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Entrepreneurs find advice and — soon — ‘raw honesty’ at center

Morning Mentoring sessions will allow anonymous feedback

Robert Bowman, president of the Miami Valley Venture Association, demonstrates software that will allow association members to anonymously judge business ideas - by texting- to pitches that business owners make at MVVA meetings. Staff photo by Lisa Powell

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By Thomas Gnau, Staff Writer Updated 12:30 AM Sunday, February 27, 2011

Standing before potential investors, explaining your idea for a business — with advice and possible financial backing at stake — is never easy.

It’s a gauntlet countless entrepreneurs have run over the years.

Now, two Dayton business backers are updating how they support local companies.

The Entrepreneurs Center in Dayton’s Tech Town is beginning to gather experienced business leaders to hear out new entrepreneurs, a program the center calls Morning Mentoring. The program’s second session is Friday.

Meanwhile, the Miami Valley Venture Association, which has long entertained entreaties from local business owners, will soon use software to let association members anonymously gauge how well entrepreneurs have made the case for their business.

The audience response software, from PollEverywhere.com, lets association members instantly respond to entrepreneurial “elevator pitches” — brief explanations of a business — with cell phones.

By texting codes to an account number, association members can anonymously indicate whether they think a presentation is fleshed out and whether they would invest in it.

The idea is to encourage what Bob Bowman, association president, calls “raw honesty.”

“No one wants to tell you your baby is ugly,” Bowman said.

Jon Jackson, owner of Kettering firm Global Neighbor Inc. and Blade Pro Service, explained his goals before the first Morning Mentoring gathering — which included Bowman — in December.

“Some of it was encouraging,” Jackson said. “Some of it was spirited.”

Jackson has developed and is selling electric and battery-powered lawnmowers, cultivators and weed-killers.

His objective now is developing a device that distinguishes between weeds and grass, killing weeds and leaving healthy grass intact.

In his Morning Mentoring pitch, Jackson heard some disagreements on how to get his ideas to market. Though he isn’t looking for financial backing now, he said the chance to lay out his plans came at the “perfect time.”

Said Jackson, “There were some smart guys in that room.”

James Hill, business incubation manager for the Entrepreneur Center, said Morning Mentoring will rarely spotlight a business that’s investor-ready. The idea is feedback on production, marketing, important first steps.

“That’s better than going before a venture capitalist and being ripped apart,” Hill said.

The venture association usually hears from owners of more mature businesses, sometimes when they are looking for funds. But advice and perspective are also offered, Bowman said. He views the association as a possible “next step” from the Morning Mentoring program.

Typically, 40 to 60 people attend association meetings at the Dayton Racquet Club, usually held every two months.

The next meeting will be April 20.

“Where else can entrepreneurs get impartial feedback from people they have never seen before?” he said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2390 or  tgnau@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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