For just over a year, a group of us have been meeting once a month at the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce’s downtown office. Cornstalks is a group for pre-seed and seed entrepreneurs with high growth companies. The meetings typically involve one or two presentations from high growth entrepreneurs or individuals who work with high growth companies (venture capitalists, lawyers, market experts, etc.). Then, there is an informal discussion and networking session. Milk and cookies are served.
We’ve posted last month’s talk from Joe Olsen of Phenomblue below as well as his Q&A, in which he discusses getting funded, paying sales people a fair salary, investing in research and development, and what he finds most rewarding.
We’d be thrilled to have you join us this Thursday, May 28th at 7:00 p.m. at the Chamber’s downtown office, 1301 Harney St. For more details, contact Tom Chapman at tchapman@omahachamber.org.
Thanks to our sponsor
Also, for your complete understanding of what Cornstalks is about, here’s an FAQ from Tom:
Cornstalks Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cornstalks?
Cornstalks is a forum that is provided on a monthly basis for regional high growth entrepreneurs and/or inventors. The monthly forums typically have a standing agenda that includes – introductory updates, a presentation from an entrepreneur, light education, and a topic to discuss amongst the group.
When does Cornstalks meet?
The meetings take place on the last Thursday of the month at 7pm, usually at the downtown Chamber of Commerce building (1301 Harney Street).
Who is a member of Cornstalks?
The high growth entrepreneurs and inventors in Cornstalks tend to be computer enabled, engineers, biotechnology workers, or creative artists. Many of the ideas or companies are in social media, software, energy efficiency and hardware. Meetings have had attendance of as little as five people and as many as thirty-five. Generally, the audience is about twenty to twenty-five.
Why was Cornstalks created?
Cornstalks was created to be a forum that allowed high growth entrepreneurs to come out of their labs, garages and basements to meet and discuss real problems that were facing them and their companies. Some issues include finding investors, creating a good capital structure, intellectual property protection and finding good employees. These challenges are typically topics of the presentations and discussed amongst the group.
Why haven’t I heard of Cornstalks?
Cornstalks is neither by invitation only nor is it widely publicized. However, meetings are open to the public. All of these things are intentional. One of the issues that was revealed during formational meetings was that existing entrepreneurial groups have become diluted due to the intrusion of lifestyle entrepreneurs or pure service providers seeking new business (lawyers, accountants, etc.). These groups are intentionally excluded from Cornstalks to keep the mission and message pure. Thus, Cornstalks has elected to a word of mouth and light channel marketing strategy to grow slowly but deliberately around the central audience of high growth entrepreneurs and inventors.
Joe’s Talk
Joe’s Q&A
