YENS seeks young people with a yen for business

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February 15, 2012

By Ethan Forman Staff writer The Salem News Wed Feb 15, 2012, 04:45 AM EST

SALEM — Last Friday, a Salem State University student wandered into the Enterprise Center and told its chief operating officer that he and his two friends had an idea for a business, and they were wondering what the small business incubator and growth center is all about.

However, getting young entrepreneurs through the doors is usually a challenge, COO Laura Swanson said, but the Loring Avenue center is looking to change all that.

If you are under 40 and thinking of starting a business, or have one up and running, you might want to stop by Red Lulu on Wednesday, Feb. 22.

The 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. gathering at the 40 Lafayette St. restaurant will serve as the kickoff to the Young Entrepreneurs of the North Shore initiative. Red Lulu was also started by someone under 40, Swanson said.

The Eastern Bank Charitable Trust has provided a $10,000 grant for the group's efforts. YENS will hold networking gatherings and, depending on what the group wants, will hold workshops that may cover "online programs, mentoring, an elevator pitch competition and even a collaborative workspace," Swanson said.

"It's really a new initiative for us," said Swanson, who added that while the Enterprise Center's programs are popular, the center does not see a lot of future business leaders coming in.

Part of the problem is figuring out what help young, Twitter-savvy entrepreneurs might need, given it is relatively easy to start an online business and many are not wedded to traditional careers.

"What we are looking to do is kind of identify and communicate with them, and find out what their needs are and what their learning styles are," Swanson said.

The other thing Swanson found is that young entrepreneurs like to be with other young entrepreneurs, so creating a separate networking group for them seemed like a good idea.

For more information about YENS and the Red Lulu networking event, go to www.enterprisectr.org.

Staff writer Ethan Forman can be reached at 978-338-2673, by email at eforman@salemnews.com or on Twitter @DanverSalemNews.

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