Archived Workshops

Scheduled Workshops for B-Term, 2008:
Communication/Selling Skills Workshop - a 7-session series:
Learn powerful persuasive, effective, two-way communication skills.
Attend all seven unique-topic workshops for most benefit.
20-student maximum!
5:15-6:30 PM. Higgins Labs (see rooms below)
Registration required for this series. Send email to register to: gbetti@wpi.edu. Include first and last name, name of workshop, date(s) and time(s).
Nov 6: HL154; Nov 13: HL114; Nov 18: HL202; Nov 20: HL154; Nov 25: HL202; Dec 4: HL 154; and Dec 11: HL154.

Intellectual Property Workshop
What is IP and Why is it Important to Protect?
Monday, November 24, 2008; 5-6PM
ROOM CHANGE: Higgins Labs, Room 116

Inventor's Notebook Workshop
When, how, and why to start and keep an inventor notebook.
Monday, December 1, 2008; 5-6PM
ROOM CHANGE: Higgins Labs, Room 116

Workshops at Gordon Library, Anderson Lab A - Registration Always Required - click here or on title link
November 10, 2008: Business Plan Research, 3:00-3:45PM, Gordon Library
November 11, 2008: QuickSkills: Company Research, 11:00-11:30AM, Gordon Library
November 18, 2008: Patent Searching Basics, 1:00-2:00PM, Gordon Library
November 19, 2008: QuickSkills: Industry Research, 3:00-3:30PM, Gordon Library

WPI Venture Forums
Networking, Keynote Speaker and Audience Q&A., Elevator Pitch for Funding, Case Presentation, Critique, Audience Q&A.
Free pizza, beverages. Campus Center Odeum. 5:30-8:30 PM.
Come as you are. Flexible on arrival and departure.
Tuesday, November 11: Business Plan Contest Finalist Presentations, Judging, and Winner Announcement!
Tuesday, December 9: How Does a Company Grow by Outsourcing and Partnering?

Dinner with Entrepreneurs
Meet entrepreneurs, hear their stories, how they rasied money, how they do business, hire, stay competitive, etc.
Higgins House. 5:30-7:30 PM. 42-student maximum. Registration is Required.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008

