Launch Event for Startup Santa Barbara and Startup California

Good News Startups - Quick Pitches have been added to the event this evening!

These will be more of an update to the community than an actual pitch. Rapid 3 minutes, no projector, just a quick introduction in roughly the following format:

Introduce Yourself
Where You are From
Company or Product Name
Company or Product Description
Stage of Development
How can we help? (mentors, investment, developers, try product, feedback, etc)
Upcoming milestones or events?

If you or your startup is interest in doing a Quick Pitch, simply comment below or signup when you arrive. Spots are limited due to timing constraints.

PASTED PR -

Santa Barbara, CA – June 14, 2012 – A group of seasoned entrepreneurs and leaders from an array of Santa Barbara and California entrepreneurial organizations have come together to form the Santa Barbara Regional community for Startup California (www.startupcal.org), in association with the Startup America Partnership (www.s.co). It is important to note that this is not a new startup community, rather Startup Santa Barbara is a facilitator and advocate for existing communities, providing a national stage and structured mentorship, with the dual primary purposes of economic development through the end-to-end launch of new startup businesses. This uniquely small and amazing community only qualifies for the national honor because the hard work of existing local groups like Startup Weekend Santa Barbara (www.santabarbara.startupweekend.org) and MIT Enterprise Forum (www.mitcentralcoast.com), and meetup groups like Mobile Santa Barbara (www.meetup.com/Santa-Barbara-Mobile) and SB Hackerspace (www.meetup.com/Santa-Barbara-Hackerspace) and many more.

Esteemed Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider summarizes it best: “Startup America's recognition and support of Startup Santa Barbara will help organize and energize our already thriving startup and technology communities." (www.santabarbaraca.gov/Government/Council/Meet_Us)

Startup CA is the 24th region to join the Startup America Partnership. It will combine a statewide focus on enhancing the connections between the local California ecosystems to other Startup America Regions across the country, as well as a local focus on helping high growth startups in all communities across California. Startup CA is launching through a series of local entrepreneur-focused events in San Diego, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Orange County and San Francisco.

As part of the Startup California launch, Startup Santa Barbara (www.startupsantabarbara.com) will host its launch event on Monday, June 18, 2012 at the Synergy Business & Technology Center (www.synergybtc.com) from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event is open to entrepreneurs, students, industry, and organizations that support the Santa Barbara entrepreneurial community. Admission is free. Future events for Startup Santa Barbara will often be in conjunction with already existing community events to provide the greatest impact possible.

Confirmed Speakers, VIPs, and Pitches include:

· Brian Coryat, Founder & CEO, Local Market Launch, and previously ValueClick, Website ASP/Omni Edit, AppShouter, Hispano Info, Make It Work, SeaCoast Yachts, and Visibility Factor
· Kyle Ashby, CEO, Kaldera Marketing, Organizer / Head Startup Weekend Santa Barbara
· Jacob Tell, CEO, Oniracom, managing some of the world’s most successful entertainment properties including Jack Johnson, Matisyahu and Disney Records.

· MORE TO BE REVEALED SHORTLY….

Startup Santa Barbara will operate in tandem with Startup California, and provide assistance to entrepreneurs and existing communities in the following areas:

Expertise: Connect local entrepreneurs, startups, and supporting organizations with mentors, advisors and accelerators across Santa Barbara, California, the U.S., and virtually via a web of resources

Services: Provide entrepreneurs access to critical services and offers at reduced costs by leveraging local, statewide and nationwide resources

Talent: Assist entrepreneurs in recruiting and training the people that can help them grow

Customers: Help to scale startups through new and existing markets, with market validation assistance

Capital: Highlight sources of capital available to entrepreneurs in various regions and sectors, including Crowdfunding and Impact Funding

About the Startup America Partnership

The Startup America Partnership was launched at the White House in response to President Obama’s call to celebrate, inspire, and accelerate high-growth entrepreneurship throughout the nation. The Partnership is bringing together an alliance of major corporations, funders, service providers, mentors and advisors working to dramatically increase the prevalence and success of high-growth enterprises in the U.S. AOL co-founder Steve Case chairs the partnership and the Kauffman and Case Foundations are founding partners, providing initial funding and strategic guidance. For more information on the Partnership, visitwww.startupamericapartnership.org and follow at www.twitter.com/startupamerica and www.facebook.com/startupamerica.