• Fri. Feb 29th, 2008 @ 9:00am - 4:00pm
• Chicago GSB High Tech Group
• University of Chicago GSB Harper Center
• Address: 5807 South Woodlawn Ave Chicago, IL 60637
• Fee: 45
• Register at TechVision2008.com

The University of Chicago business school\’s annual TechVision conference will feature panels on cleantech, corporate wireless venturing and new Internet business models. Keynotes include Desh Dashpande, namesake of MIT’s Technology Innovation Center. Panel guests include Ruby-on-Rails maker 37 Signals, Navteq, Motorola and Nokia Ventures. Please visit www.TechVision2008.com for details and registration info. Event is open to the public.

Questions? Contact: Kevin Cabral kcabral@g_deletethis_mail.com

• Thu. Feb 28th, 2008 @ 12:00pm - 1:30pm
• Illinois Technology Association (Moderated by The Radian Group, LLC)
• ITA Headquarters
• Address: 200 S. Wacker Drive, 15th Floor, Chicago, IL 60600
• Fee: Free
• Register on our Event Site or the ITA Calendar!

The 2008 series for the Illinois Technology Association begins with a roundtable focused in Information Security Management Systems and will Discuss the growing demand for ISO 27001 certification and the competitive advantages seen by corporations.

Representatives from various industries will be in attendance to share ideas and thoughts with the members of the ITA at this Compliance Roundtable. Please join us on Thursday at 12:00 for an enlightening discussion with peers. Bring your lunch.

Questions? Contact: LFGibson@TheRadianGroup.com

• Thu. Feb 28th, 2008 @ 8:45am - 12:00pm
• SCORE CHICAGO, COUNSELORS TO AMERICAS SMALL BUSINESS
• CITIBANK CENTER
• Address: 500 W. Madison St, Suite 1250, Chgo, IL 60661
• Fee: $ 50 Pre-Paid Online; $ 60 at the Door
• Please register Online

Web Design that works is an opportunity to learn best practices for your business website and is presented in two parts during the three hour session. Fist half will focus on the terms, technologies, and tools to start a website. The second half will provide you with design techniques to improve an existing website.

Questions? Contact: workshops@scorechicago.com

• Wed. Feb 27th, 2008 @ 8:30am - 4:00pm
• ZIGZAG Marketing
• Regus Office Center (HQ) - Regency Towers
• Address: 1415 West 22nd St., Oak Brook, IL 60523
• Fee: $ 795.
• RSVP website

1-Day Workshop: Creating & Delivering Product Demos

A great demo is one of the easiest ways to accelerate the sales cycle. But many companies demo themselves right out of a sale by focusing too much on what a products does, and too little on why buyers need it.

If you want to shorten your sales cycles in 2008, sign up for Creating & Delivering Product Demos a 1-day hands-on workshop that will turn your demos into value propositions instead of feature explanations. http://www.zigzagmarketing.com/demos.asp

You’ll learn:
*How to uncover buyer needs both before and during a demo, so you can get straight to the point with shorter, more concise demos

*How to make your demos tell a story based on user scenarios — instead of product scenarios — to eliminate “irrelevant feature” questions that can sour a good demo

*When to stop talking and how to read buying signs, even if you can’t see your audience

*How to give your product the edge by subtly setting traps for the competition without ever mentioning their name

*Key differences between face-to-face and web demos and how to make both equally effective

*How to respond to questions and objections confidently to keep the tone of the demo positive and convincing

*How to demo to executives versus users, and techniques for appealing to mixed audiences

Easier to Learn. Easier to Practice. Attend Product Management University and learn simple best practice techniques you can use and get benefit from immediately. No one makes product management and product marketing easier than ZIGZAG Marketing.

View our framework: http://zigzagmarketing.com/methodology.asp

2008 Course Catalog: http://www.zigzagmarketing.com/lit_request.asp

Contact Brandice Thorn at (866) 797-3647 ext 1 or bthorn@zigzagmarketing.com for more information.

Questions? Contact: Brandice Thorn info@zigzagmarketing.com 866-797-3647

• Tue. Feb 26th, 2008 @ 8:45am - 12:30pm
• SCORE CHICAGO, COUNSELORS TO AMERICAS SMALL BUSINESS
• CITIBANK CENTER
• Address: 500 W. Madison St, Suite 1250, Chgo, IL 60661
• Fee: $ 40 Pre-Paid Online; $ 50 at the Door
• Please register Online

Understand the various ways you might finance your business and how to approach friends and family, angel investors, banks and venture capitalists. Learn to prepare the documents you need to submit for each.

