EMA & ERA Talk Trade on May 24. Join Us.

We are excited to present our first seminar of the year. Join us for a fun, informative evening featuring talks from three industry pros. Their combined topic is from an Idea to a Product: How to Start and Grow Your Business. Take Your Business to the Next Level

This event is geared towards patent based businesses and start-ups, inventors, and people looking at new ventures in electronics manufacturing. The format is casual, with opportunities to network before and after. Hors d'oeuvres and a no-host bar are available, so grab a beer and stay awhile. Meet People & Grow Your Network

We expect lots of faces from the electronics manufacturing industry, so be sure to bring your business cards. This is an excellent opportunity to meet new faces and reconnect with colleagues.

Three Expert Speakers

An Introduction to Intellectual Property Dr. Laura Zager, patent attorney (more info)

"I've got a great idea for a business name, and just printed it on 3000 mugs!" "I think I need to get a patent so I'll be clear to make and sell my product." "Of course I own my company's logo—I paid a graphic designer to create it!" All of these statements represent misunderstandings of intellectual property law, which can trip up even the most conscientious of business owners. This talk will give a quick overview of the key areas of intellectual property law in the US, and will use case studies and examples to flag some of the most common pitfalls.

Financial, Business and Estate Planning Strategies for Business Owners Diana Wojcik, patent valuation analyst (more info)

Covering incorporation choices, valuations, tax strategy, and continuity/succession plans, Diana will illustrate different options available to business owners and explain the costs, risks, and benefits of each, to help business owners plan ahead to maximize their gains and minimize their risks. Her talk will mainly address the needs of businesses based on patent or other IP, manufacturing, tech advisory/consulting, and privately owned businesses.

Getting it all Wrong: How I learned to Love the Lean Startup Leo Frishberg, UX strategist (more info)

The Lean Startup takes an "action first" approach to exploring products, markets and business models. In theory this approach makes a lot of sense, but in practice it is fraught with challenges. In his talk, Frishberg leads the group through a couple of case studies in which the business got almost everything wrong, and was all the better because of it.