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World Class Support Network for Entrepreneurs

The WPI Venture Forum is a world-class networking and support organization for businesses located in central Massachusetts. WPI Venture Forum was developed to "inspire and facilitate technology based entrepreneurial activity and economic growth". Its topics and presentations, often with expert panelists, discuss and inform nearly all segments of the business world today. Subjects addressed at the monthly meetings are diverse and provide keen, real-world insight into criteria for subjects such as writing proper business plans, understanding venture capital funding decisions while lending collaborative support to the "nerve-wracking" experience of raising funds in a new start-up or existing business. These critical and objective presentations deal with specific and timely applications and leave an audience with much to reflect upon, regardless of one's business niche.

Networking is also a strong element of the WPI Venture Forum. From automated widgets to health devices or even the publishing industry, all who attend the monthly meetings, the networking events or who participate on the committees seem to have experienced the ups and downs of the business cycle with its inherent risks while positioning product and marketing to climb toward success.

The main objective of the WPI Venture Forum is to "obtain interesting and informative speakers, as well as business case presenters", according to Paul F. McGrath, president of an accounting firm and the 2002-2004 Chair of the entrepreneurial focused organization open to all. Mr. McGrath recently passed the torch to incoming Chair Amar Kapur. The WPI Venture Forum is operated by an Executive Board and several committees which also publish a monthly newsletter and host a Saturday 5-7 p.m. radio program with varied guests on radio 580, WTAG. These committees allow participants to network with colleagues and develop potential business opportunities.

The WPI Venture Forum holds monthly presentations during the school year, with a registration at 6 p.m. and the program following from 6:30-9 p.m.. The first half of each three hour program is devoted to a presentation by a guest speaker. In the second half, participants hear a case study of an actual entrepreneurial business, presented by the founder or senior executive of the firm. A panel of experts is assembled for each program to provide feedback to the case presenter. Audience members are encouraged to offer comments and questions.

All programs ares held at the attractive WPI Campus Center Odeum, Worcester. Yearly membership is only $35 and attendance fee is $10 for members, $20 for non-members. A schedule of programs, directions and other pertinent information is available online at www.WPIVentureForum.org.