Why the Forum is for you!

Although each person joins the Forum or attends Forum events for individual reasons, the most common reasons listed by participants include:

Insights to better run companies, from startups to full size publicly traded companies
Preparation to launch or grow a start-up
Contacts for employment by companies
Sources of valuable, interested potential employees for companies
Access to professionals with special services aimed at companies
Contact with potential clients for service professionals
Investment opportunities and sources
General knowledge about entrepreneurship

EVERYONE IS WELCOME: Membership is only $75.00 per year... With membership you can attend most events free of charge.

Join Now!

Although there are benefits to joining (save even more with multiyear membership options),...
Membership is not required for Forum events, as all events are open to the public for a small fee. Similarly, although the Forum is associated with MIT, an MIT affiliation is not required for participation, membership, or leadership of the Forum.

Programs & Activities

Upcoming Events

The primary Forum activity is a series of large events, often featuring business leaders and case presentations by select businesses, both large and small, located from the local area. Other activities include workshops, business plan competitions, and interactive satellite broadcasts of programs from other MITEF chapters. Except for a break during the summer months, the Forum Events are year round. The case studies are held at the NRECA Conference Center (Ballston, VA) or the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab (Laurel, MD) at 6:30 p.m.

SPONSOR THE FORUM OF ENTREPRENEURS

Sponsor Now!

Sponsorship Has Many Benefits

Opportunity to promote the sponsor's business within the entrepreneurial community.
Opportunity to align with other professionals to leverage the ability, experience, and business development capabilities of the sponsor.
Recognition of sponsorship at Forum Presentations, on the Forum Website, on Newsletters, letterhead, and other public announcements.
Up to five Sponsor representatives invited as guests at each Forum presentation.
Be directly involved with the Forum in helping to identify panelists, moderators, and presenting companies and/or participation as a panelist or moderator.
Have the sponsor, or one of its clients, make an expert presentation to one Forum event per year, and Receive free passes for clients and other guests.

Sponsorship for the all-volunteer forum is only $5,000 per year.

VOLUNTEER NOW FOR 2010-2011
Click Here

WE ARE RECRUITING for the following volunteer positions & WE WILL WRITE recommendations for those who need and merit them at the end of the year. The duties will be described and co-created with those who are interested. Anyone who fills these positions will be expected to attend the monthly meeting in the Washington, DC area:
All Volunteers must become members ($75.00 annual fee)

COMMITTEES

Membership Committee: We are forming a very small membership committee to handle all membership related issues and everyone else will receive updates on the subject and may make suggestions once we develop a process. I am looking for a Membership Director. Please let me know if you would like to work on this committee.

INCREASE MEMBERSHIP & IMPROVE THE MEMBERSHIP EXPERIENCE

Make OUR MEMBERS excited about being members, volunteering, sponsoring as companies & renewing

Make OUR COMMUNITY excited about becoming new members

IT & Communications Technology Committee: Our IT Director going forward is John Franklin and we are looking for 21st century communications & meeting related technologies to better fit our name. Please join the IT Committee if you can help.

FINANCE COMMITTEE: This Committee will plan the budget for the year and work with Finance Director Harvey Perlstein and Sponsorship Director Steve Lebischak

PR & Communications Committee: We are recruiting for both the PR & Communications Directors. This committee will assist with improving the MITEF Communications both internally and externally. They will be responsible for graphics, signage and the look of the website pages. They may start an MITEF newsletter on entrepreneurial activity among the membership and industries in our area. They will be responsible for announcements internally and externally using social networks, graphic rich email announcements and postings on local organizational websites. This group will maintain our external mailing lists and contacts.

POSITIONS:
(If you are a Director, then the position will be a Director level position- Otherwise you can become an Adviser level leader)

Secretary (OFFICER POSITION- Directors Only): Responsible for attending all meetings, taking notes, submitting reports, creating and conducting & reporting surveys as necessary, counting votes at meetings, understanding the by-laws)

Public Relations Director/Adviser: Has graphics and writing capabilities. Handles external communication including press releases, organizing article submissions to news letters and makes sure that MITEF is working with related organizations to cross post events on the calendar (Works closely with Communications). Creates all signage.

Communications Director/Adviser: Responsible for MITEF Image internally & externally. Manages the look and content of the website in coordination with the IT Director, John Franklin. Sends out meeting announcements. Works on presentation slides at meetings, helps to develop MITEF branding/messaging on all written communications (works closely with PR).

Membership Director/Adviser: Responsible for working with paid staff, coordinating member relations, Using, filling & managing a CRM database , soliciting & providing information, needs & concerns about members to the Chair & Board. I expect this person will conduct member surveys. Recruit volunteers when needed in coordination with Event Directors

At Minimum- We will provide the following:

Provide members with a list of membership benefits and rewards.

Timely, personalized information about membership dues

Develop process of reminding members when membership is due

Provide members with a variety of ways to keep up to date

Thank you for your consideration,

Halima Aquino
Incoming Chair
MIT Enterprise Forum of Washington DC & Maryland 2010-2011

UPCOMING EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

LAST EVENT OF THE SEASON UNTIL SEPTEMBER 2010

ENTERPRISE START-UP LAB: Sustainable Technology Development

June 15, 2010 from 6:30 to 9:00 PM at NRECA 4301 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA
Many issues face sustainable entrepreneurs. Financial challenges are only one of the many hurdles companies deal with. Social elements, customs, power struggles are among the many elements to be considered by entrepreneurs. This evening's event will be focused on the sustainable companies and the entrepreneurs who start them. Panelists from the NGO & Venture comunities will provide feedback from their perspectives.

FEATURED GUEST:

BP Agrawal is founder and president of the nonprofit corporation Sustainable Innovations which seeds change, nourishes change, and harvests change. Dr. B.P. Agrawal of Sustainable Innovations has won both the $100,000 Lemelson-MIT Award for Sustainability and the 2010 Energy Globe World Award for his community-driven rainwater harvesting system.

PANELISTS: