Remarks at 6 pm, followed by OSU's Best New Idea - an all-comers pitch competition - at 7 pm

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Nita Shah is one of the two founders and the current Executive Director of Micro Enterprise Services of Oregon (MESO) a leading microfinancing and technical assistance organization serving underserved entrepreneurs in Oregon and SW Washington.  Her extensive background in owning and operating small businesses have enabled her to blend various theories of business development and coaching, providing a holistic program approach for entrepreneurial success in underserved communities.

She established MESO as a CDFI, an SBA microlender, and a community advantage lender, providing $6,500,000 in loans to credit-challenged entrepreneurs with a default rate of less than 1%.

The Launch-U Speaker Series is co-presented by InnovationX in the College of Business and by the College of Engineering.

RSVP Here for the speaker

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Nita's presentation will be followed by an informal pitch competition for new ideas (that have not been pitched before) co-presented by InnovationX, the Entrepreneurship Club, and Tourism, Recreation & Adventure Leadership in the College of Forestry.

Audience members are invited to develop an idea during Nita's presentation and share it during the pitch competition, or come at 7 pm with a prepared new idea.

RSVP Here for the pitch competition

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