The University of Michigan Business School held its first
Conference on Launching and Managing an Internet Based Business
on Friday morning, April 11, 1997 from 8:30 a.m. to Noon at the
U-M B-School, room B-1270.
Please feel free to participate in the ongoing online discussion. The balance of this site is vestigial. Send email if you'd like to be notified about Version 2.0 of this Conference.
The Conference is
free and open to U-M B-School faculty, MBA students, and the public.
The purpose of this conference is to learn about and discuss the critical
issues involved in successfully building and managing a start-up company
based on the Internet technology. Topics include:
- Pre-launch considerations
- Gaining access to needed technology
- Assessment of market potential
- Funding sources
- Pricing the product/service
- Launch issues
- When and how to seek partners
- Announcing the birth and attracting the first customer
- Assessing the early results
- Assessing resources needed for future growth
- Managing growth
- Dealing with competition
- Maintaining focus
- Hiring, motivating, and retaining employees
- Moving towards an IPO
Attendees will hear about the successes and concerns of entrepreneurs
who are pioneering new businesses in this emerging market. Further,
the Conference will raise awareness of local business activities and
needs by highlighting the accomplishments of local Internet business start-ups.
Industry participants will learn what others in the community are doing,
and will have an opportunity to network with U-M B-School faculty and
MBA students.