2006-2007

Apple to Zippo – Which Web Patent Search Tool Should You Use?: Tuesday, April 24, 2007, 12:00 to 1:00 PM, Campus Center - Hagglund Room, Pizza and beverages included.
Changes in patent search tools have made it easier for inventors and researchers to find patent information and prior art. Which search tool should you use? Christine will give an overview of patent searching and then demonstrate the various tools and techniques for finding U.S. and global patents online. Get the scoop on finding patent-pending technology and prior art at this workshop. More on the speaker.
Surfing the Sales Channel: Thursday, April 19, 2007, 12:00 to 1:00 PM, Campus Center – Mid-Century Room. Pizza and beverages included.
Trying to get into CompUSA? Want a partnership with Verizon? Do DuPont or Boston Scientific need what you have? “Whether your product idea is for complex capital equipment, packaged software, or the next iPhoneTM, you need be aware of the rules of the game. Understanding how to get your product in front of the right audience is the job of Sales and Channel Development.” More about workshop and speaker.
Information Power and the Entrepreneur: Thursday, April 12, 2007, 12:00 to 1:00 PM, Campus Center – Mid-Century Room. Pizza and beverages included.
To be taken seriously as a company leader, you need to become an expert in the market for your product. This means that you need to know the key players including influencers and competitors, the buying cycles and behaviors, regulatory realities, and values your prospects hold. To do this, you need to constantly monitor sources of industry and market information and find answers to questions that have yet to be answered. Both the cornerstone and key to a successful business plan; Market Research is a continuous process. More about the workshop and speaker.
Navigating Patent Landscapes: Staking your Claim and Charting the Waters of your Technology, a Primer: Thursday, April 5, 2007, 12:00 to 1:00 PM, Higgins House – Great Hall. Pizza and beverages included.
Researchers and technology entrepreneurs can struggle for months or years to turn their breakthrough research or technology into a demonstrable product. Protecting intellectual property behind the technology is important if it goes to market as a product, company, or licensing opportunity. Basic information relating to patent procurement and enforcement, as well as freedom to operate, and other IP issues will be the focus of this workshop. More about the workshop and speaker.
Smart Rookies and Experienced Business People Depend on Branding for Growth: Thursday, March 29, 2007, 12:00 to 1:00 PM, Campus Center – Mid-Century Room, Free pizza and beverages.
Take NOTE: A real company - start -up, emerging or established and operating - MUST present itself effectively to 'close' business. Branding encompasses all the attributes profitable businesses employ to successfully reach customers and clients, business sources and partners, stockholders and investors. What happens when brand execution is poor? More about workshop and speaker.
When is an Invention an Invention? The Basics of Inventions and Patents at WPI: Tuesday, March 27, 2007, 2:00 to 4:00 PM Campus Center – Hagglund Room
Dr. Michael Manning, WPI's Director of Technology Transfer, and a panel of IP attorneys will provide attendees with information needed to obtain assistance in recognizing when inventions occur, how to make appropriate disclosure, and how to protect proprietary information. More on workshop and speakers.
The 7 Deadly Sins of Web Marketing - or - Getting the Biggest Bang for Your Marketing Bucks: Thursday, March 22, 2007, 12:00 to 1:00 PM, Campus Center - Morgan Room, Free pizza and beverages.
You’re ready to launch your new company or a first or new product. You know e-marketing is the most cost-effective way to get the word out. So you place a few pay per click ads on Google and wait for the money to roll in. But it doesn’t. What happened? How do you salvage your web marketing efforts before Google consumes your entire promotions budget? Find out how to make the Web work for you, not against you. More on workshop and speaker.
Elevator Pitch Mentoring – craft, deliver, and get instant feedback – build your confidence for the Elevator Pitch Competition.: Wednesday, March 21, 2007, 5:00 to 6:30 PM, Campus Center – Morgan Room
Get help framing and delivering an Elevator Pitch. Learn to verbally communicate an idea, concept, or information about yourself in a persuasive and professional way and engage the attention of your target audience in a very limited timeframe with instant feedback from pitch professionals. More on workshop and speaker.
Elevator Pitch – Basic help to create a personal, project-based, or business pitch: Wednesday, March 21, 2007, 12:00 to 1:00 PM, Campus Center - Hagglund Room
Need help understanding the purpose and framework of an Elevator Pitch? How can you verbally communicate an idea, concept, or information about yourself in a persuasive and professional way and engage the attention of your target audience in a very limited timeframe – like in about one minute, more or less? Get the basics of writing an elevator pitch - a personal and professional skill that will make you more confident in communicating information about yourself or your ideas!
Finding Customers and Forecasting Markets for New and Disruptive Technologies: Tuseday, March 20, 2007, 12:00 to 1:00 PM, Campus Center - Hagglund Room, Free pizza and beverages.
