Entrepreneurship

Thank you to our 2018 Track Sponsor:

Session One: Crazy Good

Crazy Good business practices aggregate into a Crazy Good community – a community with a competitive edge. Small communities are filled with entrepreneurs that care deeply about their communities and their businesses. This session will outline a framework that views the distinctive economic activity of rural communities in three categories: those that bring activity to a community, those that create distinctive activity in a region and export it, and those who work to keep economic activity and everyday life in a community finely tuned. This will be followed by a panel that Crazy Good people that have gained an edge for their businesses and their community.

Rich Grogan, Emily Schwerin-Whyte, Kim Bergeron, Marty Parichand

Peter Robinson, Tracy Ostler, Tedd Benson

Session 2: The PitchFork Challenge

The Hannah Grimes Center for Entrepreneurship has offered a quarterly “PitchFork – Local Investing Monadnock Style” for two years. PitchFork connects local investors with local entrepreneurs in a fun, informal networking pitch venue. This Radically Rural PitchFork will offer a $10,000 cash prize for one talented entrepreneur as well as a $1,000 prize for a best idea. Join in on the excitement and we will share the “operating manual” on how to run one in your community. Winners will be announced at the CONNECT event in the evening.

2018 Finalists:
Business Track: Mill Hollow Works, Elm City Compost Initiative, NH Tap, Machina Arts, Frisky Cow Farm Products, and Butcher Pete’s Mobile Meat
Idea Track: Juan Rsario, John Anderson, Brenna Morris, and Katherine & Kim O’Neill

2018 Winners:

Business Track: Dan Profitt of Butcher Pete’s Mobile Meat

Idea Track: Brenna Morris of Luna’s Herbal

Session 3: Rural Renaissance & Digital Parity

The digital age can eliminate density and geographic proximity requirements that were so critical during the industrial age. The digital age will make it possible for a rural community to maintain its “rural” feel and continue to leverage its natural amenities while taking advantage of what only dense urban areas enjoyed last century. Things like access to funding (crowdfunding), worldwide markets (e-commerce), savvy employees (teleworkers) and real-time information; collaboration and innovation (videoconferencing and soon mixed reality); certain level of healthcare (telehealth); and educational opportunities (massive open online courses, online certifications). So, what is in our way to achieve #Rural2.0? Ultra-fast internet connectivity and digital skills quickly come to mind, but the most serious challenge is that the traditional 20th century mindset still exists in rural communities. This session will help you better understand the implications of the digital age and help your rural community transition to, plan for and prosper in the digital age.