TiE-Pittsburgh Special Interest Group Criteria
TiE-Pittsburgh Special Interest Groups (SIGs) could benefit
local entrepreneurs by building subject-specific communities
to share and exchange ideas and expertise. Imagine having a
Web 2.0, Cyber Security, Nanotechnology, Medical Device, or
another “focused group” meeting once a month or once a
quarter and perhaps each having an annual event or panel
discussion!
Under TiE-Pittsburgh banner, SIGs will have access to experts and
entrepreneurs from other TiE chapters and the opportunity to collaborate
with SIGs from other chapters.
The criteria for someone to start a SIG under the TiE-Pittsburgh banner are:
1) A SIG initiator must present a proposal to the TiE-Pittsburgh Board of Directors.
The proposal must contain the proposed SIG’s mission statement, explain how the
SIG mission will fit with TiE-Pittsburgh’s mission of mentoring and promoting
entrepreneurship, and should include the expected quarterly milestones and
benchmarks, as well as a budget and sponsorship plan.
2) A secondary goal of any SIG is membership growth. SIG events will be open to
TiE-Pittsburgh members only. A proposal to create a SIG should contain a
forecast for the expected number of participants.
3) The SIG must be supported by at least one current TiE-Pittsburgh Charter
Member, though this Charter Member need not be the Chairperson of the SIG.
4) The SIG mission should focus on both the technical and entrepreneurial aspect of
the subject.
5) It is SIG Chairperson’s responsibility to ensure that the SIG is financially selfsufficient.
6) The SIG Chairperson shall receive approval from the TiE-Pittsburgh President
before approaching any potential sponsors to financially support the SIG.
7) The SIG Chairperson should expect almost no logistic support from TiE-Pittsburgh
Executive Director. However, the SIG Chairperson can expect guidance from the
Executive Director on best practices for holding an event or meeting.
8) The SIG Chairperson shall ensure that scheduled SIG events do not conflict with
TiE-Pittsburgh events.
9) The SIG Chairperson may coordinate with the TiE-Pittsburgh Executive Director to
introduce and promote the SIG’s mission to the TiE-Pittsburgh email list.
10) The SIG Chairperson will provide a quarterly update of the SIG’s progress to the
TiE-Pittsburgh Board of Directors.
11) The TiE-Pittsburgh Board of Directors encourages SIG Chairpersons to organize a
subject-specific annual event for the larger TiE-Pittsburgh membership population.
The Chairperson will present any plan for such an event to TiE Executive Director
and President for approval and will be responsible for arranging and promoting the
event, as well as securing sponsorship.