Venture Lab: Accelerators and Incubators – Navigating the Landscape, MITEFnw, June 6

Venture Lab: Accelerators and Incubators – Navigating the Landscape, MITEFnw

When: Thursday, June 6, 5:30pm – 8:30pm

Where: One Union Square Boardroom, Seattle

What: The Seattle area is home to a burgeoning array of groups and programs designed to help startup companies achieve traction. The choices range from basic co-working spaces to accelerators that invest cash in approved companies. Join for an exciting Venture Lab to get an overview of the choices available, a discussion of the pros and cons of different types of programs, and a panel discussion with representatives from selected accelerators and incubators.

Who: Speakers include:

• Linsey Battan, Program Manager, TechStars Seattle  Linsey has a background in communication and marketing. She’s worked on marketing projects for international companies, one of the nation’s largest non-profits and startups.  Linsey’s first startup experience was on a team in the Microsoft Accelerator for Kinect, powered by TechStars. Linsey is now the Program Manager for TechStars Seattle, where she plans curriculum, builds networks and coaches teams.  When she’s not working you can find Linsey hosting dinner parties, kayaking on Lake Union or exploring abroad.
• Seaton Gras, Founder, SURF Incubator  Seaton Gras (pronounced “Grass”) is an incurable entrepreneur and dedicated community organizer. Seaton’s entrepreneurial experience dates back to 1976 when he formed World Cruising Adventures, a global sailing company. As a self-taught mechanical engineer and software programmer he pioneered a system to remove ozone depleting CFCs which was later recognized by President Bill Clinton and the United Nations. Seaton founded WizzyMouse, a clickable, visual, search engine and holds a semantic web patent. His entrepreneurial experience includes mobile app development, engineering, manufacturing, and education. He has served as an adviser for more than fifty technology startups and before the dawn of the personal computer, Seaton spent more than twelve years sailing around the world where he learned to speak nine different languages.
• Brian Howe, Founder, HUB Seattle  Brian is a teacher, attorney and entrepreneur. He founded Vox Legal PLLC, a law firm that specialized in setting up unique structures–including one of the largest nonprofit VC funds to invest in early stage Indian start-ups, a hybrid model for an interplanetary businesses on behalf of NASA (seriously), and many others. As an adjunct professor at both Seattle University School of Law, Seattle Pacific University, and Northwest Graduate University, Brian teaches graduate courses in Law and Social Entrepreneurship and Global Development and Social Justice. He is the founder and managing director of Hub Seattle, an incubator environment and coworking space for Seattle’s most inspiring entrepreneurs. Brian serves as an advisor or board member to Fledge.co (an incubator he helped start), Arts Aftercare (nonprofit he co-founded), and SiFP.net (where he was a founding board member). He likes rooftops, sailing, and wrestling with his nephews.
  
• Sanjay Puri, Partner, 9 Mile Labs  Sanjay started his career building database applications at Oracle and other companies. Sanjay co-founded thinkIndia.com in 1999 which exited successfully in 2001. As a products and marketing executive at startups (iConclude, Opsware, Edifecs) and large companies (Microsoft and HP), Sanjay has helped companies achieve successful exits and exceptional revenue growth. Sanjay holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from IIT-BHU in India and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management.

How Much: $25

How: Register online.