for more participants. This time, we’ll cover both kinds of Agencies, ones such as DoD that issue contracts, and ones such as NIH that mainly issue grants.

Many SBIR conferences discuss the SBIR program itself, and why you should be interested. Our SBIR Workshop teaches you what it takes to win grants and contracts, how to navigate the Federal “red tape,” how to conduct your project, and how to leverage a Phase I win into Phase II follow-on work, Phase III “sole source” procurements, and beyond.

If you have a high tech idea that could turn into a business, and you’d like to get as much as $100,000 or more of essentially “no strings attached” money to try out your idea, then this SBIR Workshop is for you. If your idea pans out, you could get another $750,000 to turn it into a product. And you end up owning outright the product, its intellectual property, and the company. Not a bad deal, huh?

Even with more room this time, we expect the SBIR Workshop to fill up quickly.

HOSTED BY:

Register here.

Below is the information about our February event.

MIT EF DFW February event: Bootstrapping 2010
Feb 25, 5.30pm

Do you remember our bootstrapping event from last year? A year later the spirit for bootstrapping is even stronger in DFW. Our February program will provide entrepreneurs the advice, tips and tools that are needed to be successful without depending on  traditional investors. Come here these speakers: Alexander Muse, Gabriella Draney, Mike D. Merrill, Ryan Roberts, Nick Lawrence and network with other DFW entrepreneurs.

See program details here.

About Us

The Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter of MIT Enterprise Forum is focused on supporting technology entrepreneurs in the DFW metroplex. The group is open to anyone who is interested in technology entrepreneurship. You don’t have to be a MIT alumni to be involved.

• Our next event is on March 27, 2010: SBIR and Grants.
• Please  join our mailing list to stay in touch.

Events, News & Links

• Social Media Club – Chris Brogan Event, Jan 21
• MTBC – Tech Quest Program
• Events Calendar – Dallas Biz Journal
• Global MIT Enterprise Forum On Twitter
• Infinite Connection

• When: Thursday, Feb 25, 2010. 5.30-8.30pm
• Where: Infomart #2019, 1950 Stemmons Freeway, Dallas 75207

Speakers and Topics

Here are the tentative program details.

5.30-5.45 Networking and Dinner
5.45-6.00 Introduction to MIT EF DFW by Brad Taylor,
6.00-6.20 Alexander Muse – Why this is a great time for startups in DFW
6.20-6.40 Ryan Roberts – Thestartuplawyer.com – Startup legal matters
6.40-7.00 Mike D. Merrill – 10 Ways To Promote Your Company For Free Using Social Media
7.00-7.15 Break
7.15-7.45 Entrepreneur Roundtable – DFW entrepreneurs in the trenches: Andres Fabris (CEO, Traxo) and Jeff Maynard (CEO, Biometric Signature-ID)
7.45-8.05 Gabriella Draney - Tech WildCatters – Microseed Fund in DFW
8.05-8.25 Nick Lawrence – Alternate Sources of Funding for Technology Entrepreneurs

Event Presentations

• Alexander Muse – American Idol – Bootstrapping

• 10 Ways To Promote Your Company For Free Using Social Media – Mike D Merrill.

• Alternate Sources of Funding for Technology Entrepreneurs - Nick Lawrence.

We plan to post video clips from the event soon. Here are some resources that entrepreneurs can benefit from.

• Pitching Hacks  - Venture Hacks (PDF)
• Book: Free Publicity – Jeff Crilley – Link
• Art of the Start (Presentation) – Guy Kawasaki – PDF
• Outline of the talk from JR Atkins on Selling for Non-Sellers

1. Sales 1.0 vs. Sales 2.0
2. Who are you selling too?
3. What are the needs of your prospect?
4. Pull vs. Push
5. The power of questions.
6. What is your value proposition?
7. Write and speak in the word of your prospect.
8. How do you like to buy?
9. KISS with details available
10. Use visual images
11. Use a simple leave behind.
12. How do you define selling?
13. What are the feelings associated with your product or service?
14. Be aware of feelings vs. figures
15. Be aware of Communication styles

Here’s the program summary.

