2022 Black Innovation and Entrepreneurship program, part one: Defining tomorrow

Are you a current or aspiring inventor or entrepreneur? Would you like to learn from successful innovators and subject matter experts about keys to success and vital resources? If so, register early for the February 17 Black Innovation and Entrepreneurship program hosted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

Remember to check out part two of the series  “Invest in ideas,” coming February 24.

Don’t miss this great opportunity to be inspired and informed. The event will feature:

• Special guests’ firsthand accounts of their amazing career paths
• Best practices for entrepreneurial success, including networking, developing a strategy, and securing funding to build and grow a successful tech business
• Government resources that can help you protect your creative work and build a business

Agenda (All times ET)

2 p.m. Welcome

• Jayde Stewart, National Outreach Partnerships Specialist, USPTO

2:03 p.m. Leadership greeting

• Bismarck Myrick, Director of the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity, USPTO

2:10 p.m. Fireside conversation on careers in STEM and innovation

• Lanny Smoot, Disney Research Fellow, Imagineer
• Hellen Bryan-Johnson, Senior Trademark Policy Advisor, USPTO (moderator)

2:42 p.m. Learn from top innovators about keys to entrepreneurial success

• Morgan DeBaun, Founder and CEO, Blavity Inc.
• Stacy Spikes, Founder and CEO, Urbanworld Film Festival & PreShow, Co-founder, MoviePass
• Alford Kindred, Supervisory Patent Examiner, Technology Center 2100, USPTO (moderator)

3:45 p.m. USPTO resources: Free legal services to assist inventors and entrepreneurs

• Patent Pro Bono and Law School Clinic Certification programs speaker TBD
• NaThanya Ferguson, Manager, Office of Innovation Outreach, USPTO (moderator)

4:25 p.m. Closing

• Jayde Stewart, National Outreach Partnerships Specialist, USPTO

This program is presented by the USPTO's Office of Innovation Outreach. For more information, please contact BlackInnovation@uspto.gov.

The content and opinions shared by our guest speakers during this program are not those of the USPTO, nor are an endorsement of any persons, products, programs, or policies mentioned therein.