Together In Innovation:   Opportunity is Knocking, Are You Ready?

Together In Innovation: Opportunity is Knocking, Are You Ready?

“Together in Innovation" shows how unique individuals in diverse teams of innovators combine their talents.

By U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Date and time

Thursday, June 27 · 9:30am - 1pm EDT

Location

KSU Center

3333 Busbee Drive Northwest Kennesaw, GA 30144

Agenda

9:30 AM - 9:32 AM

Welcome and program overview

MC:Deepak Dashairya, Outreach Specialist-USPTO

NaThanya Ferguson, Director, Innovation Outreach Div.

9:32 AM - 9:40 AM

Leadership Greetings - USPTO, SBA, Operation HOPE, SBDC-KSU

John Hope Bryant, Founder, Chairman, CEO, Operation HOPE

Terri Denison, SBA, District Director, Georgia

Drew Tonsmeire, Area Director, KSU, Sma

Derrick Brent, Deputy Director, USPTO

9:40 AM - 9:55 AM

USPTO-Operation HOPE- fireside chat & MOU signing

Derrick Brent, Deputy Director, USPTO

John Hope Bryant, Founder, Chairman, CEO, Operation HOPE

Brian Betts, President and CFO, Operation HOPE

9:55 AM - 10:55 AM

Trademark Basics: What every small business needs to know now!

Kyle Ingram, Trademark Customer Outreach Attorney, USPTO


If you're a small business owner or entrepreneur looking to protect your brand and product identities, this is the session for you. Get an overview of the federal trademark registration process. Lear...

10:55 AM - 11:00 AM

5-Minute Break

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Opportunity is knocking. Are you ready?

Nakia Melecio, Senior Research Faculty, Georgia Tech

Connie Casteel, SBIR/STTR Catalyst at GATech

Dr. Edgar Garay, CEO and Founder, Falcomm

Dr. Ajay Houde, Co-Founder and CEO, Annoviant, Inc.


Learn how two innovators joined forces to launch a new venture. Hear from experts who will share information about licensing opportunities, available for small businesses to generate new revenue. Hea...

12:00 PM - 12:05 PM

5-Minute Break

12:05 PM - 1:05 PM

Show Me the Money!

Jeffrey Patterson, Supervisory Lender Relations, SBA

Shahzad Chaudary, Atlanta Regional President Wallis Bank

Marietta Murton, Micro- Lender, Access to Capital

Jena Roscoe, Senior Vice President of Gvt., OP HOPE


Learn about SBA loan programs to help start, grow or expand your business. Find out about venture capital, crowdsourced funding, and alternative financing solutions. Network with lenders, to help det...

1:05 PM - 1:10 PM

Closing and invitation to join networking session

Deepak Dashairya, Innovation Outreach Specialist, USPTO

1:10 PM - 2:30 PM

Resources networking sessions


Come talk to an expert! We'll have IP, small business, and funding professionals on hand to share valuable resources answer your questions. Connect with funding experts and get access to capital to s...

About this event

  • 3 hours 30 minutes

Together in Innovation" shows how unique individuals in diverse teams of innovators combine their talents to create advances and enterprises they may never have considered on their own!

Join us for this "in-person event", as an attendee, you’ll have the opportunity to;

  • Discover how different perspectives lead to unexpected insights and success.
  • Learn from accomplished innovators, inventors, and entrepreneurs, about best practices.
  • Find out about helpful resources and programs available to innovators and entrepreneurs.
  • Get practical tips on protecting your IP, while distinguishing your brand from competition.
  • Get access to funding, meet lenders face to face, help decide how best to fund your vision.

Together in Innovation is presented by the Office of Public Engagement, Innovation Outreach Division. For more information, please contact InnovationOutreach@uspto.gov.

The content and opinions shared by our guest speakers during this program are not those of the USPTO, nor an endorsement of any persons, products, programs, or policies mentioned therein.

Accessibility accommodation

If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation, please submit your request to the contact information listed above.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the event located?

Kennesaw State University- (KSU) Center 3333 Busbee Dr. NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144

What time does the program start?

Free breakfast starts at 9am, program begins at 9:30am.

What does it cost to attend?

There is no cost to attend.