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Local Advantage Series - Starting a Business in Sewickley: Your Checklist for a Successful Start

September 22, 2026 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM (EDT)

Description

Starting a Business in Sewickley: Your Checklist for a Successful Start

Summary

This engaging session is designed for entrepreneurs and small business owners who want to launch, maintain and grow a business right here in Sewickley. Get practical guidance on Pennsylvania’s business formation requirements, the realities of running a successful small business, and the mindset needed to turn an idea into a thriving enterprise.

You’ll also learn what you need to know about local zoning, signage regulations, parking, build-outs and working with the Borough. We’ll highlight Sewickley’s unique village character and the opportunities and challenges that come with operating a business here.

Whether you’re considering opening a storefront, studio or office—or already running a small business and looking to grow—this locally focused session will provide practical information, useful resources and insights to help you succeed in Sewickley.

Valerie Gaydos

Valerie Gaydos is a Pennsylvania entrepreneur, investor, and state representative who has spent three decades building businesses and championing the people who build them.

Her entrepreneurial education began behind the counter of her mother's local retail shop. In 1994, she founded Capital Growth Inc., an information publishing company delivering financial data to subscribers nationwide.

Valerie served as the first woman president of the Pennsylvania Angel Network and as executive director of the Private Investors Forum, connecting early-stage founders with the capital and guidance they needed to grow. On the Angel Capital Association's policy committee, she advocated for policies and tax incentives supporting entrepreneurship and innovation.

Under her leadership, the Angel Venture Fair became a vital regional platform connecting entrepreneurs with investors and vendors and helping founders sharpen their pitches. She has been a recurring panelist and capital-access expert at Black Enterprise Magazine events and supplier diversity programs, served as a mentor at Hera Hub, the female-focused coworking space and accelerator in Washington, D.C., And works with veteran-owned startups through Hivers and Strivers.

As a State Representative, Valerie has earned consecutive "Guardian of Small Business" awards from Pennsylvania's chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business and was appointed to the state's Small Business Council.

What sets Valerie apart is her enthusiasm for entrepreneurs themselves — the energy, persistence, creativity, and courage required to build something from nothing. Entrepreneurship is rarely a straight path, and her talk gives founders the tools to keep moving through rejection and uncertainty.

THANK YOU TO OUR PLATINUM MEMBERS:

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Contact Information

Sewickley Valley Chamber of Commerce
Name: Erica Parr
Phone: (412) 259-0304
Email: execdir@sewickleyvalleychamber.org

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Local Advantage Series - Starting a Business in Sewickley: Your Checklist for a Successful Start

September 22, 2026 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM (EDT)

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Local Advantage Series - Starting a Business in Sewickley: Your Checklist for a Successful Start

September 22, 2026 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM (EDT)

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