Questions? Contact: workshops@scorechicago.com

• Wed. Feb 20th, 2008 @ 12:00pm - 1:30pm
• Business Network Chicago
• ITA center
• Address: 200 S Wacker, Ste 1500, Chicago
• Fee: 20
• Register by Feb 18

Does My Website Need SEO

The BNC Entrepreneur Group is for small business owners looking to expand their network for resources, information and ideas to grow their business. The BNC IT Group is for Information Technology professionals looking to network with other IT professionals and people related to the IT Industry. The ITA exists to promote the information technology community and help Illinois member businesses grow their business by providing networking, advocacy, resources and leadership.

On-line registration must be completed by Noon on Monday, Feb 18 or before the room capacity has been reached. Cost is $ 20 prepaid which includes a catered lunch from Panera Bread. Click here to register. After registration, you will receive an email confirming your RSVP. Since lunch is catered, NO walk-ins allowed. ALL attendees must check in with the building concierge.

Meeting Agenda: After brief introductions by all attendees, the presentation will be followed by a Q&A session. As time permits, there will be informal networking at the end of the meeting.

Our guest entrepreneur, Avery Cohen has held leadership positions in information technology and Business Intelligence for 20+ years. During that time, he helped organizations collect, design, manage, develop and interpret their business systems. He has worked in a wide variety of industries, and with clients that include Fortune 500 business managers, marketing executives and entrepreneurs.

The use of search engines for both business and consumer purchase decisions, continues to grow. How can you and your business become better known, and attract more business through your web site? Join us as Avery Cohen from Metrist Partners discusses the current best practices for web site Search Engine Optimization (SEO). He will address how Search Engines work and show steps you can take to achieve a higher ranking on the Search Engines. As we are inviting both Entrepreneur and IT groups, the presentation will focus primarily on business marketing issues and will address some technical issues related to web site development. We will also discuss other benefits SEO provides to your web site and your customers.

For questions or more information, contact Jean Pickering @ 312-431-8335 or or Susan Barahia @ 312-506-5320 or email bnc_lunch@bnchicago.org.

• Tue. Feb 19th, 2008 @ 8:45am - 12:30pm
• SCORE CHICAGO, COUNSELORS TO AMERICAS SMALL BUSINESS
• CITIBANK CENTER
• Address: 500 W. Madison St, Suite 1250, Chgo, IL 60661
• Fee: $ 40 Pre-Paid Online; $ 50 at the Door
• Please register Online

This workshop covers the essential elements of business plan development. Topics include: setting goals and objectives, preparing marketing and financial plans and defining action steps to attain appropriate goals.

Questions? Contact: workshops@scorechicago.com

• Tue. Feb 12th, 2008 @ 12:00pm - 1:30am
• Business Network Chicago
• ITA Headquarters
• Address: 200 S. Wacker, Chicago, IL 60606
• Fee: 5.00
• Sign up at 123Signup

BNC Venture Capital Group

Business Network Chicago (BNC) is a professional networking and career development organization bringing together professionals to support members in all phases of their career whether looking for a job, clients, talent, capital, strategic alliances, or innovative ideas.

ITA is hosting the monthly BNC Venture Capital networking group. This group is led by Len Bland of Concept Equity Group. David Carman is CEO & President of the BNC.

We will begin the meeting with networking and follow with a presentation from Brogan Pharmaceuticals.

Brogan Pharmaceuticals is decreasing the time and increasing the number of drug products used to diagnose and treat rare diseases via the federal Orphan Drug Act in the US. The drug products produced are superior to current technologies, are used in grossly underserved markets, and are desperately sought by physicians and patients with rare diseases. Orphan drug products offer 7 years exclusivity, tax credits, and development assistance from the FDA. BP operates a 9,000 sq ft. FDA cGMP manufacturing facility used for the launch of drug product I, contract manufacturing and drug product development activities. Core competencies in FDA manufacturing, regulatory, and pharmaceutical formulation development are leveraged at the facility generating revenues outside of the orphan product development space. Ancillary operations include contract manufacturing and drug product development for research and development clients, orphan drug developers, and virtual pharmaceutical firms in support of their clinical trials. The mission is to be a vertically integrated, developer, manufacturer, and distributor of six to eight small market, low demand, orphan drug products each generating annualized revenues of $ 50-150MM.

