Startup Week aims to foster entrepreneurship

NextCorps’ Startup Week begins March 8, targeting business founders and others contemplating starting a business. The week features free virtual workshops and presentations, panel discussions, partner events and networking opportunities.

From building a socially responsible business and finding funds to keeping investors happy and using regional resources to find business success, the events focus on various elements of starting and running a small business.

Speakers include:

Joy Bergfalk, executive director of Coffee Connection, which roasts fair trade, organically grown, sustainable farmed coffee at its South Avenue site in Rochester, supports women in recovery from addiction in employment training, sober support, and resiliency training, and by creating sustainable jobs.

David Brown, founding managing partner at Impellent Ventures, an early-stage technology venture capital firm in Rochester that invests nationally. He is also a Founding Venture Partner at NextGen Venture Partners and their social enterprise fund, Align, as well as a Limited Partner in several prominent national venture funds.

Sean Charles, co-founder of Kavyar, one of Rochester’s fastest growing startups. Kavyar provides a network that helps creatives in fashion, beauty, and art get published in magazines and other outlets.

Don Golini, chairman of the Advisory Board for the Luminate accelerator, and a successful entrepreneur with extensive experience in the development, management, and commercialization of new technologies.

Theresa Mazzullo, CEO of Excell Partners, who has a 30-year track record in business, finance, and entrepreneurship. Having owned and sold a small business, she brings firsthand knowledge, unique skills, and proven experience to the seed stage investment arena.

Register for one or more of Startup Week’s sessions here. The program runs March 8-March 12.