Introduction to the Delta Entrepreneurship Network

1. Delta Entrepreneurship Network
Developing an entrepreneurial eco-system for Northeast Arkansas

2. Delta Entrepreneurship Network
• Community
Capital Collaborative
• Marketing
Community Capital
• Technical
Assistance
• Sustainability

3. Delta Entrepreneurship Network
Community Capital
Collaborative
Marketing Community Capital
Technical Assistance
Sustainability
• Identify
and qualify communities
• The
Network
• The
Delta Center
• Goal
- create a strong regional economy

4. Delta Entrepreneurship Network
Community Capital
Collaborative
Marketing Community Capital
Technical Assistance
Sustainability
Identify and qualify communities
1.
•
•
•
•
Interest
Assets
Capacity
Desires and expectations

5. Delta Entrepreneurship Network
Community Capital
Collaborative
Marketing Community Capital
Technical Assistance
Sustainability
1.
2.
Identify and qualify communities
The Network
 Leverage resources from private, public and non-profit sectors
• Local
• Region
• Across the state
Connect with new business opportunities
Working in new ways to increase and support Number of idea generation events and venues

6. Delta Entrepreneurship Network
Community Capital
Collaborative
Marketing Community Capital
Technical Assistance
Sustainability
1. Identify and qualify communities
2. The Network
3.
The Delta Center
•
Neutral, well known and respected reputation in the
region
•
University-based resources
• largest staff of economic development professionals
in the region
•
Lead role for development of the Delta
Entrepreneurship Network

7. Delta Entrepreneurship Network
Community Capital
Collaborative
Marketing Community Capital
Technical Assistance
Sustainability
Goal - create a strong regional economy
•
Investment capital
•
Aggressive appetite to support a successful
entrepreneurial eco-system in eastern Arkansas.

8. Delta Entrepreneurship Network
Community Capital Collaborative
Marketing Community
Capital
Technical Assistance
Sustainability
Goal - The Delta Center:
•
Catalyzing connections
•
•
between entrepreneurial qualified communities and
innovators
Raising the level of expectation
•
among creative/innovative entrepreneurs

9. Delta Entrepreneurship Network
Community Capital Collaborative
Marketing Community
Capital
Technical Assistance
Sustainability
Through…
1.
Online Marketing / Connecting
2.
Existing Events in Arkansas/Region
3.
New Venues for Events

10. Delta Entrepreneurship Network
Community Capital Collaborative
Marketing Community
Capital
Technical Assistance
Sustainability
1.
Online Marketing / Connecting
•
Entrepreneur/Startup/Innovation
•
•
•
Events
Networks
Coming Home Delta
•
ASU Alumni
•
Local – Alumni and former residents

11. Delta Entrepreneurship Network
Community Capital Collaborative
Marketing Community
Capital
Technical Assistance
Sustainability
1.
Online Marketing
2.
Existing Events in Arkansas/Region
•
Startup weekend type events
•
Inventors meetings new business ideas fast pitch
contests
•
Business plan competitions
•
Virtual events held via the Internet

12. Delta Entrepreneurship Network
Community Capital Collaborative
Marketing Community
Capital
Technical Assistance
Sustainability
1.
Online Marketing
2.
Existing Events
3.
New Venues for Events
•
Startup Weekend in Jonesboro
•
Entrepreneur/Inventors Networking Events
•
•
•
Community level
Local library venue where feasible
New G60 and Bar Camp venues

13. Delta Entrepreneurship Network
Community Capital
Collaborative
Marketing Community Capital
Technical Assistance
Sustainability
Goal – For interested entrepreneurs, the Delta Center
will serve as the DEN’s hub and neutral zone where
•
entrepreneurs can obtain assistance and be “pitch ready”
•
communities will be assisted in establishing standards
•
In investment decision-making process
•
For their business targets

14. Delta Entrepreneurship Network
Community Capital
Collaborative
Marketing Community Capital
Technical Assistance
Sustainability
1.
ASU-Centric Services
2.
Community Colleges
3.
Communities

15. Delta Entrepreneurship Network
Community Capital Collaborative
Marketing Community Capital
Technical Assistance
Sustainability
1.
ASU-Centric Services
•
Who
• SBTDC
• Alt.Consulting, Inc.
• Catalyst Innovation Center
• Faculty and other Centers of Excellence
•
What

16. Delta Entrepreneurship Network
Community Capital Collaborative
Marketing Community Capital
Technical Assistance
Sustainability
1.
ASU-Centric Services
•
Who
•
What
• Business plan development
• Market research
• Value chain development
• Evaluating capital investment need
• Conducting site specific feasibility studies
• Preparing project-specific economic impact
analysis

17. Delta Entrepreneurship Network
Community Capital Collaborative
Marketing Community Capital
Technical Assistance
Sustainability
1.
ASU-Centric Services
2.
Community Colleges
•
Maximize the potential of community colleges
•
Strengthens the DEN’s regional collaboration
•
Strengthens capacity of area communities
•
[One method: Alumni]

18. Delta Entrepreneurship Network
Community Capital Collaborative
Marketing Community Capital
Technical Assistance
Sustainability
2.
ASU-Centric Services
Community Colleges
3.
Communities - Increase local communities’
1.
(individual members of the collaborative) ability to
cultivate homegrown entrepreneurs
•
Local libraries
•
Alumni and Former Resident Initiatives

19. Delta Entrepreneurship Network
Community Capital Collaborative
Marketing Community Capital
Technical Assistance
Sustainability
2.
ASU-Centric Services
Community Colleges
3.
Communities –
1.
•
Local libraries to serve as “idea centers”
• Identify the relevant resources they already have;
establish a dedicated space in the library
• Arkansas State Library
• Train librarians in how to assist these patrons,
• Patent and Trademark Resource Center
• Makers Space
• Access/entry to all other DEN services

20. Delta Entrepreneurship Network
Community Capital Collaborative
Marketing Community Capital
Technical Assistance
Sustainability
2.
ASU-Centric Services
Community Colleges
3.
Communities –
1.
•
Local libraries
• Alumni and former resident initiatives
• Recent webinar series
• Subscriptions and other lists
• Relatives
• Events

21. Community Capital Collaborative
Marketing Community Captal
Technical Assistance
Delta Entrepreneurship Network
Sustainability
Sustainability Plan
•
Insure program continues as may be needed
•
a replication report to provide roadmap for other
universities to follow

22. Delta Entrepreneurship Network
Delta Center for Economic Development
For more information, contact:
Jerry L. Smith
870-680-8273
jerry@astate.edu
Follow us:
Funding support provided by the
U.S. Economic Development Administration