Design AVL's Digital Future at UNITE WNC 

Ever wonder what WNC's tech landscape will look like in 10 years? Will there be enough tech jobs for you to grow your career? Or enough tech workers to grow your company?

Attend and participate in UNITE WNC summit to help ensure technology's inclusion alongside tourism and beer in Asheville's future. Whether you are a remote tech worker, entrepreneur, investor, educator, student, policy maker or, of course, tech worker at any level, in any industry, and in any domain (service desk, systems, network, developer, project manager, QA, UI, marketing, business development, etc) your voice counts.
 
At the end of the two days, the UNITE WNC community will have:
1.    A shared Vision of WNC tech sector in 2025
2.    Well-defined areas of emphasis for collective action and impact
3.    Policy recommendations
4.    Education and training goals
5.    Branding and social media strategies and stories
6.    Infrastructure goals
7.    A Hub/Network to support and maintain momentum and track success

DATE: March 31 - April 1, 2017. Early-bird pricing of $50 per ticket is now available. For more info and to purchase tickets, visit the UNITE WNC website.

Tech Talent South Discount + Women in Tech Scholarship

Tech Talent South is probably best known for their coding courses, including their fantastic 8-week Code Immersion program. But TTY can help your startup with more than just website development -- they also offer courses like Grow Your Brand. The takeaways from that class? "Grab a hold of your brand’s digital image with insight into mastering your business vertical, digital marketing workflow, and inbound marketing plan."  

Curious? Tech Talent South is extending the Venture Asheville community a 30% discount off all their courses, including Code Immersion and Grow Your Brand. Use this link to apply and be sure to include 'Venture Asheville' in the 'how did you hear about us' section. And if you're a woman in tech, TTY also offers a scholarship, with awards of up to 50% tuition.

Crowdfunding: The New Option for Equity Financing in NC

As a result of legislation passed by the N.C. General Assembly in July 2016, startups will soon be permitted to raise up to $2 million from anyone, not just accredited investors. While this measure helps NC startups compete on the national stage, it's a bit (okay, a lot) more complicated than running a Kickstarter campaign.

Legal specialist Leo John from the N.C. Secretary of State’s Securities Division and Jake Farrar, an attorney with Merithew Law in Asheville, will cover how crowdfunding fits within securities laws; legal do's and don'ts; and the marketing aspects - what you can say and how to reach investors. 

DATE: Friday, February 24th from 1-4pm at A-B Tech's Enka Campus. The seminar is free to attend, but preregistration is required.

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS 
2/22 – 1 Million Cups, 9-10am @ RISC Networks
2/24 – CreativeMornings, 9am-12pm, @ The Center for Craft, Creativity and Design
2/24 – Equity Crowdfunding Seminar, 1pm-4pm, @ A-B Tech Enka Campus 
2/25 – SCORE Website Development Seminar, 8:30-10a, @ A-B Tech Enka Campus 
3/1 – Term Sheets Workshop, 12-1:30pm @ Asheville Chamber
3/4 – Food Connection Benefit Concert, 6:30-9:30pm @ The Grey Eagle

1 Million Cups Presents Growler Chill
Wednesday, 2/22, 9-10am
RISC Networks
81 Broadway, Suite C

Growler Chill is a countertop appliance that lets craft beer lovers bring home three of their favorite brews in standard 64-oz. growlers and enjoy them without fear of going flat or being spoiled by oxygen or improper temperature.  Users can connect Growler Chill to their smartphone or tablet to track how much beer is left in the growlers, control the CO2 pressure, and adjust the temperature of their brews. Join founder Randy Hollister to learn more about this South Carolina-based startup and how Growler Chill aims to address one of the immutable truths of life: flat beer is bad!

Upcoming Presenters at 1MC Asheville:
3/1 – Math CUES App
3/8 – Induction Food Systems

Thanks to our 2017 Sponsors: SCORE, RISC Networks, Izzy's Coffee Den, and Blue Ridge Solutions
Submit to present at 1MC Asheville and attend our next presenter training on 3/8.

Understanding Term Sheets
Wednesday, 3/1, 12-1:30p
Asheville Chamber, Boardroom
36 Montford Ave.

Raising startup capital can trigger the full range of human emotions from anxiety all the way to... anxiety. Knowing how the process unfolds can help you proceed with confidence. Term Sheets govern the key details that determine who owns what, who has control over the company, and how precisely you're getting  properly screwed capitalized.
 
Asheville Angels' upcoming seminar - Understanding Investment Term Sheets – will walk you through this crucial document and be of help to both entrepreneurs and investors. If funding is in your future, then see details and purchase your tickets ($25) here. 

CreativeMornings Asheville: Akira Satake
Friday, 2/24, 8:30-10am
The Center for Craft, Creativity & Design
67 Broadway

In his work as a potter, Akira Satake considers the act of creation a collaboration between himself, the clay, and the fire.  In this context, collaboration means finding what the clay wants to be and bringing out its beauty in the way that the beauty of our surroundings is created through the random hand of Nature.  His approach to life can be seen much the same way; not to face it as a series of obstacles or opportunities, but as limitless chances to engage, or collaborate, with the moment.  Attend on Friday to hear Satake discuss his multiple passions for ceramics, photography and music production, and how his life philosophy has shaped and propelled each of these careers.

A cross between TEDx and 1 Million Cups, CreativeMornings is a breakfast lecture series held in major cities across the nation. Tickets are gone for Friday's event, but you can still join the waitlist.

New jobs this week:

Public Relations Social Media Specialist
@ Geriatric Practice Management

Database Administrator
@ Geriatric Practice Management

Information Systems Security Officer
@ DirectViz Solutions

Front End Web Developer
@ Applied Solutions Group

Data Analyst
@ Everyday Health

E-Commerce Manager
@ Rug & Home
 

 

Whether you need a business plan, tech training, assistance with rapid prototyping, a place to connect with peers facing similar challenges, or are seeking talent to hire, Venture Asheville created a reference map to help you find the right local resources to fit your needs, no matter what stage your business is in.
 

Venture Asheville is the high-growth entrepreneurship initiative of the Economic Development Coalition for Asheville-Buncombe County and the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. Learn more about us.