venturepop, Author at VenturePOP Conference

Jul 13 2017

Our badass after party!

It’s a given that you’ll learn new business tactics, think hard about what’s working (and what’s not), and leave VenturePOP with a plan of attack. If you sprinkle in the tiniest bit of effort, then leaving with a new support crew, is in the bag. Now that everyone got what they came for, let’s crank up the volume.

Letting the good times roll, is just how we… well, roll here in New Orleans. Entrepreneurship can be a grind, so letting loose in New Orleans is the VenturePOP secret sauce and has always been built into the weekend experience… and it just got better.

This year, with the help of Badassery Magazine, we’re hosting an afterparty that is going to throw down. It’s a time to let loose and celebrate the things you’ve learned, have an incredible time with friends old and new, and cheers to another year of entrepreneurship and the freedom it brings.

Did I mention a private DJ on Frenchman Street? Yup, pack your dancing shoes, push back your flight, and expect to sleep in on Monday morning.

In the latest episode of Badassery Podcast, we gab about our after party plans, what it’s like to plan a conference, and how we stay motivated. If you’re on the fence or gearing up to attend this year- be sure to listen as we share conference insights and dive into some incredible experiences we’ve collected from our first two years.

Tune in here:

Ciera and I are not only grateful but thrilled to be sharing this experience with the ladies of Badassery Magazine who are sponsoring and attending (and dancing with us!) for the entire conference and after party event.

Badassery is a free publication and podcast for bosses by bosses. They believe that building a business is more than just making a living, it’s about building a trusting community. If you’re a hardworking boss who likes to let loose and dance to the beat of her own drum- listen in for hilarious talks with an edge on business, life, and everything in between.

P.S. Look, Mom, we’re on the cover! Check out the five-page spread featuring VenturePOP in the latest issue of Badassery Magazine. It starts on page 24.

Jul 08 2017

2017 Speaker Topics

Adam J. Kurtz

Things Are What You Make of Them

Expanding on a series of popular essays, Adam will share wisdom and insights from one working artist to others. As wry and cheeky as it is empathic and empowering, his keynote presentation will be a touchstone for writers, artists, entrepreneurs, and anyone else who wants to be more creative–even when it would be easier to give up and act normal.

Cyndie Spiegel

On Fear + The Imposter Syndrome

How To Do Extraordinary Shit In Business (and Life) By Understanding and Owning Your Fears

Dannie Fountain

10 Steps to a Consistent Annual Marketing Plan

Are you tired of the “feast and famine” roller coaster most entrepreneurs experience? Planning your marketing strategy en masse is the key to a consistent brand presence and a consistent sales cycle. This session will walk you through the 10 core steps to an annual marketing strategy, setting you up to head into 2018 with a clear plan for consistency with your cash and clients.

Maggie Gentry Miller

Own Your Why

A workshop style session to reset and remember why you’re passionate about your business in the first place. You’ll dig a little deeper to connect with your clients on a more personal and passionate level.

Maya Elious

5 Struggles Only Creatives Understand & How To Overcome Them

A jam-packed session full of validation followed by executable tactics that every creative solopreneur can benefit from.

Justin Shiels

Designing Your Life

Using Design Thinking to Grow your Business

Mallory Whitfield

The Power of Pinterest

Mallory will be dropping all sorts of knowledge-bombs about her favorite visual search engine. (There you have it. The first knowledge-bomb. Pinterest isn’t a social media platform. It’s a SEARCH ENGINE!)

Jul 07 2017

What you need to know before hiring a Virtual Office

Whether it’s behind a desk, jet-setting on a plane or relaxing on a picnic blanket, a workplace these days can take many varying forms. But with an ever-changing world, both culturally and digitally, the idea of a workplace is becoming less of a physical location and more of an online address. Virtual offices like Servcorp are seemingly the way to go, negating the high need for office space but also providing flexibility and loads of options for businesses. But is it a concept that would work for every business?

What you need to know before hiring a Virtual Office

What is a virtual office?

A virtual office enables businesses to have many of the benefits of a physical office but without any actual space or desks. The idea is that you can run a business from anywhere in the world as long as you have access to the internet. It also enables organizations to create and maintain a presence in a desirable location without the need to pay rent for an actual space. Sounds easy enough but not all businesses might fit the concept.

