We have new clients that we’d like you to meet. And, our clients are doing the work of bringing new innovations to the marketplace. CEI is thrilled to celebrate their accomplishments during 2021. We applaud their tenacity, courage, and hard work and we want to share the awards, funding, and more that they have garnered. Watch our video, or scroll on to learn more!

What is one tip you'd offer an entrepreneur starting up a new venture?

What is one tip you'd give an entrepreneur preparing for a pitch competition?

To help future business owners prepare for pitch competitions, we asked a panel of business professionals and leaders for their best tips. From having various lengths of pitches ready to speaking with former participants, here are several ways that may help you better prepare for your next pitch.

Having a good salesperson or sales team can be the difference between life and death of your company. Salespeople generate revenue for a company — something essential for your business’s survival. So making sure you build the right team is critical. In this blog post, I’ll explain: when to hire, how to hire, how to measure sales, and when to expand. Below, you’ll find questions that you need to ask at each stage of hiring a salesperson and create a strong team to grow your startup. 

How has being part of a business incubator or accelerator helped grow your business? 

To help entrepreneurs decide if — and which — business incubator is right for their startup, we asked leaders from business incubators and fellow entrepreneurs this question for their best advice. From reducing starting costs to benefitting from collective wisdom, there are several  insights that may help you determine if your business idea can benefit and grow from an incubator.

How has networking outside of your industry or discipline benefited you professionally? What is your best tip for making those connections and finding common ground?

To help entrepreneurs network with individuals outside of their industry, we asked small business owners and business leaders this question for their best insights. From finding similar values to actively listening to others, there are several pieces of advice that may help your networking ventures and grow your business. 

How has the pandemic permanently altered the way you do business? 

The pandemic hasn’t just changed our social interactions and personal lives, it’s altered the ways we have to conduct business as well. To understand the ripples the pandemic has caused, we asked business leaders and CEOs this question for their perspectives on the changes they had to make. From defining better work from home practices to reducing excessive travel, there are several ways business owners responded to the demands of the pandemic. 

Let’s not pretend that this article is going to make you into the perfect sales person. Habits, not a specific process or techniques, will help you find success in sales. More than anything, sales is about execution. In this post, I’m going to give you the secret sauce that took me over twenty years to fine tune.

A startup’s first website should come long before you’re ready to enter the market. Setting up a website is relatively low-cost, easy to do, and  it speaks volumes to your credibility. Even before you have a solid business model or working product/service, your site can set the tone for what’s to come and help people understand your vision.

Talent capital is vital in a fast-growing company; however, with the average time-to-fill sitting at just over a month—36 days!—talent acquisition can be a growth hindrance.

Talent acquisition can also be a burden without the proper systems, considering the labor-intensive and time-consuming hiring process.

Don’t let hiring hurdles slow your company’s growth. Learn from these seven hiring experts to inform your hiring strategy.