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About Us
Recognizing the critical importance of entrepreneurship as a key driver of Lancaster County’s competitiveness in today’s dynamic global economy, the planning committee of LancasterProspers assigned the task of developing a strategy in support of entrepreneurship to the Lancaster County Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
In the Spring of 2004, a call went out to community and business leaders to join the entrepreneurship action committee, chaired by Ira S. Wolfe.
A focus group meeting was held in November 2004 which was followed by a second meeting in April 2005. As a result of the feedback and recommendations from community leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors, the committee identified the emerging growth entrepreneur as “the engine that could” drive Lancaster’s prosperity into the 21st century.
The committee was introduced shortly thereafter to a similar initiative called Venture Communities, spearheaded by Chico (CA)-based Golden Capital Network (GCN). GCN is a nonprofit entrepreneurial development organization that assists companies seeking angel and venture capital financing, and also helps communities and regions build their entrepreneurial and angel investor capacity. Since 1999, GCN alumni companies – those featured at their venture forums – have raised over $1B in equity financing. Many of these alumni companies are located in areas historically underserved by the angel investment and venture capital markets.
Partnering with GCN, LancasterProspers kicked off its first entrepreneur-investor forum on August 31, 2006 with a standing-room only crowd. Thanks to the support of organizations such as PA DCED, Benjamin Franklin Technology Partners. Technology Council of Central PA, PA Angel Network, and Keystone Innovation Zone, the committee is planning future networking events and investor forums as well as partnering in joint events throughout Central PA.
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* In addition to Venture Communities, GCN has created several key initiatives, including the V3 Entrepreneur Development Program, the Silver and Gold Venture Club, the Entrepreneur Hot Seat, and the Entrepreneur’s Grill. GCN is also the co-founder of the Sacramento Regional Technology Alliance and a Founding Sponsor of the UC Davis Big Bang Business Plan Competition. GCN’s extensive value-add network is the largest in the Western states outside of the four major technology hubs (SF/Silicon Valley, San Diego, Seattle, and LA/Orange County). GCN has relationships with over 300 venture capitalists, 10 major angel groups, dozens of leading private sector professional services companies, and over 500 entrepreneurs it has showcased over the past 7 years.
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