Pradip C Patel InLab at HC

On Memorial Day, we remember the courage, sacrifice, and dedication of those who served and never returned home.

May their legacy inspire us to lead with purpose, serve with integrity, and contribute meaningfully to the communities around us.

Free fintech workshops for entrepreneurs and business professionals covering AI, digital payments, funding, and innovation, in collaboration with the Pradip C. Patel InLab@HCC, County, Florida, and the Economic Development Innovation Initiative.

https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/fintech-workshops-4841876

Fintech Workshops Free fintech workshops for entrepreneurs and business professionals covering AI, digital payments, funding, and innovation, in collaboration with the Pradip C. Patel InLab@HCC, Hillsborough County, and the Economic Development Innovation Initiative.

NEW WORKSHOP ADDED: The Basics of Canva

A two-part workshop series. Learn the basics of graphic designing and branding with Canva. This is a hands on workshop.

This is a hands-on workshop. Please have your account with Canva created in advance.

Canva changes fast, and keeping up with all the tools, features, and design options can feel overwhelming. This 2-part workshop series is designed to help beginners build confidence while learning how to actually use Canva for business, marketing, branding, and everyday content creation.

In this hands-on series, you'll learn the basics of Canva, explore the ever-changing landscape of the platform, and discover practical ways to create professional-looking content without needing a graphic design background.

Topics may include:
• Understanding the Canva dashboard and tools
• Brand kits, fonts, colors, and organization
• Tips for creating better visuals
• Exploring Canva’s newest features and AI tools
• Best practices for business and personal branding

Perfect for entrepreneurs, small business owners, content creators, nonprofits, and anyone wanting to feel more comfortable using Canva.

About the facilitator: Kim is a social brand strategist and brand graphic designer, a recovering blogger, and a small business owner with a deep appreciation for smart technology, innovative tools, and the ever-changing social media landscape. She runs a boutique brand design & marketing company and is the Managing Director for The Comedy Forum

This workshop series is free to attend.

Register online at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-basics-of-canva-part-1-tickets-1989683652365?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

The Basics of Canva | Part 1 A two-part workshop series. Learn the basics of graphic designing and branding with Canva. This is a hands on workshop.

Tomorrow at the InLab: Master the Room

A 1-hour intensive workshop that cuts “room” anxiety and installs a strategic, repeatable framework.

By the end of this session, participants will understand:

* The "Hook" Strategy: Develop a 30-second introduction that focuses on problem-solving rather than just job titles.

* Navigation Tactics: Master the "Stoplight" method for identifying which groups to approach and how to exit conversations gracefully.

* Virtual Presence: Optimize digital body language and chat etiquette to stand out in a remote environment.

* The 24-Hour Rule: Implement a systematic follow-up process that converts a business card (or LinkedIn connection) into a relationship.

Register online at

Master the Room: Virtual & In-Person Networking Excellence 1-hour intensive that cuts “room” anxiety and installs a strategic, repeatable framework.

Tomorrow at the InLab: Resilient By Design

A 3-part virtual bootcamp designed to move veterans and entrepreneurs from insight to application.

A streamlined series centered on three outcomes:

* Stabilize Under Pressure – practical tools to manage uncertainty in real time - 5/20/26
* Reframe Identity in Transition – clarity on direction, strengths, and next moves - 6/17/26
* Build Adaptive Systems – repeatable practices for resilience beyond the moment - 7/22/26

Who This Is For?
- Professionals facing career transitions or uncertainty
- Veterans and civilians interested in resilience frameworks that actually work
- Leaders, entrepreneurs, and individuals who want structure instead of stress spirals

You don’t need to have everything figured out. You just need the right tools to move forward with clarity and confidence.

Register online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/resilient-by-design-thriving-through-transition-tickets-1987148713294?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Come ready to rethink resilience, recalibrate your approach to change, and design a stronger version of yourself, on purpose.

Resilient By Design: Thriving Through Transition A 3-part virtual bootcamp designed to move veterans and entrepreneurs from insight to application.