Please bring your own lunch and drinks.

Call Len Bland at 847-317-0656 with questions.
Other investors welcome.

We meet the first Tuesday of every month. If you have a scheduling conflict, please join us for the next meeting on 3/4.

Questions? Contact: Len Bland: len_bland@conceptequity.com

• Tue. Feb 12th, 2008 @ 8:45am - 12:30pm
• SCORE CHICAGO, COUNSELORS TO AMERICAS SMALL BUSINESS
• CITIBANK CENTER
• Address: 500 W. Madison St, Suite 1250, Chgo, IL 60661
• Fee: $ 40 Pre-Paid Online; $ 50 at the Door
• Please register Online

This workshop covers:how accounting statements can help you understand and manage your business; the basics of taxes and importance of good record keeping;and an introduction to evaluating business risks and insuring against them.

Questions? Contact: workshops@scorechicago.com

• Thu. Feb 7th, 2008 @ 8:45am - 12:30pm
• Score Chicago, Counselors to America’s Small Business
• CITIBANK CENTER
• Address: 500 W. Madison St, Suite 1250, Chgo, IL 60661
• Fee: $ 40 Pre-Paid Online; $ 50 at the Door
• Please register Online

Improve business results by effective use of financial tools for forward planning and analysis. This workshop covers cash flow and break even analysis to help you achieve financial success in your business.

Questions? Contact: workshops@scorechicago.org

• Thu. Feb 7th, 2008 @ 8:45am - 12:30pm
• Score Chicago, Counselors to Americas’ Small Business
• CITIBANK CENTER
• Address: 500 W. Madison St, Suite 1250, Chgo, IL 60661
• Fee: $ 40 Pre-Paid Online; $ 50 at the Door
• Please register Online

Improve business results by effective use of financial tools for forward planning and analysis. This workshop covers cash flow and break even analysis to help you achieve financial success in your business.

Questions? Contact: workshops@scorechicago.org

• Tue. Feb 5th, 2008 @ 8:45am - 12:30pm
• SCORE CHICAGO, COUNSELORS TO AMERICA’S SMALL BUSINESS
• CITIBANK CENTER
• Address: 500 W. Madison St, Suite 1250
• Fee: $ 40 Pre-Paid Online; $ 50 at the Door
• Please register Online

This workshop covers marketing plans, pricing, promotion and distribution strategies, and methods for finding and keeping your customers.

Questions? Contact: workshops@scorechicago.org

• Mon. Feb 4th, 2008 @ 6:45pm - 9:30pm
• NorthWest Chicagoland Linux Users Group
• A238
• Address: 1200 W Algonquin Rd
• Fee: free

We talk, learn, show, share Linux. This can be the OS itself or the apps that run on and so on.

• Mon. Feb 4th, 2008 @ 12:00pm - 2:00pm
• University of Illinois Technology Entrepreneur Center (TEC)
• Illini Center, 4th Floor
• Address: 200 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606
• Fee: $ 12 in advance (by 5pm Sunday, Feb 3), $ 15 at the door.
• RSVP website

How venture capital in the Midwest defines entrepreneurship in the region

Full lunch included. Attire: Come As You Are!

The TEC is proud to present a panel discussion on “The State of Venture Capital in the Midwest” - What Venture Capital in the Midwest Means for Entrepreneurship in the Region. We will also have a short presentation from a University of Illinois engineering student on a new business idea. We will also have a brief presentation from a student entrepreneur from the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Illinois Ventures is a seed and early-stage technology investment firm focused on research-derived companies in information technologies, physical sciences and life sciences, with a particular emphasis on those deriving from research conducted at the University of Illinois and other regional research institutions and federal laboratories.
[ As Seen On http://TechVenue.com ] (TVR763212)

Questions? Contact: Rhiannon Clifton tec@uiuc.edu 217-244-3124

• Fri. Feb 1st, 2008 @ 8:45am - 12:30pm
• Score Chicago, Counselors to America’s Small Business
• CITIBANK CENTER
• Address: 500 W. Madison St, Suite 1250, Chicago, IL 60661
• Fee: $ 40 Pre-Paid Online; $ 50 at the Door
• Please register Online

Do you have what it takes to start and runn a successful business? What are the first steps? This workshop will help you assess your prospects, give you initial direction, and inspire you to realize your dream.

Questions? Contact: workshops@scorechicago.org