Startup Summer School

Have an idea? Do you crave to build something? Join us for our 3rd annual entrepreneurial bootcamp. Each Wednesday this summer starting June 3 – July 29, we will be hosting a virtual session of Startup School. Learn from the best in the industry about what it looks like to start your own company and how to do it well. The best part? It is completely free to you because we believe in you!

INTO TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP
June 3, 12:30-1:30
Speaker: Jermaine Brown

Many people think entrepreneurship is glamorous. Truth is, entrepreneurship is hard. Really, really hard. While it can be an incredible experience – the opportunity to build a better future, being in control of who you work with and how you work while experiencing the direct connection between effort and results, you must be prepared for the journey. This class will be all about starting off and what to expect.

CUSTOMER THEORY
June 10, 12:30-1:30
Speaker: Rachel Ford

What will take your startup to the next level in terms of acquisition and revenue lie in this very important practice. What your end users want and need are sometimes two very different things. Learn how to focus on what provides immediate value for “Earlyvangelists” of your product or service, and how to make this an ongoing part of your business model.

CREATING AN MVP
June 17, 12:30-1:30
Speaker: Don Pottinger

We will explore different agile development methodologies, and how to mold the process for your unique team. We’ll also take a look at building an MVP (minimum viable product) in 2020 — from choosing the technology stack, to leveraging free services, and finally going beyond the minimum.

MARKETING 101
June 24, 12:30-1:30
Speaker: Alan Woodruff

Your brand IS your customer’s experience with your company, which is why it’s essential to develop a go-to-market plan that includes customer journeys and empathy mapping before launching. This Branding/Go-To-Market class will introduce you to key concepts and tools that will ensure you are reaching the right people and creating experiences that will drive measurable growth.

SALES 101
July 1, 12:30-1:30
Speaker: Kim Wilson

If pursuing sales is something new for you, or maybe you have started to get some traction and don’t know what’s next – this session of Summer School is for you! We will provide concrete steps on how to start the sales process as well as information on what to do once the sales start churning. From establishing processes to talking about wise opportunities we will equip you to build your startup on a firm foundation on facts that will lead to success and a thriving company.

HIRING YOUR FIRST TEAM MEMBER
July 8, 12:30-1:30
Speaker: Randy Fisher and Jill Chapman

As a startup grows in the earliest of stages, it will face numerous challenges and opportunities that will include ideation, discovery, pitching, funding, legal, and a human capital strategy. The need to find and retain the right talent will always be a challenge. We will help you to understand the importance of key-position hiring, culture by design, and the right HR strategy to help your company prepare to take its next great leap.

LEGAL 101
July 15, 12:30-1:30
Speaker: Wayt King

It is imperative that a company’s legal affairs are in order, particularly for an emerging growth company that is likely to face increasingly intense due diligence in connection with its capital raises and its ultimate exit event. The session will address the key issues facing startups, provide expert advice on how to avoid and troubleshoot the common pitfalls, and discuss best practices for structuring your startup for longevity and profitability.

FUNDING 101
July 22, 12:30-1:30
Speaker: Kim Seals

Learn the various forms of investment and the Investor & Entrepreneur perspectives for each, to set a foundation for your capital raise. Learn best practices for conducting a capital raise, everything from pitching tips, to valuation discussions, and key metrics to address in order to get the right partners in your round. Lastly, we’ll de-code “venture speak” and see what types of businesses are best funded through venture, bootstrapping, bank loans, grants & the variety of other forms of funding.

PITCHERS BE PITCHIN’
July 28, 12:30-1:30
Speaker: Jacey Lucus

As an entrepreneur, you’re going to have ample opportunities to tell people about the company you’re building, aka, pitch to them!

In this class we we will cover:
-What is a pitch?
-The importance of defining who to pitch to.
-The importance of the format of your pitch.
-The importance of the delivery of that pitch
-And finally how to make your pitch deck look good!

Whatever stage you’re in, our goal is to help you tell your story in the best way possible.