HARLEM — Need help fleshing out a million-dollar idea?
The Harlem Business Alliance is hosting its 13th annual Harlem Business Innovation Summit next week — billed as “Disrupt Harlem” — for entrepreneurs, business owners and the general public.
The conference blends business ideas and tech talk to give attendees the opportunity to potentially add new ideas to their repertoire, said Christina Celuzza, the program director for the conference.
“It has completely transformed over the 13 years,” she said. “We want to get you out of that ‘this-is-what-we’ve-been-doing-for-years’ mode.
“People don’t like too much change but innovation is the way you thrive.”
The conference also has a TED Talk-style event where prominent business leaders share ideas with the attendees. Jonathan Jackson, co-founder of Blavity, a tech and media company aimed at black millennials, is one of the speakers.
“We wanted to do something that would be beneficial,” she said.
The conference also borrows from the popular TV show “Shark Tank” with a PitchTank event, where entrepreneurs pitch their idea to a panel and the winner gets a $1,000 prize.
“The way business is now, you don’t always need a (formal) business plan,” she said.
“It’s about how quickly you can sell your idea to someone else.”
The general public is also welcome to the event.
“Anybody can come and be inspired,” Celuzza said.
The conference is free to the public and will take place between 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. at the Harlem Hospital Mural Pavilion, located on Lenox Avenue between 135th and 136th streets on Tuesday, Sept. 27.
Interested participants can register in advance at http://www.disruptharlem2016.splashthat.com.