Technological entrepreneurs can struggle for months or years to turn their breakthrough technology into a demonstrable product. They are often unsure how to answer the potential investor’s first questions. “Who are your customers and how big is the market?” The challenge to the entrepreneur is how to identify customers and forecast a market that does not yet exist. Speaker Jim Fee ’65 will present a number of straightforward steps on how to address these issues. More on the workshop and speaker.
Elevator Pitch Basics- Create a personal, project-based, or business idea pitch: Thursday, March 15, 2007, 12:00 to 1:00 PM, Campus Center - Hagglund Room, Free pizza and beverages.
Question: How can you verbally communicate an idea, concept, or information about yourself in a persuasive and professional way and engage the attention of your target audience in a very limited timeframe?
Answer: Create an elevator pitch - a personal and professional skill that will make you more confident in communicating information about yourself or your ideas! More on workshop and speaker.
Trademark and Copyright Workshop: Wednesday, November 29, 2006, 12:00 to 1:00 PM, Campus Center - Morgan Room, Free pizza and beverage.
Attorney Jodi-Ann McLane, ’89, will enlighten the audience with knowledge of trademarks and copyrights during this workshop. A trademark is a special way for a business to help people to know the things the business makes. A copyright is a law that gives the creator of a document, musical piece, book, etc. the right to their creation and the control of its distribution. This protects creators' ability to sell their work. Once copyrighted, a work can only be copied with the creator's permission. Some believe that copyright laws encourage the formation of new ideas by securing the creator's reward for their work and time. Others believe that ideas and inventions evolve and that copyright law stifles progress. (Wikipedia) Join a lively presentation and debate on the principles of these laws. About the speaker.
Business Plan Resources Workshop: Monday, November 27, 2006, 2:00 to 3:00 PM, Anderson Lab A - Gordon Library. Registration required
Co-sponsored by the Library and the Collaborative for Entrepreneurship & Innovation , learn basic resources and research strategies for creating a business plan. Instructed by Christine Drew (cdrew@wpi.edu).
Unlocking Your Inner Negotiator - Understanding the Game and Developing a Personal Negotiation Style: Wednesday, November 8, 2006, 12:00 to 1:00 PM, Campus Center - Mid-Century Room, Free pizza and beverage.
We all negotiate for one thing or another, but few of us hone the skills to achieve the results that we want in our personal and business lives. Come hear attorney Ricky Berger explain how to "think" about the art and science of negotiation so that when the time comes to perform, you have the skills to succeed! About the speaker.
Protecting Ideas in the Early Stages with Trade Secret Protections and Provisional Patent Applications: Wednesday, September 27, 2006, 12:00 to 1:00 PM, Gordon Library Conference Room 303, Free pizza, veggie stix, and beverage.
During the early stages of a project your intellectual property rights in your innovations rely primarily on the effective use of trade secret protections and provisional patent applications. Trade secrets are protected by your efforts to maintain confidentiality and are maintained through non-disclosure agreements, material transfer agreements and employment agreements. A provisional patent application is a temporary tool to establish your priority of invention and distinguish the invention from the existing state of the art. Learn about both mechanisms in this helpful workshop. About the speaker.
Elevator Pitch Clinic - Create a pitch for yourself or a concept or idea: Wednesday, September 20, 2006, 12:00 to 1:00 PM, Gordon Library Conference Room 303, Free pizza, veggie stix, and beverage.
Question: How can you verbally communicate an idea, concept, or information about yourself in a persuasive and professional way and engage the attention of your target audience in a very limited timeframe?
Answer: Create an elevator pitch - a personal and professional skill that will make you more confident in communicating information about yourself or your ideas! About the speaker.
Inventor’s Notebooks Workshop: Wednesday, September 13, 2006, 12:00 to 1:00 PM, Higgins House (behind Campus Center), Free pizza, veggie stix, and beverage.
A complete and witnessed Inventor's Notebook is key to creating a legal record of your invention, making it easier for you to apply for a patent and swear behind prior art references, and for supporting your "first to invent" claim in an inventorship dispute or an interference proceeding. Learn the fundamentals of a proper inventor’s notebook in this useful one-hour workshop. More...
Networking Skills Clinic: Wednesday, September 6, 2006, noon to 1:00 PM, Campus Center Mid-Century Room (3rd floor), Free pizza, etc.
Networks are connections to people that can help you achieve your goals. Networking is the act of meeting people to achieve this end. This workshop teaches networking etiquette and how to make networking experiences most productive. Attendees will practice skills during the workshop. Speaker Diane K. Danielson, President and Founder of DWC Services, Inc., will present. More...

