We're back for a second great unconference-style event: StartupAccelerator 2!

Last year's event brought together 100 people to share their experience and skills in starting up a business, program, or social enterprise. Not like a regular conference where you sit-and-get, this event is one you create with your fellow attendees. You propose the sessions. You participate in the conversation. You build your network! Bring your startup idea, concept, or business, and get ready to learn tools and techniques with your peers--and share what you've learned.

Where:

Center for Advanced Technology and Innovation
2320 Renaissance Blvd
Sturtevant, WI 53177

Click here for Google Map

When:

Saturday, March 13

10am - 6pm

How to Prepare:

Bring a food donation--we are donating the food we receive to the Racine County Food Bank

Prepare a 5-10 word intro: First name, Last name, What you are starting, What you want to learn, What you are offering
Prepare a presentation-- you can share on any topic related to starting a business, program, or social enterprise. (See notes for presenters below)

Come at the start--that's the best time to participate in the kickoff ceremonies. Registration is simple, so arrive at 10am. We'll have coffee and food for you to snack on before we start the event.

For Presenters:

Remember the Law of Two Feet: "If you are not getting or giving value where you are, then use your two feet to go somewhere else." This is what makes the unconference experience so great. No one needs to spend any time participating without learning, networking, or being involved. This law also makes it challenging for presenters. People might get up and leave in the middle of your conversation. Sometimes that leads to bringing back more people! Here are some Do's and Don'ts for presenters:

Don't 'show up and throw up.' Canned slideshows of sales pitches with bullet points will lead to losing your audience.
Do engage in conversation. Your fellow participants might know more than you do about your topic. Invite them to share.
Don't get upset when people leave. Just let them go. They might come back!

Do partner up with other presenters if your topic is similar to theirs. (Check the List to see what's currently being planned, and the Prezi of StartupAccelerator 1 to see the agenda from our first event.)

We look forward to seeing you there!

If you haven't already, please be sure to register on our site:

The StartupAccelerator Team-
Bucketworks, BizStartsMilwaukee, and The CATI

On a sunny Valentine's Day Sunday, Bucketworks volunteer Ron Bean, 5 young people, 2 board members, and other volunteers (including myself) moved ArtWorks for Milwaukee into the new Bucketworks space.

We'd like to give them a warm Bucketworks welcome!

ArtWorks's mission and goals are aligned with our own.

Mission: 

"Provide meaningful employment and training through an apprenticeship program in the arts for Milwaukee area youth with and without disabilities."

Goals:

• Provide meaningful employment experiences to youth with and without disabilities, ages 14-21
• Provide a mentoring between youth with and without disabilities, and professional and established artists
• Increase public awareness of the importance of the arts and art education
• Foster cultural awareness and promote integration among students with and without disabilities
• Provide a professional art gallery and other exhibition opportunities for Apprentice work.

We are proud to become partners in our new space.

On Sunday, February 14th ArtWorks for Milwaukee will be making their home at the new Bucketworks space. ArtWorks will be moving out of their old space on 1421 N Water St at the Water Street Garage start at noon. They hope to spend the first hour packing up and moving out and arrive at Bucketworks around 1:00pm.

It's Valentine's Day, I know, but if you have a couple of hours to space we'd love to have some extra volunteer to help them move in, unpack, and settle in to the new space. Volunteers please email Jenn Turner or call 414-305-1324 x 702.