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Ready to take your business to the next level but unsure how to secure funding? Join Meghan Rauker from DreamSpring, we’ll demystify the funding process and explore the full range of options available to startups and established businesses alike.

We’ll cover everything from understanding loan requirements and various types of capital to launching a successful crowdfunding campaign. Walk away with practical resources and strategies to help you secure the capital you need—no matter where you are in your business journey!

Speaker Bio:

Meghan Rauker, Sr. Community Engagement Officer (she/they)

Raised in Idaho and now rooted in Colorado, Meghan is a dedicated collaborator in local entrepreneurial ecosystems. With extensive experience managing statewide programs, fundraising, and advising entrepreneurs through the complex funding landscape, she brings deep expertise in grantwriting and financial strategies. As the Sr. Community Engagement Officer for DreamSpring, Meghan partners with entrepreneurs, organizations, and community stakeholders to drive DreamSpring’s mission of financial inclusion. Their passion lies in helping business owners access capital and implement sustainable systems for long-term success. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Modern History and International Relations from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Outside of work, Meghan enjoys films from around the world at the Sie Film Center and loves experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen.

The online presentation What NOT to Do in Building Your Business guides entrepreneurs through common pitfalls and costly mistakes that many face when starting or scaling a business. Instead of focusing on success stories, this presentation highlights avoidable errors that can derail growth, waste resources, and undermine the long-term stability of a company. From hiring mistakes to overspending on unnecessary tools or marketing campaigns, the presentation underscores the importance of planning, prioritizing, and making informed choices early on to prevent missteps that can lead to setbacks.

The session provides practical advice on cultivating good habits, identifying warning signs, and ensuring that your business remains agile in a competitive landscape. Participants will learn how poor planning, inadequate customer research, lack of adaptability, and neglecting employee or customer feedback can slow or stall progress. By examining real-life examples and proven insights, the presentation equips business owners with strategies to sidestep common errors and build a resilient, sustainable business foundation.

THREE TAKEAWAYS: Each attendee with leave with a bulleted blueprint of processes they need to avoid common pitfalls business owners face when starting a business.

BIO:

Ellis Hubbard III is a seasoned professional with over two decades of experience across a variety of management and client service roles, primarily within the finance, insurance, and workforce development sectors. He has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, especially in team management and client relations, consistently contributing to organizational objectives and enhancing operational efficiency. Ellis’s diverse skill set, spanning from strategic management to client relationship-building, exemplifies his adaptability and dedication to excellence.