Tomorrow at the InLab: Buying Your First Rental the Smart Way with Deanna Barcelona, PH.D

Buy your first rental the smart way, avoid costly mistakes, choose the right property, and build a strong foundation for long-term income an

Buying your first rental property is a big move, and doing it the smart way can make all the difference. This guide walks you through how to choose the right property, understand your numbers, avoid common beginner mistakes, and set yourself up for steady income and long-term growth. Whether you're just getting started or ready to take the leap, you'll learn how to invest with clarity and confidence, not guesswork.

Dr. Deanna Barcelona, a former professor turned home loan specialist, excels in educating clients about the home buying process and using mortgages to build wealth. Her passion lies in helping people achieve the dream of homeownership while giving back to the communities she serves. As a broker, she has access to all mortgage types from down payment assistance to creative financing for investors.

Free to attend, register online at

Buying Your First Rental the Smart Way with Deanna Barcelona, PH.D Buy your first rental the smart way, avoid costly mistakes, choose the right property, and build a strong foundation for long-term income an

There's still time to register for today's "60 Second Impact" workshop.

This interactive, one-hour virtual intensive is designed to transform the way you introduce yourself and your business. Instead of a dry recitation of your job title, you will learn to deliver a high-impact "value story" that captures attention in seconds and opens doors to new opportunities.

Through a mix of strategic instruction and real-time practice, this "Pitch Lab" moves you away from generic descriptions toward a clear, confident, and concise professional narrative.

In this session, we strip away the fluff to focus on the four pillars of a successful pitch:

• The Power of the Hook: Learn how to start your pitch with a compelling statement that addresses a specific problem or result, ensuring you stand out in any virtual or in-person setting.

• Defining the "Pain Point": Discover how to articulate the exact challenges you solve for your clients or organization, positioning yourself as a necessary solution rather than just another service provider.

• Your "Secret Sauce": Identify and communicate your unique approach-the specific method or perspective that differentiates you from everyone else in your field.

• The Low-Friction Close: Master the art of the "Call to Action." You’ll learn how to end your pitch by inviting a specific next step without feeling "salesy" or aggressive.

• Digital Delivery Nuance: Gain specific techniques for delivering a pitch over video, including maintaining eye contact with the camera, managing your lighting/background, and using "hand-off" cues in virtual breakout rooms.

Register:

The 60-Second Impact Mastering Your Elevator Pitch

NEW: Securing funding can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re not sure where to start, what lenders are looking for, or how to position your business for approval. This workshop is designed to help entrepreneurs, startups, and small business owners better understand the financing process and gain the confidence needed to seek funding successfully.

Register for free online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/show-me-the-money-financing-your-business-tickets-1989401682987?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Whether you’re planning to launch, grow, expand operations, purchase equipment, or improve cash flow, understanding how business financing works can help you make smarter financial decisions and avoid costly mistakes.

During this session, attendees will learn:

• The basics of personal credit and how lenders evaluate loan applications
• Common lending criteria banks and financial institutions look for
• When it makes sense to seek financing for your business
• The role government programs and resources play in business funding
• How to prepare before applying for a loan or financing opportunity
• The steps involved in applying for funding
• Different financing options available for small businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs

This workshop is ideal for:
• New and aspiring entrepreneurs
• Existing small business owners
• Startups preparing for growth
• Anyone interested in learning more about business funding and financial readiness

Walk away with a better understanding of the financing landscape, practical preparation tips, and resources that can help position your business for future success.

Register for free online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/show-me-the-money-financing-your-business-tickets-1989401682987?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

The InLab is the centralized hub for all things related to innovation, creativity, entrepreneurship, and social venturing offered at Hillsborough College.

Through four program areas (Academics, Community Events and Workshops, Veterans entrepreneurial services, and the Research Institute, which is a design thinking center of practice for the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship – NACCE), the InLab@HC provides the community with a rich mixture of high impact advisory services, robust collection of innovative workshops, co-working space, subject matter expert entrepreneurs-in-residence, formal college credit entrepreneurship programs, business funding opportunities, design thinking services, academic research project initiatives, and an array of informal non-credit structured programs.

We help early stage entrepreneurs take action on their business ideas through our three stage model of Educate, Fund, and Mentor.

Learn more about the Pradip C. Patel InLab@HC at https://www.hcfl.edu/academics/pradipcpatelinlabhcc

To the moms building businesses, chasing dreams, raising families, answering emails, solving problems, and still somehow remembering everything else, today’s for you. ❤️