Tim Pett

The Wichita State University Center for Entrepreneurship is hosting the fifth segment in its six-part series of the Entrepreneurship Forum Series for Business Ownership. This fall's segment, titled Venture Financing, will feature a lineup of entrepreneurial experts and specialists who will focus on the role of finance in the launch and growth of a business.

Venture Financing, which is tailored for students, aspiring entrepreneurs and veteran business people, will be held in three sessions from 3-4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, Wednesday, Oct. 15, and Thursday, Nov. 20, in 107 Devlin Hall.

Center for Entrepreneurship director Tim Pett described the series as "all-around business ownership."

"A number of participants have requested more instruction in financing, which is an overarching issue in business inheritance, purchasing, franchising and start-up," he said. "Financing is a key issue for starting a business and for existing business owners as well."

The Sept. 25 session, "Financing the Start-Up," will offer advice on finding sources for financing a business launch.

"The Role Money Plays in Family and Privately Held Firms" will occupy the Oct. 15 session, and will be led by John Ward who is considered one of the world's experts on family business.

The final session on Nov. 20, "Financing Growth in the Entrepreneurial Firm," will answer questions regarding where to look for financing, financial sources with the least risk and maintaining profitability.

Seven speakers with entrepreneurial backgrounds will guide participants through the series while sharing lessons learned from their own experiences. Three of the speakers are Jay Feist, former CFO and COO of Feist Publications, Inc.; Vanessa Klein, business development specialist for the U.S. Small Business Administration; and Ward, president of Kansas Venture Capital, Inc.

The Entrepreneurship Forum Series for Business Ownership was launched in fall 2006, teaching each segment in semester-long increments. The previous segment topics were Franchising, Family Owned, Acquisitions and Start-Ups. The spring 2009 semester will host the closing segment, which will touch on miscellaneous subjects, and the forum series will start over again in fall 2009.

The Entrepreneurship Forum Series is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Center for Entrepreneurship at (316) 978-3000.