Entrepreneur Workshop - Spring 2013
So you want to start a business! The Entrepreneurship Workshop is designed for entrepreneurs who are interested in starting a new venture or are currently working to expand their existing start-up. The Workshop will meet weekly over a nine-week period and will be conducted in a classroom environment.
This workshop provides a process for starting a business that enhances the chances for success. The process includes four stages through which an entrepreneur should proceed in order to start and operate a business. These processes include: 1) opportunity, 2) launch, 3) growth, and 4) harvest. Each stages includes a number of activities that must be completed.
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1. Opportunity stage activities include: |
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determining some ideas |
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selecting an idea to pursue |
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consideration of the type of business |
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2. Launch stage activities include: |
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attracting stakeholders and resources |
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completing business planning activities |
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determining legal form for the organization |
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consideration of tax issues |
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finding ways to finance the company |
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3. Growth stage activities include: |
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managing the growth of the company so it proceeds at an appropriate profitable pace |
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4. Harvest (exit) stage activities include: |
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selling the company |
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going public |
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using the “entity” as a cash cow |
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avoiding liquidation or bankruptcy |
The individual sessions will include the use of many case examples. Attendees will be exposed to examples of what worked well for entrepreneurs that succeeded and what did not work well for entrepreneurs that failed. The class is designed to have a high degree of interaction among the participants as well as with the instructors.