TRI-CITIES, TN: The Bristol Chamber of Commerce and the Cities of Bristol have teamed up with Startup Tri-Cities, a local entrepreneur organization, to bring a piece of the vibrant Austin, Texas startup community to our region. The festival is a collaboration between small business owners, entrepreneurs, and the many supporting organizations that bring innovation and growth to our region.
The Small Business Festival will take place May 3rd – 5th with free speakers and a number of community events taking place across the Tri-Cities. Thursday the 3rd, beginning with a 9:00 AM kickoff breakfast at Bristol Motor Speedway, will be focused on launching new startups. This day is focused on aspiring entrepreneurs and provides actionable workshops with all the information they need. In each of the Tri-Cities workshops will be focused on:
- Startup Legal – How to form your business entity
- Startup Accounting – What you need to know about business accounting and taxes
- Beginning Social Media – Learn how to get the word out and build a following
Friday will be used to highlight the excellent Leadercast event taking place at Eastman thanks to the Summit Leadership Foundation. Each of the cities may also continue to host workshops and other events. The evening will culminate in a networking event in the evening.
Saturday is the biggest day of the Small Business Festival with many events taking place all over downtown Bristol. These events will be focused on growing your business and inspiring existing business owners to take their business to the next level. Some of the highlights of Saturday’s events are:
- Entrepreneur Music Panel
- Tourism Businesses in the Region
- Green Business – LEED Certified and how to go green for profit
- Marketing and Social Media to achieve new growth
- Small Business Development Centers and what they can do for you
- Angle Round Table’s Investment Panel
- ESG & Impact Investing – A guide to understanding the mind of the intentional investor
- Co-Working – What it is and how you build strong startup communities
- Local Entrepreneurs talk about their successes and challenges
The festival also provides the region with the opportunity to highlight the excellent programs and services already available to local entrepreneurs, and provides valuable exposure for local subject matter experts. Additional speakers and topics continue to be confirmed and will be announced in the coming weeks.
As various associations, government departments, and local experts come together during National Entrepreneurship week, it is a time to celebrate the roles they play in the local small business community year-round. To be one of the many cities hosting the national movement that is the Small Business Festival is very exciting. When local entrepreneurs get together and openly share their experiences, challenges, and successes amazing things happen economically for the region’s growth and development. “The enthusiasm in response to the announcement of the 2018 Small Business Festival has been uplifting,” said Tom Anderson, Economic Development Director for the City of Bristol, TN. He added, “Startup Tri-Cities has brought a fun and unique perspective to growing entrepreneurs in our region and beyond.”
Bristol and Startup Tri-Cities invite everyone with an interest or experience in entrepreneurship to join them at the Small Business Festival.
Learn more at StartupTri.com/sbf2018
