CES is finally here and so are driver-less cars, HHS explains government contracting, Quicksilver’s co-founder jets, Entrepreneur’s GrowthCon takes over Dallas, PandoMonthly hosts guest-speaker Brian Chesky of Airbnb, HUB’s bootcamp for treps… This week’s notable news and startup events for young treps:
1. International CES: The Consumer Electronics Show is one of those high-energy conferences everyone wants to go to. Showcasing the world’s newest consumer electronics, CES is often a melting pot of cutting-edge tech and out-of-the-box thinking. Keynote speakers include the CEO of Qualcomm, Panasonic, Verizon and Samsung, as well as will.i.am, David Lieb of Bump Technologies, and Cyrus Massoumi of ZocDoc. (Las Vegas, Jan. 8 – 11)
2. Self-driving autos: Speaking of CES, Audi and Toyota are expected to each reveal vehicles with autonomous-driving features at the event in Las Vegas. Among other things, these newfangled machines will be able to find a parking space and park itself without a driver behind the wheel.
3. Government Contracting 101: For entrepreneurs looking to get into government contracting, the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services is offering some alone time. Each registered participant will get three, 10-minute appointments with small-business specialists from the HHS Operating Divisions to inform and answer questions regarding capabilities and procurement opportunities within the health and human services industry. Note that the registration is closed but you can get added to the waiting list. (Washington D.C., Jan. 8)
4. Quicksilver’s not-so-quick change: Robert B. McKnight Jr., co-founder of the Huntington Beach, Calif.-based surfing outfitter Quiksilver will step down as CEO. Former Disney executive Andy Mooney will take over for McKnight who took the job in 1991. The management change will be effective Jan. 11.
5. Small-Business Outreach: The Society of American Military Engineers is holding an outreach event for entrepreneurs, contractors and small business owners to share information about business opportunities, SBA regulations and its congressional outlook for small business. (San Diego, Jan. 9)
6. GrowthCon: Entrepreneur magazine’s annual Growth Conference is a gathering of minds from first-time entrepreneurs looking to start a business to the veteran trep with positive cash flow. Their aim? Celebrate the Entrepreneur of the Year winners, as well as find opportunities and information — taking advantage of a “pitch the media” session with Entrepreneur editors, a keynote address by Barbara Corcoran and a host of useful seminars. (Dallas, Jan. 10, 2013)
7. PandoMonthly: The PandoMonthly event series — which as you can tell by the title, will happen monthly in Los Angeles, San Francisco or New York — is part of the PandoDaily startup news and blog site, founded by long-time tech writer Sarah Lacy. For its inaugural event, PandoDaily is hosting Brian Chesky, CEO of Airbnb. The website that connects travelers with homeowners who have spare space to let, has gained huge notoriety in a short time, receiving rave reviews and big-time funding. (San Francisco, Jan. 10)
8. Entrepreneurs’ Bootcamp: Part of the HUB Workbench Entrepreneur’s Bootcamp series, this event features classes on everything from legal structures for social ventures to social media strategies for maximizing ‘market disruption’ on a limited budget to startup financing. (San Francisco, Jan. 11 – 13)
