Two former DuPont employees who spun their expertise into a successful small business will be featured panelists at “What it Really Takes to Become an Entrepreneur,” an event sponsored by The Delaware Small Business Development Center (DSBDC) in conjunction with the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce and Delaware Technology Park.
The event, open to everyone is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 16 at the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce. According to SBDC officials, it has been specifically marketed to former DuPont employees.
In December, DuPont announced the company would lay off 1,700 employees as part of a $700 million cost reduction and restructuring. Two hundred employees at the Experimental Station were also given notice.
The first panel, “Evaluating the Opportunity,” will feature the stories of three entrepreneurs: Harry Li, Eric Teather and Brian Pryor. Li and Teather are both former DuPont employees.
The second panel, “What Does It Take to Get Started,” will cover various business models, what to look for when hiring a team, how to balance being both a researcher and a businessperson and more.
The final panel will feature local resources available to assist entrepreneurs across the State. Resources include the University of Delaware’s Office of Economic Innovation and Partnerships (OEIP), along with DSBDC and the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC).
The Small Business Administration and Delaware Economic Development Office will present on behalf of the federal and state governments. The local technology community will be represented by Delaware BioScience Association, Delaware Sustainable Chemistry Alliance and the Technology Forum of Delaware.
This event is the first in a series targeted to those going through a career transition and are considering starting their own business.
Future events include:
- March 16th — How to Structure, Finance and Protect the Intellectual Property of a Tech-Based Business
- April 20th — Planning for a Sustainable and Scalable Business
For more information and to register, please visit www.delawaresbdc.org or call (302) 831-1555.