Will it suit your business?

Make a business plan and consider your needs. Ask yourself a series of questions and decide whether you actually need a physical space to work in, if you can maintain operation from anywhere in the world or if your business requires meeting spaces for potential clients.

Accessibility

Another big factor to consider is accessibility. While ideally designed to be flexible, virtual offices can also still have the benefits of a physical address, giving users a location to have their mail sent to, as well as phone services or even somewhere to meet with clients if necessary. Many virtual offices offer 24/7 access, but it is not a certainty across all companies and sites, so ensure you can operate your business to your preferred timeline.

Cost

Let’s face it, money makes the world go around and when it comes to business, money is time and time is money. Is it more cost effective for you to run your business from a physical office space or would it be more beneficial to determine your own location? Break down your business product and set up and determine whether associated costs outweigh incoming money as well as where you can save

Your team

Will you be running your virtual business solo or looking to engage a team? Having a remote team can have a series of benefits and disadvantages depending on your business type. Although creating a comfortable yet flexible working environment, it’s important to remember you can’t actually see your team as you would in a normal office environment. Regular contact then becomes vital to ensure your team feel valued and also so you know work is being done. If necessary, consider scheduling regular meet ups, where appropriate, to build team morale and set working goals.

Communication

Communication is key to the success of any business. But running a business is essentially remote conditions means the prospect of communication becomes even more vital. Consider how it would be best to communicate with your team and prospective clients, whether it be software, app tools, phones, message services and how you can set up your virtual office accordingly.

Going virtual, like any business venture will present ups and downs, but it’s important to remember the concept isn’t always suitable for every type of business. It’s an arrangement that tends to be more functional for smaller teams or individuals. Do your homework and decide if it’s something that will work for you. Consider what your business needs, and how it will operate to determine whether this is the best option for your business before taking the next step.

Jun 28 2017

Introducing a payment plan!

Everything that goes into our conference planning is based on 3 core principles: Inspiration, Community and Education. We think these three values are truly needed to keep your business on track. Investing money in these three areas is where it really counts in your business and can make the biggest difference all year long.

We truly believe that something special is going to happen for you at VenturePOP this Fall.

We also believe that finances shouldn’t stand in the way of building your business and dreaming big. So we created a payment plan in order to break down the cost of the conference and make it more affordable over time.

Here’s how it works… The payment plan is available to those who purchase a VenturePOP conference ticket by July 29, 2017. You’ll pay half when you register ($131.32) and the other half ($131.32) will automatically charge to your card on August 29, 2017.

GET ON THE PAYMENT PLAN

It’s super easy, just select “Pay with Payment Plan” when asked for your payment information.

Remember: the earlier you buy a VenturePOP ticket, the more money you’ll save.

If you’re ready to celebrate this year’s business triumphs and set next year’s goals – click here to purchase a ticket today to get in on the payment plan.

Cut off date for payment plan option is July 29th.

GET YOUR TICKET

* There is a one-time payment plan fee of $15.

Jun 28 2017

Keynote Speaker Announced: Cyndie Spiegel

Consider the final presentation of VenturePOP 2017 to be Cyndie Spiegel’s victory lap for crushing it so damn hard three years ago when she first took the VenturePOP stage. Back at our very first conference, attendees were seeking things similar to what we hear you’re craving now:

A consistent flow of clients
Making more money
Confidence in everyday decisions

Little did we know that ALL these common constant issues stem from fear, and we simply needed a confidence-boosting kick in the but with a ton of heart (and a lot of f-bombs) from Cyndie.

This year, she’ll be teaching an extended workshop on taking action and busting fear, two things we think she’s the absolute best at. As the closer of this year’s conference, you can help but leave ready to conquer your biggest goals yet with a concise plan with inspired action.

Anyone who has been around Cyndie or learned from her- knows that this one workshop is worth the price of admission.

GET YOUR TICKET TO SEE CYNDIE LIVE

⠀Cyndie is a Brooklyn-based small business strategist and coach specializing in strategy for creative entrepreneurs. Her motivational coaching sessions have inspired innovative start-ups, independent entrepreneurs, and renowned luxury designers to grow their businesses to exceptional heights while maintaining their distinct vision. After a seventeen-year career in the fashion industry, she’s built her own coaching practice and online accelerator program, The Collective (Of Us).