NEWS at The Entrepreneur Center @NVTC

Clubhouse Kids "Ask the Entrepreneurs" About Business

There were about 60 computer clubhouse kids from around the region in the audience; some jostled in their seats but all listened intently when moderator Paul Sherman from Potomac Tech Wire drew them in with his questions. The kids were there for a panel discussion titled "Ask the Entrepreneurs" at the James Lee Computer Clubhouse in Falls Church yesterday, hosted by the Equal Footing Foundation and The Entrepreneur Center @NVTC.

Sherman was joined by entrepreneurs Josh Konowe of BrandClik, Daniel Odio of PointAbout and Chris Seline of Searchles. The four businessmen shared their recipes for success with the kids, stressing how much work entrepreneurship entails. The importance of "elevator pitches," what kind of mistakes can be made and how to register a company were some of the themes addressed. Sherman boiled down his prescription for success to one sentence: "Read well, write well, know math." VC Pitch Dinner Series, send an e-mail to the Entrepreneur Center at TEC@nvtc.org.

From there, the ideas were free-flowing and plentiful. Konowe said kids looking to be entrepreneurs should not forego a college education and should seek out an internship if possible. Odio suggested a form of entrepreneurship that kids in the audience could begin right away: writing blog entries for interested companies for $20 apiece. Colleen Hahn of the Equal Footing Foundation told the kids that having ideas is good but the follow-through was most crucial en route to being an entrepreneur.

Watch a video of the event

The event was part of Global Entrepreneur Week, November 17-23, which connects young people everywhere through local, national and global activities designed to help them explore their potential as self-starters and innovators.