Winning entrepreneurs solve problems … and really popular ones solve them with style and flair, at least according to attendees at this year’s Central Valley Stock Exchange.
“Nearly every woman in my office let me know that the Jamie Raquel Bags would be the perfect company gift this year,” says Kirk Nagamine, CEO of the Central Valley Business Incubator – SBDC, host of the gala that celebrates innovation and entrepreneurship. “We showcased 18 companies ranging from healthy-smoothies to video/internet service; from complex tech-driven smart irrigation systems to new online software apps, and this simple, easy to understand, pretty to look at and simple to get and use creation won the competition by a landslide. While I don’t think our results will influence serious tech-investors, I think there is a good lesson here: People want solutions they can easily see, understand and use.”
Created to connect community leaders, potential customers, and investors to the Valley’s up-and-coming entrepreneurs, innovators and start-up businesses, the Central Valley Stock Exchange is recognized as one of the most unique and interactive events in the Valley.The evening starts with an elegant mixer where old and new friends meet, then finishes with a gourmet wine-dinner prepared by award-winning Trelio Restaurant. At the center of the event is an interactive, lively and engaging networking session, where attendees are challenged to “invest” a stack of CVBI Bucks, totaling $1-million, among the competing start-up businesses. At the end of the session, the business with the most CVBI Bucks wins the prize – this year valued at almost $10k in goods and services.
The 2012 Central Valley Stock Exchange featured competitors in three areas: main-street, farm- to-fork and technology. While the mix left some competitors feeling like they were selling oranges at an apple-fair, the eclectic mix resembles our real marketplace
“I saw all these very high-tech companies and thought I was really in the wrong place,” said Diana Peck, founder of Jamie Raquel, this year’s winning competitor.
The truth is that the marketplace is full of competitors for your product and distractions for your customers. How many times do you go out to buy a hamburger and wind up with ice cream? While the analogy is admittedly oversimplified, the savvy and thriving business owner and innovator understands that while their challenge is to provide a solution – it’s important to know that the customer needs help to see the problem they face.
For more information on the start-up businesses showcased at the Central Valley Stock Exchange Event, along with a photo gallery, visit: cvbi.org/cvse.