Start-Ups' First Order of Business This Summer: Head to Las Vegas for Sage Summit 2014

IRVINE, CA--(Marketwired - Jun 17, 2014) - Start-up businesses crave advice and insights from experts and other small business owners in order to better manage and grow their businesses, and at Sage Summit 2014, that's exactly what they'll get. The annual event -- taking place July 28-31, 2014, at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas -- will be an immersive educational experience that will build on the impact of deep, meaningful connections and conversations to give start-up businesses the power to make informed decisions that can lead to business growth.

Start-up businesses said their top three challenges are marketing, taxes and work-life balance, according to a recent research study from Sage. These business owners most commonly seek help from other people. Sage Summit will aid start-up businesses in overcoming their challenges and igniting the passion they have for their business through purposeful conversations and connections in the form of insightful keynotes, sessions and panels.

Facilitated by subject matter experts and top business leaders, conversations will center on burning topics for start-up businesses, such as how to validate and get your concept off the ground, social media marketing, obtaining capital, building competitive advantages and barriers to entry, improving efficiency through the cloud, how to perfect the business pitch, making better informed business decisions, strengthening sales, and how to avoid tax mistakes. Conversations include:

• Panel with Jennifer Fleiss, cofounder and head of business development, Rent the Runway, and Ben Kaufman, founder and CEO of Quirky on the "a-ha moments" of a start-up business.
• Session led by Bruce Croxon, founder of Round 13 Capital and former Dragon on CBC's hit show Dragons' Den, on how to obtain venture capital.
• Session led by Rieva Lesonsky, small business expert and author, on how small businesses can overcome the challenges of running a business and planning for the future, all while still having a life.
• Session by Josh Altman, Bravo reality TV personality, Million Dollar Listing, on selling "Barbie's Dreamhouse" and how to inspire, influence and achieve sales greatness.
• Session led by Geni Whitehouse, CPA, CITP, CSPM, speaker, writer, and countess of communication at Even a Nerd can be Heard, on the top tax mistakes small businesses make and how to overcome them.
• Session led by a Sage expert on achieving success in a mobile world with Sage 50 Accounting.

For the full list of sessions and more information on Sage Summit, please visit: www.SageSummit.com

About The Sage Group, plc
We provide small and medium-sized organizations with a range of easy-to-use, secure, and efficient business management software and services -- from accounting and payroll to enterprise resource planning, customer relationship management, and payments. Our customers receive continuous advice and support through our global network of local experts to help them solve their business problems, giving them the confidence to achieve their business ambitions. Formed in 1981, Sage was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1989 and entered the FTSE 100 in 1999. Sage has over 6 million customers and more than 12,700 employees in 24 countries covering the UK & Ireland, mainland Europe, North America, South Africa, Australia, Asia, and Brazil.

For more information about Sage in North America, please visit the company website at Sage.com. Follow Sage North America on Facebook, Facebook.com/Sage, and Twitter, Twitter.com/SageNAmerica.

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