According to the Kauffman Foundation and other leading experts, a healthy job market is highly correlated with a high level of entrepreneurship in a region. In fact, most net new jobs are created by start-up companies, not larger employers.

A special keynote session at the 2010 Create WV Conference will focus on how to build an entrepreneurial culture to help West Virginia become one of the leading states for entrepreneurial activity. Held on Tuesday morning, 10/19, from 8:30am – 10:00am, the panel discussion will focus on: 

Magnets – Entrepreneurs often rally around business “magnets” that provide a base of new opportunity. Research parks, natural tourism assets and industry clusters are good examples. We’ll be discussing The Summit Bechtel Family Scout Reserve, a national scouting center from the Boy Scouts of America soon to open in the New River Gorge region of WV, as a case study with Judy Radford, Executive Director of the New River (4C) EDA.

Money – New ideas need money to fuel and sustain their growth. West Virginia DOES have money available from private sector investors. However, we often don’t find enough early stage investors willing to place bets in new industries they don’t understand. How can we rectify this situation and grow a healthy pool of risk-tolerant, early stage capital? Michael Green, a prominent tech industry investor and executive in the Pittsburgh region with ties to West Virginia, will share his ideas.

More Entrepreneurs – Entrepreneurship is a way of life. Why do kids in Silicon Valley and Austin, TX, grow up assuming they’ll start a company? Why are coffee shops in Virginia and North Carolina filled with people discussing new startup ideas? It takes a reshaping of expectations and a supportive community to recruit, retain and develop entrepreneurs. We’ll speak with the President of West Liberty University, Robin Capehart, who has just launched an entrepreneurship program for students. We’ll also hear from entrepreneurs K Kutta and Luke Glass of Threewide to hear directly from the ground level on what it takes for entrepreneurs to thrive.

There is so much at Create WV for entrepreneurs, including StartUP52 and the Sustainable Innovation Summit. Please don’t miss it. And if you know an entrepreneur or someone who wants to see more growth in West Virginia, please invite them to Create WV!