For a struggling entrepreneur, nothing is worse than having an idea and not knowing where to turn for help, encouragement and resources. StartupMonkey was created to help the founders of early stage companies in the Tampa Bay area who need a peer support group of like-minded individuals that have been down the path of startup success and failure.

We offer a free monthly workshop that focuses on the fundamental challenges of being a startup and how to efficiently work through the issues of turning your idea into a product. The program is not a business plan writing course or some silver bullet short cut to venture funding. It is a brutally pragmatic walk through the planning and preparation to build and launch a product into a very competitive marketplace.

Our secondary mission is to challenge the conventional thinking of old school economic development and create new business opportunities through grass roots support for technical artisans, innovators and startups.

By hosting a combination of weekly MeetUps, launching Tampa”s first CoWorking venue (IdeaField) and sponsoring our monthly workshops, the Monkey is taking on the 800lb. gorilla to help Tampa become a place where geeks, freelancers and aspiring tech entrepreneurs can hold an honest discussion about the challenges of starting and building emerging companies.

Bio for Ken Evans

Business strategist, problem solver and get-to-market specialist helping early stage companies define, organize and deliver. Over twenty-five years of proven leadership for turning innovative technology ideas and early stage start-ups into growing product-focused companies.
Current projects include:

Cofounder of IdeaField – Coworking in Tampa Bay
Recruiting committee for StarTec incubator / accelerator
Startup Workshop – monthly brainstorming sessions for emerging companies

Press Coverage:

December 28, 2009 – Tampa Bay Business Journal – The cost of “FREE” social media

March 14, 2009 – St. Pete Times – Economic Development

November 18, 2008 – Tampa Bay Business Journal – Economic Development

May 2008 - Tampa Bay Annual Corporate Guide – Profiles in Leadership P.13

May 9, 2008 – Tampa Bay Business Journal - Local Tech

May 3, 2008 – Tampa CEO Magazine – Local Tech

December 28, 2007 – Tampa Bay Business Journal – Local Tech

March 9, 2007 – Tampa Bay Business Journal – Local Tech

December 29, 2006 – Tampa Bay Business Journal – Local Tech

October 20, 2006 – Tampa Bay Business Journal – Local Tech

September 9, 2006 – St. Pete Times – Economic Development

March 28, 2003 – Tampa Bay Business Journal – Local Tech

Featured Speaking Engagements:

STARTec TecTalk – Start-up ABC”s & Coworking
Hillsborough Board of County Commissions (June 17 video)  – Economic Stimulus Task Force
FastTrac Tech Venture Program for entrepreneurs
Global Entrepreneurship Week – Kauffman Foundation
BarCamp Tampa Bay
Univ. of S.Florida – Small Business Development Center
BarCamp Orlando
Software 2007
Tivoli Technical Users Conference
DEMO 2006
WiFi Planet Conference
Federal Wireless Users Forum
Wireless Security Seminar Series (Sponsored by AirDefense)
MIS Training Institute (MISTI) Panel on Enterprise Network Security
Transcend Business Services IT Security & Privacy Symposium
IT Forum
ISSA
Angelbeat
Network World Seminar Series
IMN Wireless on Wall Street Conference

Associations:

ACG, Florida Venture Forum, PDMA, NWEN, WSA, MIT Forum, StartupAlliance.org, Help Desk Institute, ISSA, IEEE, ARRL