To help us make the most of our time together, please read our blog post, which sets the stage for conversations we'll explore at the industry lunch. Click Here.Across small towns and remote regions, a new generation of entrepreneurs is rising, building flexible new business models that catalyze innovation, fuel job creation, and drive regional prosperity, all while reimagining traditional ways of doing business and creating success on their own terms.
Service provider, solopreneur, consultant, and freelancer—known by many names, you are a micro business owner.Micro businesses have 1–9 employees, make up 75% of all private employers, and generate over $1 trillion annually. On average, a micro business owner creates at least two additional jobs beyond their own. *
More than "just a service provider," your agility, specialized expertise, networks, and instinct for collaboration and building strategic partnerships are invaluable in a rural entrepreneurial ecosystem where relationships drive business and trust is the engine behind the sale.Join us for a guided conversation on creating mutually supportive and profitable partnerships with other service providers, micro and small-business owners, support organizations, and startup founders.
We'll explore strategies to establish trust and nurture collaboration by leveraging shared goals and values, including:- Balancing collaboration and competition
- Crafting partnerships beyond transactions
- Sharing risks and rewards
- Resources and referral relationships
This interactive session is tailored for micro business owners across a range of service industries, including (but not limited to):- Agriculture
- Artisan & Craft
- Business Support
- Community Services
- Construction & Trades
- Creative Industries
- Educational
- Financial & Legal
- Hybrid (can be delivered both in-person or remotely)
- Lifestyle & Wellness
- Professional/Specialized
- Technology & Digital
- Tourism & Hospitality
EsoTerra Ciderworks provides a $14 Local's Deal for Lunch, including a sandwich and salad. Vegetarian options are available; you may also order from their regular menu of sandwiches, charcuterie boards, salads, desserts, and more.
Note: WSSW is not covering the cost of your mealOur conversation is facilitated by:- Jessi Burg, founder of Outgrow Your Garage, Inc., an education company dedicated to helping service-based businesses scale sustainably.
- Celeste Herron, Programming Lead for WSSW 2023 and an evangelist for regional economic development through growing a startup community.
* 2019 JP Morgan Chase & Co report
