Today we’d like to introduce you to Jim Sugarman.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
In December 2015 my wife and I repatriated from Hong Kong to Boston. With my background organizing trade shows and conferences, I was looking for my next business to launch. Read a study published by the Kauffman Foundation detailing how America is experiencing an entrepreneurship deficit. From 1978 – 2015, the number of startups as a percentage of new businesses declined by 44%.
So I asked my daughter, an undergraduate business student at Northeastern at the time, could Boomers and Millennials collaborate to launch businesses together – and by doing so, narrow our entrepreneurship deficit.
She said – “let’s see” and we opened virtual meetup chapters across the US and Europe to gauge interest. Over the last 18 months, we discovered a NEED to inspire 4 generations of entrepreneurs (iGen, Millennial, Gen X and Boomer) to launch startups together. Last August, we branded our movement as 4GenNow; short for 4 Generations Now to inspire 4 generations of entrepreneurs to launch startups together. We are a non-profit corporation registered in MA.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The biggest challenge has been to define/promote intergenerational entrepreneurship: understanding the unique values, circumstances and communication styles of iGen, Millennial, Gen X and Baby Boomer entrepreneurs – then connecting, matching and advising them to launch intergenerational startups
Please tell us about 4GenNow.
What I enjoy most is organizing face to face events for our 4GenNow Community. Our inaugural 4GenNow Power Partners Summit was held last November 17th at the University of Denver. We attracted 225 attendees and 19 sponsors. Base on that proof of concept, we have already announced full day 2018 Summits in San Diego, Nashville, Denver, and Phoenix; and tentatively one in Brussels in late November.We specialize in connecting, matching and then advising 4 generations of entrepreneurs to launch startups together.
What Most Proud of My co-founder, Millennial daughter.
What sets 4GenNow apart:
Our Mission: To inspire 4 generations of entrepreneurs to launch startups together
How We Achieve: Online/offline platform to connect, match, and advise 4 generations of entrepreneurs to launch startups together
What We Are: An intergenerational movement of intergenerational entrepreneurs from 35 states and 23 countries; a non-profit Corp
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Deployed web video conferencing more frequently to attract members to our monthly meetups across the US and Europe
Pricing:
- One day Summit: $99/each
- One day Pre-Summit: How To Become an Angel Investor; $395/early bird
Contact Info:
- Website: www.4GenNow.com
- Email: Jim@4GenNow.com
Image Credit:
Partner Summit, Keynoter, Amy Lynch, CEO GenerationalEdge.com
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