This bubble won't burst!

You can tap into one of the world's largest and fastest-growing markets by reaching out to baby boomer and senior consumers.

In the United States alone, there are more than 108 million people over age 45 as of 2006 – a group with more than $2 trillion in annual spending power. The 78 million boomers born between 1946 and 1964 make up 28% of the U.S. population and own more than 77% of all financial assets, and the number of Americans age 65 and older is set to double by the year 2030. This is an opportunity you can't afford to ignore.

Meet at the crossroads of market opportunity, entrepreneurial talent and leading investors and discover the power of the 45+ market!

At the 2010 Silicon Valley Boomer Venture Summit and Business Plan Competition, entrepreneurs, the venture community and business leaders in the field of aging will come together to discuss business ideas uniquely focused on the 45+ market. You will hear from venture capital portfolio companies and find out where and why venture capitalists are investing heavily in the growing boomer market. You’ll discover how key analysts segment the boomer marketplace and evaluate opportunities. The most talented and innovative up-and-coming entrepreneurs in the industry will show you the products, trends and services that are about to take the boomer market by storm.

Whether you are an entrepreneur, venture capitalist, corporate strategist, marketing expert, industry analyst, age beat reporter or boomer-oriented organization, the Boomer Venture Summit will give you an inside look at the trends and talent that will become an integral part of the aging marketplace, and to connect with other leaders in this field. 

The culmination of the Boomer Venture Summit is the Business Plan Competition, which offers a $10,000 prize to the team with the best business plan for tapping into the burgeoning 45+ market.
Since the first Boomer Venture Summit in 2004, this competition has fostered a cutting edge community to explore, share and design products and services that will dominate this market in coming years. We've received business plans from entrepreneurs from across the globe, including Brazil, Egypt, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Israel, the Philippines, the United Kingdom. Over the past six years, we have awarded almost $100,000 to entrepreneurs for business plans representing many channels within the boomer and senior marketplace, including technology, apparel, travel, sexuality, health and wellness, media and housing.

Mary Furlong's new book, Turning Silver Into Gold: How to Profit in the New Boomer Marketplace, hit the shelves this spring. Now, you can sample the savvy advice Mary offers in Chapter 10: Financing Your Dream. Here's a peek:

"The boomer generation is changing 'business as usual' in two significant ways. First, they are the customers for the visionary businesses that we have explored throughout this book. But they are also creating these businesses and making the products and services they want so they can age well.

If you've been thinking about leaving the corporate grind or starting a business aimed at this juicy market, you're not alone…. Most boomers intend to work all their lives, and many will have to because they need the income.... But few boomers who keep working will settle for just any job. Millions of them seek creativity and passion in their work lives. They are more likely than previous generations to want work that reflects their values and identity; they want to make a difference and have fun while doing it."

Read the rest of Chapter 10: Financing Your Dream.