ACT Launches the Innovators Network, an International Community for Entrepreneurs in the Business of Innovation

WASHINGTON, DC – The Association for Competitive Technology (ACT) today announced the launch of the “Innovators Network,” an international community and educational resource for small businesses in the technology industry.  The Innovators Network is designed to provide small tech companies with the resources, information, and contacts they need to leverage their innovations into successful business models.

The Innovators Network brings together a community of entrepreneurs and business experts to share best practices for innovation, business strategy, intellectual property, and marketing. ACT, an international information technology trade association, created this new community to benefit its 3000 small and mid-size members and the broader world of IT entrepreneurs around the world.

“Innovators are a different breed of entrepreneur with a different kind of business model,” said ACT president Jonathan Zuck.  “We created the Innovators Network community to give them the kind of specific guidance they need to succeed.  Entrepreneurs are usually on the forefront of technology, but they don’t have the same resources as their larger competitors.  To ensure their success in the long term, they need a business plan that provides flexibility and protects their innovations.”

There are three key elements that set innovators apart from their entrepreneurial colleagues.  Innovators are usually in the business of creating new markets, not just offering “me too” products. They also rely heavily on risk capital to turn their ideas into inventions.  Finally, they generate return on those investments through licensing, not straight labor.

ACT is launching the virtual home for the Innovators Network community at www.innovators-network.org.  The site contains practical articles and advice on business plan development, marketing, intellectual property strategies, and market trends. New community features will be added over the coming months.

The Innovators Network is also partnering with local trade associations and organizations to host a series of educational events throughout the US and Europe.   These events will focus on various topics related to the business of innovation and feature local and international expert speakers.  Previous events in San Jose, Tampa Bay, Phoenix and Raleigh drew strong crowds and high praise for the content of the seminars.

Other components of the Innovators Network include:

  • Putting small entrepreneurs in touch with an international community of business strategy, intellectual property, venture capital and marketing experts
  • A library of articles and resource kits on business strategies, business plan writing, acquiring venture capital, intellectual property strategies and other topics related to the business of innovation
  • The IN Blog to keep members up-to-date on events, business opportunities, and news that could affect the business

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