Virginia SBDC’s International Business Development (IBD) Program evaluates startups for export potential and assists startups and existing businesses to compete globally via one-on-one technical assistance and connection to state, national and international resources.Recognizing these specific opportunities and challenges for technology enabled startups, the Virginia SBDC is convening a one-day event in Charlottesville, VA that will bring experts and successful global startups to share their experience entering foreign markets. Specifically, the program will:
- Highlight startups that have had success in global markets.
- Provide compliance training for early stage companies to understand when and how export controls might impact their business.
- Host IP and trademark filing training for startups with a focus on how to mitigate costs and prioritize markets for IP protection.
- Present information on the proper storage and handling of data in foreign markets with a focus on the European Union.
- Introduce the taxpayer-funded resources available to companies for global expansion.
**Purchasing multiple tickets for your organization? Add 1 General Admission ticket at $40 and then apply the “GlobalPass” (case sensitive) promo code to unlock $26 discounted tickets for others on your team! Contact Shira Goldeen at events@cvsbdc.org with any questions.**
Program Agenda
- Remarks from Antwaun Griffin, Head of Socially Responsible Purchasing, Amazon Business
- Securing Intellectual Property Rights in Foreign Markets
- Top Regulatory Compliance Issues for STEM Exporters
- Proper Data Handling Under GDPR
- Ample opportunities for networking with panelists, resource providers, and the startup community, culminating with a closing reception featuring hors d’oeuvres and Virginia craft beverages
Updated for 2023
Confused about on blockchain for your business? We’ve got you covered.
We demystify blockchain in this illustrative program that includes a Q&A session to answer your questions.
This session will cover:
- Introduction to Blockchain
- Blockchain vs. Bitcoin – how are they different?
- How Blockchain can be used for small business
- Accepting cryptocurrency as a form of payment
- Use of smart contracts
- Use of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)
- Using blockchain to raise capital
- Looking towards the future of blockchain technologies
- Current rate of blockchain adoption in business
- Moving towards cryptocurrency as national currency
- Industry Applications
- Safety and Privacy Concerns
Presenter:
Cameron Nelson, Chief Digital Advisor, Central Virginia SBDC
A confirmation email with the Zoom login information will be sent after registration – a day before before the event – please be on the lookout for it.
Join Virginia SBDC’s Chief Digital Advisor Cameron Nelson for this informative series covering the latest tools in the digital marketing landscape and how to use them effectively for your small business.
A Zoom link will be provided upon registration, so watch for that email.
Session 3: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools
Monday, 5/22/23 at 12noon-1pm on Zoom
What is all the fuss about AI and ChatGPT? What AI tools are available, and how can a small business use them to streamline customer service and marketing tasks? This session with the Virginia SBDC’s Chief Digital Advisor Cameron Nelson will help answer those questions and more. The first half of the session will give an overview, the second half of the hour will be a Q & A.
About the Instructor: Cameron Nelson, MBA, MA
Mr. Nelson has over 18 years’ experience in technology, and as a senior tech consultant in Silicon Valley helping Fortune 500 companies improve their digital marketing and eCommerce. At the same time, he founded several tech companies, including a SaaS website for tree preservation and a blockchain platform for nonprofits. Cameron is accomplished in language, culture, has an MBA and MA and believes new technology products can help shape our world for the better.
Now in its third year, Valley TechCon brings together technology enthusiasts, practitioners, researchers, and business leaders to facilitate idea sharing, collaboration, and innovation. This year we are pleased to offer three tracks to choose from for the breakout sessions: Technical Topics for Practitioners, The Business Impact of Technology, and Growing Your Technology Business. Within each track, sessions will cover a broad spectrum of topics. The goal is to inspire new ideas, improve business efficiency with emerging technologies, springboard new ventures, and expand networking opportunities.
Join Virginia SBDC’s Chief Digital Advisor Cameron Nelson for the last session of this informative series covering the latest tools in the digital marketing landscape and how to use them effectively for your small business.
A Zoom link will be provided upon registration, so watch for that email.
Session 4: Beyond Social Media – More Digital Marketing Opportunities
Google, Next Door, Yelp, Trip Advisor, etc. – with so many different digital channels available, how does a small business owner decide which to use? This session with the Virginia SBDC’s Chief Digital Advisor Cameron Nelson will help participants understand how to assess which digital channels are the best for your business and what to do to maintain them effectively. The first half of the session will give an overview, the second half of the hour will be a Q & A.
About the Instructor: Cameron Nelson, MBA, MA
Mr. Nelson has over 18 years’ experience in technology, and as a senior tech consultant in Silicon Valley helping Fortune 500 companies improve their digital marketing and eCommerce. At the same time, he founded several tech companies, including a SaaS website for tree preservation and a blockchain platform for nonprofits. Cameron is accomplished in language, culture, has an MBA and MA and believes new technology products can help shape our world for the better.
The “Get Back Out on the Trade Road” webinar features U.S. companies that are successfully navigating export sales and embracing the “new normal” through more direct participation in different types of events.
Are you ready to take advantage of Federal resources that can facilitate direct client engagement to grow your global market sales?
Attendees will:
- Explore the value of face-to-face interaction with foreign buyers to build relationships, including at trade shows and missions.
- Discover how to get involved with Commerce’s Industry Teams, office network, and the specialized assistance and unique opportunities and resources they provide.
- Learn about SBA and EXIM grants, financing, and export insurance that can help facilitate participation in trade events and consummate international business success.
