Novus Events

Novus events are generally held the third Thursday of alternating months, from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm at the new Peoria NEXT Innovation Center (unless otherwise indicated). Speakers vary month-to-month. The $10 admission price includes drinks and hors d’oeurves.

NEXT EVENT:

Selling Your Business
Thursday, September 18, 2008— 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Peoria NEXT Innovation Center — 801 W. Main Street, Peoria, IL

If you own a business, you may have considered selling it. If so, you
probably had questions. How do you go about selling your business? How
long does it take? Do you need a lawyer or a broker? And how do you find a buyer?
Like most business decisions, we can learn a lot from the experiences of other
entrepreneurs. Visit NOVUS to network—and to hear first-hand what the experience
of selling a business is like.

Join us on Sept. 18 — network with other entrepreneurs — and hear first-hand what it was like to sell a business.

From the person just thinking about starting a new business to the serial entrepreneur, NOVUS is the place to share ideas, find solutions and meet others!

Click on the REGISTER BUTTON at left to sign up for the upcoming NOVUS.

Past Novus Events

iRepairSquad
Thursday, July 17, 2008— 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Peoria NEXT Innovation Center — 801 W. Main Street, Peoria, IL

Featuring: iRepairSquad President, James Scaggs

You’ve probably heard ABOUT iRepairSquad. Now hear FROM THEM.
These winners of the May 2007 Project Springboard business plan competition—the
team of James Scaggs, Patrick Whitt, Lynn Wiewell, Jamie Buggs and Brad Watson
—beat out five other teams to capture the first prize of $10,000 and a year’s worth of
“knowledge capital” provided by several local companies. But their award-winning
business was already up and running out of a home office. Now you can hear the electrifying
story of how these Bradley students went from student to entrepreneur overnight.

Join us on July 15 — network with other entrepreneurs — and hear the experts explain the how's and why's of establishing a business' value.

The ART & SCIENCE of BUSINESS VALUATION
Thursday, May15, 2008— 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Peoria NEXT Innovation Center — 801 W. Main Street, Peoria, IL

If you have ever wondered what your business was worth, you can't miss this NOVUS NETWORKING meeting. Whether you are trying to determine what an investor should pay for a share in your start-up, or have a family-owned company that you are thinking of selling, a business valuation is an imprtant tool.

Featured speakers:
Neil Gerber of Heinold-Banwart, Ltd.
Neil heads up H-B's consulting and business-valuation services.
and
Bill Shay, Attorney at Law
Bill specializes in entrepreneurial business law.

Join us on May 15 — network with other entrepreneurs — and hear the experts explain the how's and why's of establishing a business' value..

SPEED NETWORKING
Thursday, March 20, 2008— 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Peoria NEXT Innovation Center — 801 W. Main Street, Peoria, IL

No small business is an island. Get your business network up and running FAST by meeting as many other entrepreneurs as possible. Come to the NOVUS Speed Networking event on March 20, 2008. You'll meet all types of small business owners, service and product suppliers and an entire raft of representatives from local entrepreneurial support organizations.

SPEED NETWORKING was brought back by popular demand (and the fact that everyone had so much fun doing this the last two times)! Don't miss this opportunity to meet and learn from like-minded individuals.

Part three of a Three-Part Series on Entrepreneurial Financing
Angel-Worthy Capital
Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008— 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Peoria NEXT Innovation Center — 800 block of Main Street, Peoria, IL

Many businesses would not get off the ground without the benefit of “Angels,” qualified individuals who invest in start-ups before Venture Capital firms or Banks spend a dime. Our panel of experienced investors will discuss their investment experiences, what to do or not do when talking to potential angel investors — and identify the investment criteria THEY apply to business opportunities.

Moderator: Bill Shay, William M Shay Attorney at Law specializing in entrepreneurial business law
Featuring a Panel of investors including:

• Alexis Khazzam
• Dr. Andy Chiou
• Bill Carey.

Come to NOVUS to find out how to make your company “Angel-Worthy.”
Sponsored by Junction Ventures, focused on creating sustained value in each of its business partnerships as well as enhancing the lives and livelihood in our local community.

Part two of a Three-Part Series on Entrepreneurial Financing
Start-up Capital — through Bank Financing
Thursday, Nov. 15, 2007— 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Peoria NEXT Innovation Center — 800 block of Main Street, Peoria, IL

Banks are notoriously conservative — but all banks are NOT alike! Can you finance your start-up company with a bank loan? Come and talk to our banking experts to find out:

• Will it take collateral to get a bank loan?
• Can you use your receivables or intellectual property as collateral?
• Would an SBA or MicroLoan serve your needs?
• Do banks ever loan to a start-up company with no revenue?

Sponsored by Busey Bank. Busey's Business Business Services improve cash flow, investment potential and office efficiencies.

Part One of a Three-Part Series on Entrepreneurial Financing
Venture Capital De-Mystified
Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007— 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Innovation Center — 800 block of Main Street, Peoria, IL
Moderator: Tom Churchwell, Managing Partner, ARCH Development Partners LLC

Venture Capital is a type of private equity capital typically provided by professional, outside investors to growth businesses. Come to NOVUS in SEPTEMBER and find out from our panel of experts how to raise capital for your business using venture capital firms.

• Who do you talk to and what do you say?
• Are all the Venture Capitalists on the coasts?
• Who can I go to for advice on my company?
• Do I need to be a new business to raise capital in this way?