2005 - 2006

Patent Searching Basics Webinar

Thursday, February 16, 2006 at 12-1pm - Virtual Webinar
Learn online patent sources to begin exploring. What, Why and an introduction to searching U.S. patents using keyword, field searching and classification codes. This is a web conferencing session that uses Interwise iMeeting. A collaborative effort with Gordon Library Instruction Coordinator Christine Drew, cdrew@wpi.edu +1-508-831-6163.

Business Plan Resources

Thursday, February 9, 2006 at 12-1pm, Anderson Lab - Library 1^st Floor
Co-sponsored by the Library and the Collaborative for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, learn basic resources and research strategies for creating a business plan. A collaborative effort with Gordon Library Instruction Coordinator Christine Drew, cdrew@wpi.edu +1-508-831-6163.

Ignite Clean Energy Competition

Leveraging the Inner-Net

Invention to Venture

Intellectual Property

Advanced Web Searching

Tuesday September 6, 2005, 4-5pm Anderson Lan A - Gordon Library 1^st Floor
Great skills to have when searching to see if your ideas are already in use, what the potential market may be, and who competitors to your business ideas are! Google and Beyond Unleash the magic power of Google and explore the latest search engine technology and trends.

Entrepreneur Development Series: Networking Skills Workshop

Wednesday September 7, 2005, Noon-1pm Mid-Century Room - Campus Center 3^rd Floor
Learn how to build productive relationships and contacts, maintain your contact network, and increase your confidence in networking. Rockie Blunt, Ed.D. President, Blunt Consulting Group, will offer an interactive workshop to teach you networking skills. Bring your own lunch. We'll provide the drinks.

Business Plan Resources

Monday September 12, 2005, 3 - 4 p.m. Gordon Library Anderson Lab A 1^st Floor
Co-sponsored by the Library and the Collaborative for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, learn basic resources and research strategies for creating a business plan. Can't make the session? See WPI's Business Plan Resources page.

Entrepreneur Initiative Series: Wild Ideas!

Thursday September 15, 2005, Noon-1pm Chairman's Room - Campus Center Lower Level
Do you have wild new ideas for new products, processes, or services? Are they feasible? Is there a market for the idea? Learn to assess the potential value of turning your wild ideas into a business. Bring your own lunch. We'll provide the drinks.

Patent Searching Basics

Monday September 19, 2005, Noon-1pm Anderson Lab - Gordon Library 1st Floor
Learn online patent sources to begin exploring. What, Why and an introduction to searching U.S. and International patents using keyword, field searching and classification codes.

Entrepreneur Initiative Series: From Invention to Protection

Tuesday September 20, 2005 Noon-1pm Mid-Century Room - Campus Center 3^rd Floor
You have original ideas and inventions. Should you protect them? A patent attorney will discuss the whys, hows and whens of patenting, copyrighting, and trademarking. Even if you don't have ideas or inventions today, the information will be resourceful for the future. Bring your own lunch. We'll provide the drinks.

Entrepreneur Development Series: Time is on My Side, Yes It Is! Or, is it?

Thursday September 29, 2005 Noon-1pm Mid-Century Room - Campus Center 3^rd Floor
Time is an important facet of developing a new business. How much time should you be investing in your business and away from other commitments? What should you prioritize? A time management expert will present views on how to effectively manage these important decisions. Bring your own lunch. We'll provide the drinks.

Entrepreneur Initiative Series: Introduction to Business Plans

Wednesday, October 5, 2005 Noon-1pm Mid-Century Room - Campus Center 3^rd Floor
Is a business plan just a written collection of thoughts, plans, and milestones? How detailed and descriptive should your business plan be? What elements should you include in a first draft? Where and how can you find help in writing a business plan? What purpose does a business plan serve?

Invention to Venture

Saturday, October 15, 2005 8am-5pm, Odeum Room - Campus Center 3^rd Floor
This day-long technology entrepreneurship workshop provides sessions on the various stages in taking a technology-based idea and turning it into a business or licensing opportunity. Opening the day is the story of Dr. Robert Levine, a prolific inventor in the medical field, a story that will help you decide if technology entrepreneurship is for you. Following Dr. Levine is David Urbanus who will talk about validating that idea you have kept in your head for a long time. Karen Lauter Utgoff will speak to marketing and selling strategies and tactics for young technology start-ups and Michael Gondek will address Building your management team. Scott Pierce, Esq., will cover incorporating, intellectual property, and licensing and Dianne Durkin will conduct a Power Networking Clinic that will be a dynamic, interactive, hands-on exercise in developing networking skills. This session is being filmed, so smile, you're on candid camera! Carrie McIndoe will present on Business Plan Preparation and the day wraps up with a Finding the Funding panel -- a discourse on bootstrapping, securing SBIR funding, and venture capital. Please register in advance for this workshop.