- Gain insights on leveraging federal government export services – everything from export counseling and matchmaking to trade shows, trade financing, market intelligence, trade data and more.
A business is never too big or small to export, but many need export resources and assistance along the way. The good news: there’s plenty of help available through the federal government and its partners.
This is a no cost webinar, but advance registration is required.
Grab your lunch and join us the first Thursday of each month to learn more about SBA programs and network with other small business owners.
The SBA 504 loan program is designed for businesses seeking to purchase real property. This loan program offers small business owners the opportunity to purchase real property using their business through a loan program that offers extended terms.
Key Takeaways:
How business real estate ownership is achieved through the SBA 504 Program with low down payments and below market fixed rates
Additional ways to preserve cash for businesses to invest into growth and operating needs
Creative ways to meet injection requirements for the purchase of real estate
Speaker(s): Joe DiStefano, REDCO
This one-hour webinar is designed for small business owners to learn more about credit card optimization, including reducing fees on credit cards and gifts cards.
Learning Outcomes:
- Choosing a Processor – What to look for when picking a company to process credit cards.
- Visa/MC Interchange – Find out how the processors get charged and how it affects you.
- Gift Card Programs – Will setting up a gift card program for your business help? If so, learn how to set one up.
- Cash Discounting – Find out how to pass the fees to the cardholder in a way that doesn’t break Visa/MC compliance.
By registering for this seminar, you grant UMW SBDC permission to share your contact information with the speaker.
Speaker(s): Ed Hopper is the CEO of Altor Processing Systems, founded in 1999. In January 2018, he led his company in a new direction. They launched Altor/50 and now donate half of their net profits to over 20 charities. Ed says “We can usually help merchants save money and help charities at the same time. It’s a Win/Win!”
Please join Senior Business Counselor, and Adjunct GMU Professor George Siragusa as he guides you through a step-by-step process of building a business performance dashboard, complete with relevant metrics, that is invaluable to meet your strategic and tactical goals and objectives. This webinar is extremely useful for early stage companies, growth, or even mature businesses! During this NO-COST webinar you should be able to: :
- See what business dashboards look like
- Understand why a “scorecard” is important
- Become familiar with the principles that guide your 1st dashboard draft
- Know how to get started and begin building a dashboard for your business
- Decide on a group of simple but important key metrics
- See what software is available, making scorecard development easier
- Learn how and when to use these new business metrics with your business team
- See how dashboard insights can make a positive impact on your business performance
- AND… hear answers to many of your business briefing questions in real time!
THERE IS NO COST to ATTEND; but REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
This presentation covers the basics for your business website and addresses common concerns, including:
• why a website is vital to your business
• the 4 essential pages for your website
• the importance of SEO copy & UX design for your site
• the debate over websites vs. social media and how to effectively use them together
With special guest speaker, Hannah Robertson-Forrest from VEDP talking about website enhancement grant for small businesses that are up and running and would like to attract international business.
BIO
Angel Evitts is the owner of The Bonus Writer, a boutique copywriting and web design business that helps new and small businesses create or elevate their online presence.
Learn how to optimize your business profile during this presentation so you can get a little bit of FREE SEO from Google. Trainer/Presenter Lizzie Morrow, Google Partner
You spend hours marketing your small business, but how do you know if your efforts are working?
Marketing analytics provide valuable data on audience behavior, online ad success, site traffic sources, and more. Two of the most widely used analytics tools are Google Analytics and Facebook Insights.
In this session, marketing strategist and SCORE mentor Cheri Bales will explain how these two analytics tools can guide businesses and marketers with strategy, implementation and evaluation.
You will learn:
• Why you need to use marketing analytics
• Which metrics to follow and what they mean
• How your audience behaves
• Customer acquisition costs (CAC)
• Ad cost per click rates (CPC)
• How to find the data to measure your ROI
Learn about doing business more securely in cyberspace. Operating safely in cyberspace is crucial for small businesses to protect their data, finances, and reputation. However, most small business lack adeqaute resources to fully protect the IT infrastructure. This presentation will provide cost-effective solutions to doing business more securely in cyberspace.
Biography:
Mr. Webster serves as Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Cybersecurity State Coordinator (CSC) for the state of Virginia.
This webinar will provide safe computer and network usage tips for small business owners. It concerns not only businesses, but also individuals.
Speaker: Quiana Gainey, Virginia SBDC Cyber Industry Expert
A confirmation email with the Zoom login information will be sent after registration – you can expect it a day before before the event – please be on the lookout for it.
Updated for 2023
Join us if you’re interested in pivoting more of your efforts to ONLINE SALES
This session will cover:
- The variety of websites available, the possibilities for upgrading yours to better accommodate online sales and the estimated costs to accomplish this!
- The various e-commerce platforms available and how to select the best based on your specific business needs.
- How to setup and manage your online storefront or service portal and how to use data and marketing to maximize returns.
A confirmation email with the Zoom login information will be sent after registration – a day before before the event – please be on the lookout for it.
Instructor: Cameron Nelson, Chief Digital Advisor, Central VA SBDC
Mr. Nelson has over 18 years experience in technology, and as a senior tech consultant in Silicon Valley helping Fortune 500 companies improve their digital marketing and eCommerce. At the same time he founded several tech companies, including a SaaS website for tree preservation and a blockchain platform for nonprofits. Cameron is accomplished in language, culture, has an MBA and MA and believes new technology products have the ability to help shape our world for the better.