Workshops at technology incubator to share tips for starting a business 

Two impactful workshops designed to educate aspiring entrepreneurs on the first steps of starting a business and developing an effective investor pitch will be held as part of the ongoing entrepreneurial education series at the Fredonia Technology Incubator.

Both workshops, free and open to the public, will be held at the large conference room of the incubator located at 214 Central Ave., Dunkirk, and will also be available via Zoom.

In “So You Want to Start a Business,” School of Business Lecturer Mark Nickerson will cover topics such as laying out the steps of starting a venture and processes that need to be considered that include choice of entity, payroll registrations, sales tax registration, obtaining a business account and QuickBooks subscriptions.

The workshop by Dr. Nickerson, a CPA, will be held on Wednesday, March 9, from noon to 1:30 p.m.

Nickerson, who operates his own accounting firm at the incubator, has over 15 years of experience working with small businesses and startups, providing big-firm experience and expertise to his clients.

Participants must register online.

 “Developing an Effective Investor Pitch,” by Jack McGowan of Insyte Consulting, will cover topics that include the importance of being investor-focused, tailoring a pitch to the situation and audience and key elements that a pitch should include as well as common mistakes and things not to say.

Mr. McGowan’s workshop will be held on Thursday, March 10, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

McGowan is director of the WNY Venture Association/Buffalo Angels, an organization dedicated to providing a business opportunity and investment forum in the Niagara region. As project manager at Insyte Consulting, McGowan works with manufacturers in multiple areas of their business to help them develop their venture as well as prepare them for equity and grant funding.

Participants must register online.

For more information, contact the incubator, an economic development program at SUNY Fredonia, at 716-680-6009 or via email. The incubator works with external partners to promote economic growth by supporting entrepreneurship and development of new, innovative companies into successful business ventures and provides administrative and business services, mentoring, networking, professional consulting, education opportunities such as workshops, access to capital and work-ready space

The incubator can also be found on Twitter @Tech_Incubator, or on Instagram @fredtechincbtr. Recordings of previous professional workshops are also available online on YouTube.