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Just added - FastTrac Information Session: Wednesday, March 12, 5:30 p.m.
A-B Tech Business Incubator, Room 2046: Map

This spring I will be inaugurating the FastTrac® TechVenture® entrepreneurial training program in the Asheville area. As a business attorney, I see first hand how important it is for new ventures to start off with a good plan and realistic expectations. As a FastTrac alumnus myself, I believe the course offers people an opportunity to do just that.

The FastTrac program has a proven record of success helping entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. FastTrac offers a hands-on, participatory framework for you to develop your good idea into a solid plan. For Western North Carolina, I am broadening the scope of "tech" to include more of what we do best here: arts, herbal, food, outdoors and green or sustainability-oriented ventures.

FastTrac will take place on Wednesday evenings over ten weeks. Each session will begin with a light meal, to allow participants to talk and network and settle in for the evening's work. Each of the ten sessions will feature a guest speaker from our entrepreneurial community. Experienced leaders from companies such as Immaculate Baking, Drake Software and Sylvan Sport will share their wisdom on different aspects of building a business. Participants will also meet one-on-one with experienced business coaches for feedback and advice on their business plans. I am especially pleased that Bob Dunn, an extraordinary mentor to many successful WNC ventures, will be working with us as a coach.

During the program, FastTrac participants will have access to the online service of James J. Hill Reference Library, one of the nation's preeminent business research organizations. HillSearch provides a wealth of detailed information on industries, markets, and potential competitors.

Like the Smoky Mountain ecosystem, our entrepreneurial community has an extraordinary diversity of talents and resources. My goal is for FastTrac to help create better businesses and better jobs in Western North Carolina - to grow our own success here.

The time is now! Register here*: Apply online

*This will take you to the FastTrac central registration page. You’ll be asked to provide your contact and business information and complete a brief survey.

Schedule:
Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m., March 19 until May 23
Location: A-B Tech Business Incubator, Room 2046

COST:
$500.00 program fee for each business represented
$25.00 access fee for HillSource business research library
Incentive: Through the support of Meet the Geeks, we will make a $100.00 “investment” in every business that successfully completes the program with a business plan.
Also:
$125.00 for each additional person from the same business
$175.00 for additional sets of program materials

Registration information will be sent to me for review. I will contact you immediately in response. Program fees must be paid before March 19.

I am deeply indebted to the following organizations for their support:

WNC: 828-713-1668
Research Triangle: 919-824-5696
Email: thomas@tbeckett.com