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E-Lifelines, HELP, M2Technology and the Engineer’s Society of Western Pennsylvania will discuss Western Pennsylvania’s entrepreneurial history and the potential for entrepreneurship in the region.

A panel of experts will convene over lunch to answer questions from a moderator on the history and suitability of the region for launching new businesses It will include some of the region’s most visible entrepreneurs or entrepreneur experts who will answer practical questions about starting a business in the region and what it is like to be an entrepreneur. Panelists include: Sunil Wadhwani, I-Gate Cofounder, CEO and Chairman of the Board, Carl Cohen, Esq., Executive Director, Raptor LLC, Frank Demmler, Director, Innovation Works and The Enterprise Group others. Also, invited panelists include Pittsburgh Mayor Bob O’Connor and Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato.

The lunchtime event is 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 6 at the Engineering Society of Western Pennsylvania. The cost to attend the event is $25.00 per person, including lunch. Student fee is $15.00 (valid student ID required). Reservations can be made by contacting the ESWP offices at 412-261-0710, ext. 10, by email at eswp@eswp.com or REGISTER ON-LINE .

In addition to discussing how to start a business in Pittsburgh, panelists will also address core pro’s and cons of starting a business such as:

PROS

• Pittsburgh is a great city to start a business
• Satisfaction of your accomplishment
• Setting your own goals
• Building your own dream
• Executing your passion
• Being your own boss
• Flexibility in your schedule
• Being paid the full value of your efforts
• Losing committees and building consensus for implementing an idea
• The satisfaction of creating employment for others
• Instilling a vision within your team
• Clients will know you are the final answer and that you will likely go the extra effort for them
• Being on a perpetual high

CONS

• Long hours
• You can never escape the business
• Your spouse, kids or significant others might hate your passion for your business
• You have to take the good and bad
• It’s an emotional roller coaster
• It’s a financial roller coaster
• Having employees
• Not having committee’s and others to bounce ideas against
• The pressure of having others rely on you for employment
• Not having the resources of a larger company
• Someone will always be there to tell you how to do it differently
• You will always be second guessing yourself
• Having to prove to customers that you can do better when your track record is skimpy

In addition to lunch and informative panels, HELP and E-Lifelines, two entrepreneur led organizations will highlight the free support services such as mentoring and collaborative meetings they offer entrepreneurs as well as the website M2Technology designed to coordinate other services offered to Entrepreneurs. To learn more about E-Lifelines, visit their web site at www.elifelines.org.

PopCityMedia.com, the new electronic “voice” promoting an exciting, dynamic Pittsburgh, gives this event high billing in this week’s newsletter.  Read More About It!

Entrepreneurial Lifelines founder Karl Schieneman and Mentor Mike Malcanas spoke at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit in high school students.

The engagement offered high school seniors the opportunity to learn more about the experience of successful entrepreneurs in the Pittsburgh region. Both Karl Schieneman and Mike Malcanas enjoyed sharing their wisdom and advice to the up-and-coming entrepreneurial generation. After the event Karl summed up the experience - "I thoroughly enjoyed getting a chance to speak with the kids and hearing about their entrepreneurial ideas for start up businesses."