Spring Break
Venture Fair to offer startup strategies
Chris Giovannetti / Daily Executive Editor
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Sponsored by the Silicon Valley Center for Entrepreneurship, the fair will feature guest speakers and presentations from startup businesses.
"The premise behind it is to get students excited about how to start a business and get it off the ground," said David Conrath, dean of the San Jose State University College of Business. "It's not about the opportunities but how you take advantage of the opportunities."
The New Venture Fair is the kickoff event for the second annual Silicon Valley Business Plan Competition. SJSU student Mohamed Ali won the inaugural event last year with a plan that would recycle used automobile tires that would activate carbon and successfully filter water for countries facing water shortages.
Hector Franco, assistant director of the New Venture Fair, estimated that only 1 percent of new startup businesses are successful. Therefore, one of the goals of the fair is to explore the reasons why businesses fail.
"You find plenty of things that people do wrong. What we need to do is analyze the modes of failure and correct them," Franco said.
The exhibition is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Guest speakers (who will be announced as the event draws closer) and an introductory address from Conrath will open the forum.
A 5 p.m. keynote address is scheduled to be given by congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, a San Jose Democrat.
The showcase event -- presentations from executives of successful startups -- is scheduled to begin at 7:15 p.m.
There will also be various exhibitions. The Neat Idea Corner will showcase student ideas and projects. The Startup Corner will feature products and services from early startup companies. The Commercial Corner will be an area of the fair dedicated to service providers such as venture financing, banking, accounting, legal, market research and real estate among others, according to the New Venture Fair Web site.
Patricia Renovato, president of the SJSU Entrepreneurial Society, estimated the fair could draw between 300 and 500 students and faculty. Franco, however, is unsure of any attendance figures because the event falls during SJSU's finals schedule.
However, Franco did say that, aside from students and faculty, he expects investors and corporation executives to attend.
For more information regarding the New Venture Fair, visit the event's Web site: www.cob.sjsu.edu/nvf.
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