Starting on November 16th, Synapse Converge begins with Global Entrepreneurship Week, filled with business professionals from Tampa and around the state of Florida, speaking for four days during this free virtual event. You'll find the best of the best from community leaders, educators, ESOs, and entrepreneurs in 43 sessions.
Once you register on the Synapse Converge site, you will have access to the virtual event. The Synapse Conference is designed for new entrepreneurs with the Start-Up Toolkit track or established businesses, wanting to grow with the Entrepreneur Leadership Track.
A breakdown of the conference:
Monday, November 16
9:00-9:45 a.m.
Startup Toolkit 1: Is Entrepreneurship For You?
Speakers:
Mark McNees – Entrepreneur at Residence,
John Breed – Teaching Faculty and Entrepreneur at Residence
9:30-10:00 a.m.
Creating a culturally welcoming and inclusive workplace
Moderator:
Andy Hafer – Co-Founder of Synapse
Speakers:
Justice Gennari – CEO/President of Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber
Erik Smith – Managing Member of Inclusivity, LLC
10:00-10:15 a.m.
ACTing Out: Optimizing Your Teams for Innovation
Speaker:
Mr. Dominick Ard’is – Found/CEO of ACT House
10:00 – 10:45 a.m.
Startup Toolkit 2: Is Your Idea a GOOD Idea? Questions to Ask – And Answer – Before Launch
Speaker:
Mark Long – Director of UF Innovate, Incubation Services at the University of Florida
10:15-10:30 a.m.
Career Growth – Growing as a Leader
Speaker:
Wendy Norfleet, Ph.D. – CEO of Norfleet Integrated Solutions
10:30-11:00 a.m.
Challenges/Opportunities for Black Entrepreneurs
Moderator:
James Faison – Founder of The Mainframe
Speakers:
Mrs. Avril Stinson – Director, Minority Business Accelerator & Economic Inclusion at Tampa Bay Chamber
Tye Calloway – Co-Founder/CEO of Blacklaunch
Jordan Walker – Founder of Yac
11:00-11:30 a.m.
Building The Future: Empowered Employees & Inclusive Design
Speakers:
Robert Camilleri – SVP, Diversity & Inclusion of Nielsen
Camila Villaveces – Program Lead of Nielsen
Ameyon Hawkins – Senior Manager, Workstation Operation of Nielsen
11:00-11:45 a.m.
Startup Toolkit 3: Writing Your Business Plan: Where to Start
Speaker:
Prof. Dirk Libaers – Associate Professor & Director at Center for Entrepreneurship
11:30-11:45 a.m.
Closing the Gap: A Live Review of Embarc Collective’s Glaring Gap Report
Speakers:
Allie Felix – Director of Platform of Embarc Collective
Fabio DeSousa – Analytics and Engineering Manager of Embarc Collective
12:00-1:00 p.m.
Lunchtime
Tuesday, November 17
9:00-9:15 a.m.
Pitch Perfect – Do’s and Don’ts for Pitching Enterprise Companies
Speaker:
Leila Blacking – Sr. Strategy Team Leader – Innovation at Publix
9:00-9:45 a.m.
Startup Toolkit 4: Options for Structuring Your New Company
9:15-9:30 a.m.
Maximizing Your Board: What Board Members Wish You Knew
Speaker:
Tim Schar – President -Tampa Bay at Truist
9:30-9:45 a.m.
Trend Casting for Consumer Behavior
Speaker:
Ebony Vaz – Founder/CEO of Above Promotions
9:45-10:00 a.m.
Naming Your Business: A Proven Formula
Speaker:
Wes Lehman – Founder of Urban Buffalo
10:00-10:30 a.m.
5 Ways to Gain an (Almost) Unfair Advantage in Business
Speaker:
Brian Sallee – CEO of Avorit
10:00-10:45 a.m.
Startup Toolkit 5: Budgeting Basics
10:30-11:00 a.m.
Challenges/Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs
Moderator:
Nancy Vaughn – Principal of White Book Agency
Speakers:
SaLisa Berrien – CEO of COI Energy
Jo Newell – Interim VP of Orlando Regional Chamber
Linda Olson – CEO/President of Tampa Bay Wave
11:00-11:30 a.m.
Setting Examples in Corporate Innovation
Speakers:
Crystal Stiles – Senior Director, Economic Development of Florida Power & Light
Joe Russo – CEO of Palm Beach Tech Association
11:00-11:45
Startup Toolkit 6: Branding & Marketing
11:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
OKRs & KPIs – Metrics to Keep Your Growth on Track
Speaker:
Genna McKeel – Head of Global Programs and Go to Market Strategy of Google
12:00-1:00 p.m.
