There are a couple of phrases that accompany just about every entrepreneurial gathering, and "pain point" is a biggie. On February 17,
The Wharton School will host the all day conference,
Turning Pain Points into Opportunity. Miriam Raisner, conference VP and a Wharton MBA candidate herself, says the gathering is meant to broaden the idea of entrepreneurship.
It's not all about the app. While most people these days equate start ups with high tech, Raisner says brick and mortar is still an avenue for entrepreneurs, and she cites recent efforts in the world of fashion (like
Kembrel, created by Wharton students), as well as in health and wellness. Each of those topics will have its own panel of experts at the conference, and Veeral Rathod, co-founder and president of men's apparel company
J. Hilburn will be one of the keynote speakers.
Raisner is also excited by a panel that teaches people to monetize their expertise, either as a speaker, a consultant, or by creating a business. "It's really helpful for people to have a frame of reference as to how different types of businesses grow," says Raisner, who says participants in the conference's shark tank will get critical feedback from venture capitalists, and possibly even get funding. There's also a startup fair, with fifty companies signed up so far.
Raisner expects around 400 attendees to the 16th annual conference which will be held in Center City at the
Ritz-Carlton Hotel, with
reduced rates for members of the
Entrepreneurship Club, students and Penn alumni.
Source: Miriam Raisner, Wharton School of The University of Pennsylvania
Writer: Sue Spolan