Press Release
Contact:
Robert Albright |
Phone:
919-549-7500 ext.123 |
CED Kicks Off New FastTrac Tech Course April 29
Offers Reduced Price and Need-Based Scholarships
April 14, 2003, Research Triangle Park, NC - The Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) will kickoff a new FastTrac Tech course - a comprehensive entrepreneurial training program for entrepreneurs starting or growing high-tech businesses, including technology transfers and corporate licensees - on April 29. In addition, the organization has reduced the price of this class to the cost of materials, and a limited number of scholarships will be available on a need basis.
"CED sees its role as providing the knowledge, know-how, and network to entrepreneurs who are starting and building potential growth companies," said Monica Doss, CED's president. "A difficult economy certainly makes our job more challenging, but it's important to do our part to ensure the region's pipeline stays stoked with innovation companies. The generous underwriting assistance of CED's Innovation to Impact campaign supporters enables us to do that more affordably."
FastTrac Tech is part of CED's comprehensive Capital Connection mentoring programs, which assist entrepreneurs at various stages, from idea to initial funding, by providing mentors and instruction. Capital Connection provides entrepreneurs with tools to evaluate their ideas, refine their business concepts and produce solid business plans and strategies.
The FastTrac Tech course includes 12 weeks of instruction and has two phases - "Kickoff" and "Plan." FastTrac's Kick-off phase offers four weeks of expert-led discussions and workshops to help entrepreneurs clarify and articulate business concepts, produce an executive summary, develop strategy, and learn the basics of angel, venture capital, and strategic financing. The Plan phase of FastTrac Tech is an eight-week program focused on helping entrepreneurs develop a comprehensive business plan and financial model. Instructors in the FastTrac Tech program are entrepreneurs with extensive company building and fund-raising experience.
For more information, or to register for FastTrac Tech, visit www.cednc.org/capitalconnection, or contact Adam Smith (asmith@cednc.org).
About CED: The Council for Entrepreneurial Development, located in Research Triangle Park, NC, is a private, non-profit organization formed in 1984 to stimulate the creation and growth of high-impact companies in the greater Research Triangle region. CED provides education, mentoring and capital formation resources to new and existing high-growth entrepreneurs through annual conferences, seminars, workshops and monthly programs on entrepreneurial management and finance. CED is the largest entrepreneurial support organization in the nation with more than 4,000 members representing 1,100 entrepreneurial companies, financiers and professional firms. www.cednc.org