Millennials often get a bad rap as being an entitled, lazy, self-centered, bunch. And I’ll be honest, I don’t love the term. Even though I was born well within the brackets of years that define the generation, my first instinct when I hear the word “millennial” is to cringe. I mean, every generation has their bad eggs, however, this particular generation has had the misfortune of their bad eggs having unfettered internet access. Thankfully, the the good eggs (which I like to think are the majority) also have unfettered internet access and use their powers for good.
DC will celebrate millennials for one week in June at the second annual Millennial Week DC Summit. The mission of Millennial Week is to “promote and present ideas and trends reflecting the impact of Millennials on culture and society.” Events will take place throughout the week at several venues around DC and will focus on three key areas: entrepreneurship, politics, and philanthropy.
We’ve mentioned before that millennials, moreso than any previous generation, are looking at entrepreneurship as a viable career path. Several of the week’s events will be directed towards those attendees who are already founders, or hope to start up a business of their own. Here’s a sampling of some of those events during the week of June 13-20:
The Startup Lounge – Strategize, network, socialize. The StartUp Lounge is a place for Millennial entrepreneurs to network, engage and build awareness for their emerging enterprises and start-up ideas. Attendees can speak with financial advisers and professionals one-on-one for advice on business development, banking and funding.
Entrepreneurs’ Forum: Raising Capital – No matter the type of business, the one tangible measure of success for entrepreneurs is having an idea that can attract funding. Limited capital is among the top reasons why new businesses fail. This panel will explore ways to find and secure funding, and discuss challenges that are specific to Millennial entrepreneurs.
The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum – Are you among the 48% of Millennials hoping to start your own business? Or are you one of the many Millennials driving innovation within a major corporation? Both forms of innovation have their challenges, but both have the power to change brands inside and out. Entrepreneurs and innovators from global corporations will discuss the challenges and opportunities related to starting new companies and working within corporate structures.
DC is the most popular city for millennials, so it’s naturally fitting that it be one of the hosts for this event. Last year the event welcomed over 3,000 attendees, and, of course, they’re expecting higher numbers this year. New York City will also host a Millennial Weekend Summit in May.
Image Credit: Jeshoots/Jan Vasek