Start Me Up! Fabulous Upstarts! Panel with Donna Fenn and Fellow Gen Y Entrepreneurs

Last night we hosted a panel with Donna Fenn and a few of the fabulous Upstarts! that she featured in her just released book-

Upstarts! How GenY Entrepreneurs Are Rocking the World of Business and 8 Ways You Can Profit From Their Success

We were so pleased to be joined by:

Tina Wells of Buzz Marketing Group

Justin Brown of FGX

Jordan Goldman of Unigo

All of the panelists were incredibly articulate and thoughtful in sharing their insights about starting a company, growing a company, and leading a company in this economy.

I mean, they were damn impressive. Their stories were compelling and their visions for the future were energizing. I can’t wait to see what’s next for each of these ventures.

Some great things that I took away from the discussion –

* That sometimes key markets and revenue streams crop up in a surprising way. Or in other words, often what you originally set out to do ends up unearthing other very valuable opportunities.

* That it is really important to solicit feedback and get input from as many sources as possible.

* That quick iteration and your company’s ability to respond and evolve are key factors for success.

* That while this market has kept folks vigilant and on their toes it has also opened up a lot of possibility and opportunity that wouldn’t otherwise exist for both new and experienced entrepreneurs.

* That LUNCH is a critically important fund raising tool! Seriously, Jordan Goldman has one of the most endearing fundraising stories I have heard.

As a reminder profits from the book sales last night are being donated to Girls Write Now, an organization that is committed to mentoring the next generation of women writers. In Good Company is always excited to partner with fabulous organizations doing really exciting and meaningful work.

If you were at the panel, I’d love to hear what you learned last night!