As an entrepreneur you have often heard about the elevator pitch. There is more to pitching than 30 second pitches. It is critical for entrepreneurs to sell their ideas and products to customers and investors. Can you effectively communicate the value of your products and ideas? Do you know what does it take to sell to a CEO? What are the things that investors want to hear? Our panel of experts will share what works and what does not work.

Learn the rules for Effective Pitching with:
* Jeff Crilley, an Emmy award winning communication expert
* Laurence Briggs, President of InvestIn Forum, Private Investor Network
* JR Atkins, Sales specialist and social media speaker

Date: Jan 28, 5.30pm.
Location: Company|Dallas, Floor 2, 1701 N Collins Blvd, Richardson TX 75080.

About Jeff Crilley:
Jeff Crilley retired from TV news after 25 years in the business to start the country’s first “all journalist” PR firm. During his career he made hundreds of national news appearances including CNN, CNN Headline News, FOX News, The Discovery Channel, Good Morning America and The CBS Early Show.

He has been recognized by his peers with dozens of national and regional awards including the Emmy, the National Headliners Award,the Edward R. Murrow Award, the Thurgood Marshall Award and in 2004 was named by the Texas Associated Press, “The Best TV Reporter in the state.”

About Laurence Briggs:
Laurence is President of The InvestIN Private Investor Network. The InvestIN Private Investor Network is a company that:
a. brings the best deals to the investor network members ( smart money) around the world, and to its syndicate partners
b. advises early stage growth companies.

About JR Atkins
J.R. Atkins is a Social Media Speaker, Strategist and Sales 2.0 Consultant. As a speaker, J.R. is noted for “taking the mystery out of Social Media” and speaking in terms that “even a CEO can understand.” As a Sales 2.0 consultant, J.R. works with business leaders to understand the shift in selling that is occurring as more consumers and business turn to the internet for information before engaging in the sales process. How has selling changed?

J.R. began speaking publicly in 1994 and on social media in March of 2009. He holds an MBA from The University of Phoenix, Dallas Campus and a BBA from Texas A&M University. J.R. is an ASA certified sailing instructor and avid reader, as well as a musician.

Unconventional describes Alexander Muse.

He thinks big and – for the most part – it has paid off.

He helped start a half-dozen technology companies in Dallas – with creative names such as MotorSport Ranch and Big in Japan – since the late 1990s. He sold three of them for tens of millions of dollars; he still runs the others.

LayerOne, a telecommunications infrastructure company he started in 1999, went bankrupt. Muse raised $4 million in venture capital to buy back the assets and relaunch the company. He sold it to Switch & Data for $22 million on Sept. 12, 2001.

“I was supposed to sign the deal on Sept. 11. That was so scary. I had a newborn baby, a big new house and a Porsche. I thought, ‘If this doesn’t happen, I could lose it all,’ ” said Muse, 38. “We ended up making a lot of money, but we lost a lot of money for a lot of people. That was a turning point for me.”

Early on, Muse named himself CEO of all his ventures. But he learned his attention span was limited to about two years.

“I’m more effective being part of a leadership team than the leader,” he said.

Now he finds partners to incubate ideas at Architel, an IT outsourcing company he started in 2001. If successful, they’re spun off with a CEO who has an equity stake in the company.

Muse focuses on Architel and ShopSavvy, a cellphone application that lets users scan a product’s bar code to compare prices online and at local stores. Revenue reached $11.5 million at Architel and $1 million at ShopSavvy in 2009. Both turn a profit.

With a foosball table and a giant Incredible Hulk at his Dallas Infomart office, Muse created a fun place to work as well as a nurturing environment for budding entrepreneurs. He shares spare office space, invests in promising ideas and holds monthly happy hours where he foots the bar tab.

In 2005, Muse launched the Texas Startup Blog and co-founded SpringStage in 2008 as an online network to promote local entrepreneurship.

An avid blogger, Muse writes about his adventures, attracting at least 175,000 online followers. Soon, he plans to start a blog called the Startup Muse.

Next? Muse wants to develop apps that integrate social networks with services.