Entrepreneur Development Series: Elevator Pitch - Can You Make an Impression in 60 Seconds?

Wednesday, October 26, 2005 Noon-1pm, Mid-Century Room - Campus Center 3^rd Floor
Everyone has ideas, opinions, or concepts that they must present, describe, or argue at one time or another. Time is an important factor in keeping your audience engaged. How much time you have to communicate is not always open-ended. You may only have a fleeting moment to convey the essence of your thoughts. What can you say in one minute? Will you be prepared to make an impression when you have one of those rare opportunities?
more...

Social Entrepreneurship Challenges, Rewards, and Opportunities

Thursday, November 3, 2004, Noon-2pm, Atwater Kent - Room 233
Social Entrepreneurship is the field that holds the promise of solving some of our society's most fundamental, challenging and intractable social problems. This interactive workshop will identify unique obstacles and constraints faced by social entrepreneurs; summarize some of the major issues and challenges facing new social ventures; review some of the fundamental differences between business and social entrepreneurs; consider some outstanding success during the past few years; and more. Pizza and refreshments provided.
Read more . . .

Entrepreneur Initiative Series: Competitive Analysis - Why Bother and Where to Begin

Friday, November 4, 2005, Noon-2pm, Atwater Kent Room 233
No area of business management has received as much attention, had more books written about it or has been the subject of as many courses, seminars, books and workshops as Competitive Analysis. There are many good reasons for this recognition. This interactive workshop will explore the basic principles of competitive analysis; present and explain some basic tools and frameworks that you can start to use immediately; suggest some creative non-business uses of these tools such as choosing a career, buying a car or house, and choosing your next vacation. This workshop includes both hands-on practical exercises as well as a basket full of valuable "take home" material. Pizza and refreshments provided.
Read more . . .

Advanced Web Searching: Google and Beyond

Wednesday, November 9, 2005 3-4pm, Anderson Lab A - Library
Registration Required
Unleash the magic power of Google and explore the latest search engine technology and trends. Comments from past attendees include:

"I was thoroughly psyched and could not wait ... to use what I had learned!"
"I came away with specific search engines to explore, which I did as soon as I got home. I appreciated the instructor's info on why and when to use the different search engines. Very useful info. Good examples."

Entrepreneur Development Series: Reading Body Language - Are you sending the right message?

Tuesday, November 15, 2005, Noon-1pm, Odeum B - Campus Center 3^rd Floor
We send messages not only with words, but also with facial expressions, postures, gestures, and eye contact. Local communications expert Dr. Rockie Blunt guides you through the major concepts of body language.
Read more . . .

Business Plan Resources

Thursday November 17, 2005 noon-12:45pm, Anderson Lab A - Library
Co-sponsored by the Library and the Collaborative for Entrepreneurship & Innovation, learn resources and research strategies for creating a business plan.

Patent Searching Basics

Webinar
November 30 - Noon-1pm
Location: your home or office PC
Provided by the Gordon Library Instruction Coordinator, Christine Drew.
Learn online patent sources to begin exploring. What, Why and an introduction to searching U.S. and international patents using keyword, field searching and classification codes.
This is a web conference (webinar) that uses Interwise iMeeting. Never used this before? Connect to setup your computer before. This may take several minutes so please do this ahead of time. You will need headphones & a microphone attached to your personal computer in order to participate. An email will be sent prior to the event with more details on connecting.

Entrepreneur Initiative Series: Marketing is Not a Science

Monday, December 5, 2005, Noon - 1 p.m., Mid-Century Room, Campus Center 3rd Floor
Marketing is not a science. It is a well thought out plan that identifies the results you want and specifies the methods considered most likely to achieve those results. This workshop will shed light on the many components of creating a successful marketing strategy for your company. Pizza and refreshments provided.
Read more...

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Last modified: February 16, 2009 15:27:13