Are you an experienced entrepreneur with a rock-solid elevator pitch?

Or do you have an idea that is umm... ahh... a little bit, sort of, less than err... polished?

Either way, the team at Betaspring (http://betaspring.com) would like to invite you to come to our first Spring Training event on Saturday, April 25th at the Rhode Island Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. We’ll be helping established entrepreneurs refine their pitches and those new to the game work on the basics of presenting your idea to others.

We’ll be bringing together a select group of our mentors and local entrepreneurs for a few hours to help you improve the way you present your ideas, your projects or your companies to potential investors and customers.

In the morning we’ll focus on peer-to-peer mentoring in a speed-dating format. You’ll be able to network with other entrepreneurs, build connections, practice your pitch and get immediate feedback on how you might improve it. Additionally, we’ll have breakout rooms with experts hosting work sessions on building a prototype, raising capital and going to market.

In the afternoon you’ll have the chance to incorporate what you’ve picked up in the morning session and pitch a panel of expert judges. You’ll have six minutes to pitch, followed by 4 minutes of critique.

This event is open to all interested entrepreneurs, but if you are interested in participating in the Betaspring Summer 2009 Program, this event will be a great way to get a jumpstart on the application process. (Applications are due a week after the Spring Training Event.)

If you’d like to participate in the judged portion of the event please get in touch (info@betaspring.com) no later than 5pm on Friday, April 24th and include your name, phone number, email address, and brief description of the company/idea you’ll be pitching to the judges. We have 12 first-come first-served slots in the afternoon session.

We hope to see you there!

Location: Rhode Island Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, One Davol Square, 2nd Floor.

Schedule:
9:30 - 10 Arrival (coffee and pastries)
10 - 11 Speed Dating Round 1
11 - 12 Speed Dating Round 2
12 - 1 Lunch & Networking
1 - 3 Judged Lightning Round Pitches
3 - 5 Drinks afterwards

Wondering if there is a loosely (or not-so-loosely) joined group of individuals who could serve not-for-profits in the area?

By which I mean a core team of individuals who could offer design/programming/networking/2.0 assistance to those who probably need it most. I know AS220 has Design Providence but I believe they are mostly print-based.

If such a group does not exist should it? Surely the Providence Geeks could put together a hell of a team. Assuming they could find the time ;).