SkillUpVa: Improve. Advance. Succeed.

To maintain our status as a top state for business, Virginians must learn and continually sharpen the skills required to drive innovation and job creation across the Commonwealth.

Bill Freehling of The Free Lance-Star writes about SkillUpVa:

Germanna Community College’s Center for Workforce & Community Education and FredXchange have put together a new program called SkillUpVA that aims to give area residents the tools they need “to drive innovation and job creation” in Virginia.
A number of workshops geared toward startups, small businesses and entrepreneurs are planned this winter and spring on topics such as analyzing business data, developing an Internet strategy, keeping down costs, IT infrastructure and scaling an enterprise. In addition a “Business Development Summit” (BizDev Summit) is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Feb. 13 at Germanna’s Spotsylvania County campus.

         More about SkillIpVa from Freehling's Fredericksburg.com Business Insider blog  

Register Now for Startup Weekend Fredericksburg

John Sechrest, founder of the Seattle Angel Conference, Co-Organizer of the Lean Startup Seattle, and Global Facilitator will be the facilitator for Startup Weekend Fredericksburg Jan. 17-19 hosted by Germanna Community College's Center for Workforce and Community Education at GCC's Fredericksburg Area Campus in Spotsylvania.


Startup Weekend is a global grassroots movement of active and empowered entrepreneurs who are learning the basics of founding startups and launching successful ventures. It is the largest community of passionate entrepreneurs, with events in over 100 countries and 580 cities around the world.

The non-profit organization is headquartered in Seattle but Startup Weekend organizers and facilitators can be found in over 200 cities around the world. From Mongolia to South Africa to London to Brazil, people around the globe are coming together for weekend long workshops to pitch ideas, form teams, and start companies.

All Startup Weekend events follow the same basic model: anyone is welcome to pitch their startup idea and receive feedback from their peers. Teams organically form around the top ideas (as determined by popular vote) and then it’s a 54 hour frenzy of business model creation, coding, designing, and market validation. 

The weekends culminate with presentations in front of local entrepreneurial leaders with another opportunity for critical feedback. 

Budding entrepreneurs found companies, find cofounders, meet someone new or learn a skill far outside their usual 9-to-5 job. Everyone leaves the event better prepared to navigate the chaotic but fun world of startups. If you want to put yourself in the shoes of an entrepreneur, register now.  --Startup Weekend
 
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