Invention to Venture: Sustainable Resources

Sustainability, Invention & Entrepreneurship

In collaboration with the Center for Business and Design, California State University Pomona.
Date: September 29, 2004 at University of Colorado, Boulder in the University Memorial Center building in the Aspen Rooms which are located on the second floor (across from the Glenn Miller Ballroom). The UMC is the first building off Euclid Ave on campus.

Workshop Begins at 8:30 AM. Onsite registration welcome.

This is a pre conference to the Sustainable Resources conference. Registration available through the Sustainable Resources Conference.

This pre-conference to the Sustainable Resources conference is a discussion of the development process for entrepreneurial ventures targeting "bottom of the pyramid" market opportunities in developing countries. The event has a particular focus on technology-based ventures. It is designed to develop a dialog among presenters and participants about these issues with the goal of furthering the conversation about sustainable development, invention and entrepreneurship and articulating best practices.

Some of the questions the event will address include:

• How does the business development model for entrepreneurial startups differ when addressing so-called "bottom of the pyramid" market opportunities?
• In what ways do entrepreneurs need to think differently when addressing products to customers in developing countries?
• What is the ideal interplay between the design process and the entrepreneurial process when developing products that address the needs of the urban and rural poor?
• How can market principles be employed to support environmental sustainability and sustainable economic development?
• Can entrepreneurial ventures companies set a high growth trajectory and provide adequate return to investors and still advance human development in a socially and environmentally sustainable way?

Who should attend?

• Students, faculty, entrepreneurs, representatives from NGO's and non-profits
• Anyone with an interest in discussing entrepreneurship and sustainable development for consumers at the "bottom of the pyramid"