USA, Los Angeles, California. May 21, 2020

Scott Duffy - a business coach, speaker, and creator of the popular ‘Breakthrough Mastermind" retreats who rose from the ashes of the 2008 market crash - started getting calls from businesses early in the COVID shutdown. But they weren't typical requests for business advice. He found himself actually talking entrepreneurs off the proverbial - and sometimes literal - ledge as their once successful businesses were crumbling before their eyes. So, Duffy determined to pool his vast business contacts and resources to create a COMPLIMENTARY online business survival training event called CovAID. To make it easily accessible, it became a two-day event - Thursday, May 21 & Friday May 22 from 8 am to 4 pm PST, and he secured software giant SAP as a title sponsor and events.com and helpware as supporting sponsors.

But after 8 weeks of a shutdown that saw 8 of out 10 small businesses close, 36 million people file for unemployment and online traffic increase by 70%, why isn't CovAID just another fuzzy livestream trying to get stuck-at-home viewers? Because of who's putting on the party and who's coming.

Besides hosting his own multi-platform show each weekday called "What Next?" Duffy -- who started his coaching career working with self-help guru Tony Robbins - has assembled a roster of heavy hitters from the business, sports and entertainment worlds for the two-day event which includes:

Jeff Hoffman, Founder Priceline.com, CEO Global Entrepreneurship Network

Brian Smith, Founder Ugg Boots

Rob Angel, Founder of Pictionary

Les Brown, Iconic, mega popular motivational speaker and author

Frank Shankwitz, Founder Make-A-Wish

Dave Meltzer, tech pioneer who introduced the first smart phone to America

Sean Whalen, bestselling author of Lions Not Sheep, strategic business coach, social media and marketing guru and keynote speaker.

CovAID is for people who have lost their jobs, have been furloughed, or seen their consulting contracts cancelled. It's for anyone asking, "What Should I Do Now"? Since entrepreneurs are the true problem solvers of the world, these presenters will not only share their stories, but provide tangible tools that small business owners can start implementing right away, even without a budget. These influential entrepreneurs will also collaborate to share real time solutions and practical tips like how to stabilize their finances and their businesses and how to position themselves to come out of this crisis in the smartest way possible. Each attendee will also receive a virtual gift bag with links to downloadable assets from each speaker, specifically targeted to help struggling small business owners.

Why is Duffy so determined to make this work? He freely shares his story, "When the market crashed in 2008, I lost everything. I lost all of my money and went hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. I lost my business and couldn't pay my bills. I lost my health and ended up in the hospital. As a new dad, I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to provide for my family. I felt totally isolated and alone. The worst part was, I couldn't see a way out and I didn't know where to go for help. I turned things around and I know others can too. That's why I created CovAID. I don't want anyone to have to go through what I went through, or to feel alone, or without resources."

Title Sponsor, SAP Concur's Chief Marketing Officer, Chris Juneau states, "It's an honor to be part of CovAID, in an effort to provide small-and-mid-size businesses the resources and support they need during these turbulent times." Juneau continues, "Scott Duffy's vision to bring together well-known entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and experts to help struggling business owners - and anyone else facing professional challenges during the pandemic - is exactly what we need right now."

On his weekday show, also sponsored by SAP Concur, Duffy shares stats like the following that he says make it imperative for him to continue to look for relevant and timely solutions for small business:

30.7 million small businesses on Main Street generate 50% of U.S. GDP

Around 57% of businesses saw revenue drop by 75% or more due to Covid-19, according to a recent survey by Main Street America.

36 million people have applied for unemployment in the last two months - more than during the Great Depression.

72% of all small business owners say the COVID outbreak is likely to have permanent effects on the way they run their business.

The #1 employer in the world, the travel industry, could see job losses reach more than 100 million this year, according to an analysis by World Travel and Tourism Council.

Experts are expecting the economy to shrink by 40% in the first quarter.

According to NYU's Stern School of Business Professor Edward Altman, bankruptcies related to COVID-19 shutdowns will set records in the next 12 months.

According to research from Oxford University, in Europe and the United States, suicide rates rise about 1% for every one percentage point increase in unemployment. Lead research author Aaron Reeves said, "Sadly, I think there is a good chance we could see twice as many suicides over the next 24 months than we saw during the early part of the last recession."

While the event is free to attend, the CovAID Business Festival will be raising money for Eat REAL - an organization who helps feed children and their families. Due to schools being shut down, 30 million kids who depend on school meals for at least one meal a day are at risk.

For more information and to sign up for CovAID, please visit https://covaidbusinessfestival.com/