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The Upstate Entrepreneur Forum (UEF) is a networking group that provides entrepreneurs and small businesses with business practices that have worked or not worked for others. These are provided first-hand by those that have implemented these practices so others can learn from their experience.

The Forum focuses on leveraging the existing brain trust in the region instead of relying on the traditional muscle and low wages approach. The Forum provides a nucleus for the formation of a network of entrepreneurs, which can tap into ideas and provide a mechanism to assist bringing these ideas to commercialization. The Upstate Entrepreneur Forum encourages a grass roots approach of bringing entrepreneurs together to help others. Members formally gather monthly for a Networking Social with their peers and other professionals interested in the development of new products and services.  The attendees at these sessions can talk with other attendees and get to know them, true networking. These sessions provide a Sounding Board for ideas by facilitating a discussion of possible next steps based on previous success and best practices. These sessions can lead to continued separate discussions by individual members of the organization and/or continued open discussions among the members, utilizing the platforms of online social networking systems.

The Upstate Entrepreneur Forum is a volunteer/non-profit organization dedicated to improving the climate for emerging, growth-oriented companies across the Upstate South Carolina region. The Forum is some-what modeled on successful programs that are active in other US States or other countries. The mission of the Upstate Entrepreneur Forum is to improve the knowledge of existing/planned organizations, the discussion of ideas/services, and capital to entrepreneurs and help connect companies to expertise and resources they need to grow their business. It is not a gathering to be used as a sales venue - as sales pitches are not permitted. Together, members strive to aid the growth and development of a healthy, diversified Upstate South Carolina economy with a new generation of entrepreneurial leaders.