OXFORD — Entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs of all ages are invited to Entrepreneur Night on Tuesday, Nov. 17 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Oxford Academy High School Auditorium. This event will include presentations and Q&A with featured speakers Brad Treat and Dominick Recckio, following introductions by Otis Jennings and Steve Palmatier.
The presentation agenda first explores the question, “What makes a great startup business idea?” and continues with examples of successful business startups, including those launched in our area. Information about global trends, area resources, and next steps will also be offered.
This free, community-wide event is cosponsored by the Oxford Academy Central School District, Southern Tier Startup Alliance, Commerce Chenango, and Otselic Valley Central School District. These organizations are committed to sharing information and practical instruction for the benefit of our community.
“This event provides an opportunity for all members of our community to be part of something exciting. Good ideas are not exclusive to a particular segment of a community; they can come from any one of us,” said Oxford Superintendent Shawn Bissetta. “The Oxford Academy school community is involved in a variety of exciting initiatives that focus on the importance of innovative thinking, problem solving, and collaboration. Entrepreneur Night is a perfect example of this movement. Anyone who enjoys sharing ideas and learning something new will benefit from attending. Our lineup of presenters ranges from seasoned entrepreneurs and educators to college students—this event truly offers something for everyone.”
A Young Invincibles Policy Brief reported on research funded in part by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation in 2011, where more than half of their sampled millienials (young Americans ages 18-34) expressed interest in starting their own businesses. But it’s not easy. Reported barriers to new business launches include the need for expanded education, mentorship, and detail about how to launch and run a business. This cosponsor collaboration aims to begin bridging the network and know-how gap for both the youngest and older potential entrepreneurs.
Chenango County already has a track record of growth in STEM-related economy, including new business launches. Christian Harris (Labor Market Analyst-Southern Tier Region for the NYS Department of Labor, Division of Research and Statistics) reports that in Chenango County there were roughly 3,000 STEM-intensive industry jobs in 2014, which represents 17.2 percent of all jobs in the county. This is the second highest concentration among all 62 New York counties. (Chenango is behind only Tioga at 23.5 percent; the 62-county average was 7 percent.)
Entrepreneurial opportunities in the Chenagno County area are not exclusively STEM-related—many are interested in the arts and agricultural business growth and innovation, for example. But statistics suggest better news about our business and entrepreneurial climate than is often assumed.
For those who cannot attend in person, this event will also be available via a free, live-streamed webinar. Register and link to the event here: http://bit.ly/1LOploc.