Club to Present Global Entrepreneurship Week 2011

October 28, 2011

The Students in Free Enterprise club is bringing Global Entrepreneurship Week to SUNY Plattsburgh Nov. 14-20.

The week will feature the following events, all designed to increase student interest in innovation and entrepreneurship:

- Nov. 14: “Go Venture.” 4-7 p.m. Peterson Accounting Lab. This computer simulation game will have students opening their own small businesses. They set the prices, order materials, hire employees and make sure the employees are happy and motivated. Prizes will be awarded to top team and top individual players.

- Nov. 14: Marketing and Entrepreneurship Presentation series. 6 p.m. Cardinal Lounge, Angell College Center. Featured local entrepreneur to be announced. Organized by the marketing club, refreshments served.

- Nov. 15: Kiva Presentation. 5:30 p.m. Mowry Conference Room, Redcay Hall. Attendees will learn about Kiva, a nonprofit organization that alleviates poverty through connecting entrepreneurs in developing countries with lenders of microfinance loans, giving people a chance to become self sufficient. SIFE has been working with Kiva for three years. The club sponsored seven entrepreneurs in seven different countries. Four have already repaid their loans. The group is looking for new entrepreneurs to lend to, as well as additional lenders.

- Nov. 16: SUNY Plattsburgh’s inaugural Business Plan Poster Competition. 5-7 p.m. Mowry Conference Room, Redcay Hall. Club members hope to create more opportunities for students in entrepreneurship at SUNY Plattsburgh — the only SUNY school to have this major. As part of their efforts, they are opening up a business plan competition to all students. In it, students will make and assess the feasibility of a business plan.

Global Entrepreneurship Week was launched in the United Kingdom by Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Carl Schramm, the president and CEO of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation in 2008. Since then, it has expanded to 115 countries — with nearly 24,000 partner organizations planning more than 37,000 activities. It was created to celebrate the innovators and job creators of the world — entrepreneurs, who recognize the opportunities to launch startups, drive economic growth and expand human welfare.

Anyone interested in any of these events are more than welcome to contact Rich Gottschall [email protected].