Lunchtime Power Hour
Speaker:
Aileen Alon – Associate Director of Venture Café Miami
Wednesday, November 18
9:00-9:30 a.m.
Preparing Yourself for the Inevitable Cyber Threat
Moderator:
Linda Olson – (moderator) CEO/President of Tampa Bay Wave
Speakers:
Mr. Petar Besalev – SVP Cybersecurity and Privacy Services of A-LIGN
9:00-9:45 a.m.
Startup Toolkit 7: Launching Lean: Implementing a Lean, Agile Methodology
Speaker:
Dr. Ashley Cobb – Program Director Baccalaureate Supervision & Management Workforce Programs of Pasco-Hernando State College
9:30-10:00 a.m.
What CIOs Wish Entrepreneurs Knew
Speakers:
Jeremy Wilson – Executive VP of Vology
Jill St. Thomas – Executive Director of Tampa Bay Tech
10:00-10:30 a.m.
Going Mobile: Knowing When – and How – to Build a Mobile App
Speaker:
Mrs. Mariya Bohun – CEO of Acelogy
10:00-10:45 a.m.
Startup Toolkit 8: Keys to an Impactful Pitch
Speaker:
Mr. Justin Heacock – Entrepreneurship Center Coordinator of Florida Polytechnic University
10:30-11:00 a.m.
Challenges/Opportunities for Hispanic Entrepreneurs
Moderator:
Diana Hechavarria – (Moderator) Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at USF Muma College of Business
Speakers:
Mark Madrid – CEO of Latino Business Action Network
Carlos Carbonell – CEO & Founder of ECHO Interaction Group
Mr. Fabian Yepez – Regional VP of Prospera
10:30-11:00 a.m.
Challenges/Opportunities for Military Veterans Turned Entrepreneurs
Speaker:
Jeremy Sinnemaki – Veterans Employment and Training Services Director of Veterans Florida
11:00-11:45
Startup Toolkit 9: Funding & Financing
Speaker:
Matthew Harper – Director Technology Incubator & Accelerator of State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota
12:00-1:00
Lunchtime Power Hour
Thursday, November 19
9:00-9:15 a.m.
Scaling Customer Success – The Tale Through Dinner Time Analogies
Speaker:
Alex Allen – Founder of Two39 Group
9:00-9:45 a.m.
Startup Toolkit 10: Building Your Team: Making the Most of Your Human Resources
Speaker:
Dr. J A Shoemaker – Associate Professor of Saint Leo University
Dr. Ruqayyah Nicholas – CEO of YouOweU
9:15-9:30 a.m.
Every Day I’m (Side) Hustlin’: The Reap Entrepreneur’s Experience
Speaker:
Marcus “Esports” Howard – CEO MetArena
10:00-10:30 a.m.
Growing Financial Literacy & Wellness through FinTech
Speakers:
Mac Gardner – Found & Chief Education Officer of FinLit Tech
Celeste Revelli – Director, Financial Planning at eMoney Advisor
10:00-10:45 a.m.
Startup Toolkit 11: Purpose Driven Entrepreneurship—Doing Well by Doing Good
Speakers:
Andy Gold – Assistant Professor of Hillsborough Community College
Beth Kerly – Assistant Professor of Hillsborough Community
11:00-11:30 a.m.
Three Insights to Influence Your Leadership
Speaker:
Pete Hinojosa – Human Capital Development Director at Insperity
11:00-11:45 a.m.
Startup Toolkit 12: Getting the Traction to Grow
Speaker:
Carol Ann Logue – Director, Innovation Districts and Incubation at University of Central Florida
Rob Panepinto - Director, Innovation Districts and Incubation at University of Central Florida
11:30-11:45 a.m.
IP Before Your Investors Ask About It!
Speaker:
Tom Stanton – Managing Shareholder of Stanton IP Law
11:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Funding Growth: An Entrepreneur’s Perspective
Speaker:
Alex Abell – CEO & Lunch Break Enforcer of Lunchpool
12:00-1:00 p.m.
Lunchtime Power Hour
Speaker:
Aileen Alon – Associate Director of Venture Café Miami
To learn more check out the Synapse Converge site. Come sit-in at the conference to learn how you can start or build up your business in Tampa and beyond, no matter what stage your business is in!