Sponsored by Hopewell Ventures. Hopewell Ventures provides equity capital and strategic expertise to high-growth businesses, primarily in the Midwest.

Sticks and Stones
Thursday, June 21, 2007— 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Contemporary Art Center

Can You Spell ‘the Real Deal?’ Find out how Brad and Jera Deal took a creative idea that captured the imagination of consumers and turned it into a business. In a very short time they received national publicity — and their business tripled in size. Now they are moving into a new location and have hired 35 new employees! Read what the Journal Star had to say — then come to Novus on June 21 and hear the Deals explain how they are managing their company's rapid growth.

Sponsored by Validus Technologies, NetPlatform and Howard & Howard

NOVUS Technology Panel
Thursday, April 19, 2007 — 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: WeaverRidge Golf Club
5100 WeaverRidge Blvd., Peoria, IL - In the Carlyle Room

How do you launch a technology-based business?
We have assembled a stellar panel of entrepreneurs in various stages of commercialization to tell their stories . . . and answer your questions.

OUR PANEL: Moderator: Nancy Wright, Director, Bradley University HITEC
• Seshadri Guha — CGN and Associates
Peoria-based entrepreneurial company focused on business performance consulting.
• Ray Willis – iSoy Technologies
Agri-Science technology recently launched into the anti-aging cosmetic industry.
• Michael Breedlove– T-Buck, Inc.
Revolutionary hunting product with mass marketing opportunity.
• Kathy Francis – InformMed
Medical device application addressing medication errors.
• Sudhir Seth– BioFuels Manufacturing Illinois, Inc.
Establishing a manufacturing plant for the production of biodiesel from vegetable oils.

Sponsored by CGN Business Performance Consulting www.cgn.net

Speed Networking
Thursday, February 15, 2007 — 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Packard Plaza Building, 225 N.E. Adams
Sponsored by: The Heartland Partnership.

No small business is an island. Get your business network up and running FAST by meeting as many other entrepreneurs as possible. Come to the NOVUS Speed Networking event on February 15, 2007. You'll meet all types of small business owners, service and product suppliers and an entire raft of representatives from local entrepreneurial support organizations.

SPEED NETWORKING was brought back by popular demand (and the fact that everyone had so much fun doing this last time)! Don't miss this opportunity to meet and learn from like-minded individuals. From the person just thinking about starting a new business to the serial entrepreneur, NOVUS is the place to share ideas, find solutions and meet others!

NOVUS ... don't start a business without it.

Web Site "How-Tos" from the Pros
Thu Sept. 28, 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Sponsored by Novus and Barrack's Cater Inn, 1224 W. Pioneer Parkway in Peoria.
Attendees at this Next NOVUS event heard answers to questions like these:
I don’t have any money — how do I pay for a website?
I have a website. Why doesn’t it come up on search engines?
I’m busy running my business — how do I keep web content fresh?

From these distinguished panel participants:
Jerry Danks, jdanks@bumail.bradley.edu, Heartland Illinois Technology Enterprise Center
Fred Dirkse, fred@oicgroup.net, OIC Group,
Larry Hicks, NetPlatform, lhicks@netplatform.com
Ross Miller, rmiller@bumail.bradley.edu, Turner Center for Entrepreneurship
Christine Shay, Shay Marketing, chrisshay@grics.net

Kickapoo Creek Winery
Thu July 20, 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
6605 N. Smith Road, Edwards, IL
Come celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit in the summer season as we relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings and sample the refreshments of the Kickapoo Creek Winery. Short tours will be available. Directions: Kickapoo Creek Winery is located at 6605 N. Smith Road In Edwards, IL (Winery Phone is 309/495-9463)
http://www.kickapoocreekwinery.com/

Excaliber Seasonings At Illinois Mutual
300 S Adams St. Peoria
Thu May 18, 2006, 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Come hear Jerry Hall, a seasoned entrepreneur and owner of Excalibur Seasoning Company in Pekin. He’ll share his story of creating and growing a business that is big enough to handle large supply demands while maintaining a small company feel.
http://www.excaliburseasoning.com/

Sofi's Stiches at Bradley University
Thu Mar 16 2006, 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Come hear Sofi tell how her love of historical clothing and sewing led to an exciting business as one of the premier suppliers of historically accurate clothing.
http://www.sofisstitches.com/

Speed Networking
Thu Jan 19 2006, 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
     Many of us have just reviewed our goals for 2006, identified people we would like to meet and goals to obtain. We invite you to "speed network" with local business owners.

Franchising Panel Discussion
Thu Nov 3 2005, 5:30 pm - 8:00 p
     Join us as we "Celebrate the Entrepreneurial Spirit" on Thursday, November 3, 2005. This event will be sponsored by SpringHill Suites by Marriott located at 2701 W. Lake (beyond Circuit City). This program will be for entrepreneurs interested in all aspects of franchising. We will have a wide variety of speakers and businesses represented.

From Launch to Revenue - an Entrepreneurial Struggle
Thu Sep 15 2005, 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
     Join us as we "Celebrate the Entrepreneurial Spirit" at the Hotel Pere Marquette. The historic Hotel Pere Marquette is located in the heart of downtown Peoria. Visit their website for more information on all the hotel has to offer! Hear speeches from a wide variety of industries that are at the product launch stage as well as the revenue generating stage.