Please join the Office of Advocacy on September 19^th for a symposium titled Small Business and Government: Maximizing Entrepreneurship, Driving Innovation, a Next 50 event in celebration of the 50^th anniversary of the Seattle World’s Fair. The event is a day-long, participant-driven conversation about the role of innovation and entrepreneurship in our economy, co-sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy, the Northwest Entrepreneur Network,  the Seattle Center Foundation and GeekWire.com. The Office of Advocacy’s mission is to give visibility to American small business and to encourage policies that support their start-up, development and growth. Entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, government officials, angel investors, funding innovators, and academics will be among the participants. Panels throughout the day will focus on such central small business topics as optimizing the relationship between small business innovators and government, maximizing the impact of entrepreneurial accelerators, and utilizing emerging capital strategies. Jonathan Sposato, Chairman of Seattle-based GeekWire.com and a respected high-tech entrepreneur, will moderate the event. Michael K. Young, President of the University of Washington and noted tech transfer expert, will deliver the keynote address.

Cosponsorship Authorization # 12-3110-124. SBA’s participation in this cosponsored activity is not an endorsement of the views, opinions, products or services of any cosponsor or other person or entity. All SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.

Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance.  Contact: (Justina Schwartz at 206-229-2399)