PROLIFIC ENTREPRENEUR ANDREW HAZEN TO ADVISE SUFFOLK INVENTORS AT JUNE MEETING

HALF HOLLOW HILLS’ STUDENTS TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR

(Hauppauge, NY – June 12, 2013) – LaunchPad Long Island co-founder and successful entrepreneur Andrew Hazen will address the Suffolk County Inventors and Entrepreneurs Club on June 18^th sharing details of up-and-coming new companies and best practices for start-ups. Hazen is an angel investor, serial entrepreneur, attorney, author and an “admitted domain name and start-up addict.”

Hazen founded LaunchPad Long Island, a business accelerator created to improve the odds of start-up success and build prosperous companies. He also founded Angel Dough Ventures, another business start-up accelerator, where new business ideas are identified, internally developed, and launched. Finally, he is an attorney at Ruskin Moscou Faltischek where he is involved in their Corporate and newly formed Digital Media practice groups.

Additionally, the meeting will also recognize Half Hallow Hills High School students who participated in their district’s Shark Tank program. The program is modeled off the popular television show in which five billionaires look to invest in various businesses and the final competition was held on May 30th in the Half Hollow Hills West Auditorium. Half Hallow Hills High School’s Shark Tank featured 120 contestants separated into teams of 2-4 contestants. Groups developed a unique product or service and created a sales pitch for ‘investors’. Approximately $3,000 in scholarship money will be split amongst the 1st through 5th place winners.

“These students have demonstrated a great dedication to the inventing process during their Shark Tank program,” said County Executive Steve Bellone. “This program adds another dimension to the innovation economy in Suffolk County and it would be wonderful to see the program replicated in other school districts.”

The Inventors and Entrepreneurs Club meeting will take place on Tuesday, June 18th from 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. in the Media Room of the H. Lee Dennison Building at 100 Veterans Highway, Hauppauge 11788.

The Suffolk County Inventors and Entrepreneurs Club continues to grow, with nearly 2,350 people coming through the doors since its initiation. Each month there is a distinguished speaker and time set aside for inventors to mix with businesspeople, attorneys and other entrepreneurs. The Club is a meeting place for inventors with patents pending, others who have sold inventions, and those who have lots of ideas but do not know where to start. There is no charge and no registration required to attend the meetings, though a valid ID is needed at the door.  For more information, call (631) 853-4805 or e-mail: lisaann.broughton@suffolkcountyny.gov.