TREP EXPO in Addison Brings Together Leading Entrepreneurs to Showcase and Strengthen Startup Community

Baylor entrepreneurship department partners with Addison Economic Development, Dallas Entrepreneur Center for March 18 event

WACO, Texas (March 3, 2016) —Baylor University’s Department of Entrepreneurship in the Hankamer School of Business is partnering with the Town of Addison’s economic development office and the Dallas Entrepreneur Center (DEC) for TREP EXPO 2016, an event that offers aspiring and experienced entrepreneurs information, inspiration and encouragement to launch, build and grow their businesses.

TREP EXPO runs from 8 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. Friday, March 18, at the Addison TreeHouse in Addison, Texas, and will feature a lineup of speakers, panelists and sessions focused on high-value issues. Discussion topics include: intellectual property, crowdfunding, traditional and social media marketing for startups, online market and campaign optimization, and raising capital through all venture stages.

“Entrepreneurs face many challenges when launching and leading entrepreneurial ventures. TREP EXPO provides support, access to entrepreneurship thought leaders, information and tools to overcome roadblocks and drive innovation, transformation and impact,” said Mary Abrahams, associate director of Baylor’s John F. Baugh Center for Entrepreneurship and Free Enterprise in Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business. “It is about proven strategies, best practices and hard-won insights to help entrepreneurs achieve their business goals.”

At TREP EXPO, attendees can expect opportunities to connect with peers in the startup community, network with successful serial entrepreneurs and funding strategists, and learn transformational lessons to help accelerate their company’s success.

The expo’s breakfast keynote speaker is Tom Browning, co-founder of Foot Cardigan, an online company that met with funding success when two of the co-founders appeared on Shark Tank last fall. After breakfast, a non-confidential, quick-pitch session follows with pitch presentations from startup and early stage companies.

The lunch keynote speaker is Cecilia Levine, president of MFI International Manufacturing and USMC Strategic Alliance. Levine has extensive experience in and garnered many awards related to manufacturing, production processes, international trade, cross border cultural relationships and economic development.

TREP EXPO session speakers and panelists include:

• David Henry, Baylor law professor and expert in intellectual property
• Hall Martin, CEO of Texas Entrepreneur Networks
• Ali Mirza, founder of iSocial You
• David Grubbs, CEO of Pegasus Fulfillment
• Tahir Hussain with Collide Village Accelerator
• David Matthews with Trailblazer Capital and RevTech Accelerator
• William Morgan, angel investor

In the afternoon, startup companies, including those created by Baylor students, will be showcased at tables around the perimeter of the main event space. Representatives of those businesses will be on hand to discuss their ventures and answer questions.

Friday afternoon concludes with a Trep Networking Reception from 5:15 – 6:15 pm.

“Entrepreneurs have a major positive impact on the economy. Their value, relative to creating jobs, generating local revenue and furthering community growth, is enormous,” said Orlando Campos, director of economic development and tourism for the Town of Addison.

Drew Dietrich, manager of economic development and tourism for the Town of Addison, added, “Trep Expo is a not-to-be-missed event that offers entrepreneurs a truly unique opportunity to learn from, be inspired by, and connect with peers and success practitioners; to showcase, strengthen and celebrate the entrepreneurial journey.”

The Addison TreeHouse is a resource-centered co-working space for entrepreneurs. It is located at 14681 Midway Road, Addison Texas, 75001.

Registration for TREP EXPO is now open. Tickets to attend cost $15 and are available at www.trepexpo.com.

More information, as well as a complete schedule of events, can be found at www.trepexpo.com.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 16,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.

ABOUT HANKAMER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business provides a rigorous academic experience, consisting of classroom and hands-on learning, guided by Christian commitment and a global perspective. Recognized nationally for several programs, including Entrepreneurship and Accounting, the school offers 24 undergraduate and 13 graduate areas of study. Visit www.baylor.edu/business and follow on Twitter at twitter.com/Baylor_Business.

ABOUT ADDISON
Addison is a bustling town alive with entrepreneurial spirit where small startups to major corporations and corporate regional offices are headquartered, including Mary Kay Cosmetics, United Surgical Partners, Hilton International, USAA, Zurich America, Behringer Harvard, Mohr Partners, Holt Lunsford and Bottle Rocket Apps, just to name a few. With the launch of the Addison TreeHouse incubator, Addison has become a destination for entrepreneurs to launch their business. The town has over 9 million square feet of quality office space throughout the community enhanced by lush landscaping, Texas’ busiest general aviation airport and world-class special events such as Taste Addison, KaboomTown and Oktoberfest. Addison is where it all comes together.

ABOUT THE DALLAS ENTREPRENEUR CENTER
The Dallas Entrepreneur Center (DEC) serves entrepreneurs in the Dallas area, providing a location where they can receive training, education, mentorship, promotion and access to capital in order to encourage and equip the entrepreneurial community to start, build and grow their businesses. Facilitating a culture of entrepreneurship and ‘giving before you get,’ the DEC connects new and old entrepreneurs with a vibrant, collaborative environment.