Cohort 6 - Schedule
April 1 - May 22

WE ARE GLAD YOU ARE HERE

We are glad you are part of the YWCA Entrepreneurs Cohort 5. The difference between success and failure is a great cohort and things change when everyone on the cohort is equally invested in its overall purpose and goal. As we work together we will find ourselves working faster, finding mistakes more easily, and innovating better. Thank you for being here.

 Week 1- Becoming an Entrepreneur

1.1-Tuesday April 1 - 11am-1pm

Welcome To The Entrepreneurial Program

• Recording of the Cohort 1 Class Here

• Recording of the Cohort 2 Class Here

• Recording of the Cohort 3 Class Here

• Recording of the Cohort 4 Class Here

• Program overview - 20 mins

• SelfEmployedSupport.com Website explanation - 10 mins

• Introductions - 60 mins

• Understanding The Gig Economy - 10 mins

• Teamwork and Using Digital Skills - 10 mins

• Business Startup Checklist - 10 mins

1.1-TO DO LIST

1. Become Familiar With the Digital Skills Page

2. Complete The Entrepreneurial Mindset Survey

3. Complete The Self Employment Checklist Survey

4. Start filling out your Business Startup Checklist Online Form 

1.2-Thursday April 3 - 11am-1pm

Validate Your Idea

• Recording of the Cohort 1 Class Here

• Recording of the Cohort 2 Class Here

• Recording of the Cohort 3 Class Here

• Class Overview - 10 mins

• Participants Check In - 30 mins

• The Golden Circle - Finding Your Why - 30 mins

• Alternative Golden Circle Suggested by Lisa

• Describe Your Startup Idea, complete the Business Idea Development Survey - 30 mins 

• Sample Idea Validation Report

• Introduction To Validate Your Idea - 30 mins

1.2-TO DO LIST

1. Write down your Startup Idea Elevator Pitch Using This Form

2. Complete your Business Idea Development Survey

3. Create your Idea Validation Report

4. Start filling out your Business Startup Checklist Online Form

Week 2 - The Business Plan

2.0.Week 1 Makeup Class - Monday April 7 - 2pm-4pm

2.1-Tuesday April 8 - 11am-1pm

Create Your Business Plan

• Recording of the Cohort 1 Class Here

• Recording of the Cohort 2 Class Here

• Recording of the Cohort 3 Class Here

• Class Overview - 10 mins

• Participants Check In - 30 mins

• Your Business Name - 10 mins

• Your Business Plan Outline - SBA or TRUIC Business Plan Writing Tools - 40 mins

• Introduction to Using AI (Artificial Intelligence) as your Digital Assistant. See the Business Plan Prompt Here - 30 mins

2.1-TO DO LIST

1. Create your busines plan outline, (Use the method of your choice)

2. Update your business plan with your business name

3. Update your business plan executive summary with your WHY

4. Continue Filling Out Your Business Startup PDF Checklist
   or Use this Alternative Online Form 

2.2-Thursday April 10 - 11am-1pm

Market Analysis & Competition

Recording of the Cohort1 Class Here

Recording of the Cohort2 Class Here

Recording of the Cohort3 Class Here

• Class Overview - 10 mins

• Participants Check In - 30 mins

• Your Target Population & Census Data Tools - Identify  your Customers, Target them and Reach Them - 30 mins

• Data USA https://datausa.io/  & Census Reporter, https://censusreporter.org/ - Find your Total Addressable Market and your Target Audience

• Market Research Strategies, https://youtu.be/mUlYuYooV5Y  especially the first five minutes

• Hub Spot Market Research guide - Message to Market, consider starting with research on Amazon

• Ask for a Market Analysis from your AI Assistant Your Ideal Customer Avatar. Start at minute 6  on this video for the prompt. See the prompt here - 20 mins

• Your Competition - 30 mins
  Direct and Indirect
  Use Thumbtack https://www.thumbtack.com/

• Use Business Next Door https://business.nextdoor.com

2.2-TO DO LIST

1. Update your business plan with your Market Analysis 

2. Update your business plan with your Competition

3. Continue Filling Out Your Business Startup PDF Checklist
   or Use this Alternative Online Form 

Week 3 - Products & Services

3.0.Week 2 Makeup Class - Monday April 14 - 2pm-4pm

3.1-Tuesday April 15 - 9am -11am

Define Your Products & Services

Recording of the Cohort1 Class Here

Recording of the Cohort2 Class Here

Recording of the Cohort 3 Class Here

Recording of the Cohort 4 Class Review & Overview Here

• Participants Check In - 30 mins

• Products & Services, Features Versus Benefits - 20 mins

• Follow this Products & Services Competitive Analysis outline to develop your Website Content. -  30 mins

• Analyze your Competition for Websites & Social Media. - 30 mins

3.1-TO DO LIST

1. Create your products & services competitive analysis or Send me three products or services with descriptions and pricing that you will offer and from 1-3 websites of competitors who are doing exactly what you want to do.

2. Update your business plan with your products & services

3. Continue Filling Out Your Business Startup PDF Checklist
   or Use this Alternative Online Form 

3.2-Thursday April 17 - 11am-1pm

Develop Your Website

Recording of the Cohort 1 Class Here
Recording of the Cohort 2 Class Here

Recording of the Cohort 3 Class Here

• Participants Check In - 30 mins

• The Jobs Theory: What Job is your Website being hired to do?

• Introduction to Google Sites & Other Site Builders - 45 mins

• Website Graphics & Content - 45 mins

3.2-TO DO LIST

1. Create or continue working on your website

2. Secure your domain if you need to

3. Create graphic and written website content

4. Continue Working on your Business Plan

5. Continue Filling Out Your Business Startup PDF Checklist
   or Use this Alternative Online Form 

Week 4 - Sales & Marketing

4.0.Week 3 Makeup Class - Monday April 21 - 2pm-4pm

Google Sites - Create a Form Class Here

4.1 Tuesday April 22 - 11am-1pm

Marketing Strategies

Recording of the Cohort 1 Class Here

Recording of the Cohort 2 Class Here

Recording of the Cohort 3 Class Here

Marketing stragegies aim to harness the full capabilities of the business to provide the best experience for the customer and thereby drive growth

• Participants Check In - 30 mins

• Traditional Marketing Strategies in the Digital Age such as print, radio, TV, or direct mail, 

• Digital marketing tools, such as websites, social media, email, or mobile apps.

• Research tools, such as google analytics, google trends, etc.

4.1-TO DO LIST

1. Update your business plan with your Marketing Plan

2. Update your business plan with your Competition

3. Contnue working on your Website

4. Continue Filling Out Your Business Startup PDF Checklist
   or Use this Alternative Online Form 

4.2-Thursday April 24 - 11am-1pm

Marketing & Sales How-To's

Recording of the Cohort 1 Class Here

Recording of the Cohort 2 Class Here

Recording of the Cohort 3 Class Here

• Participants Check In - 30 mins

• Primer on Selling

• The Art of Selling With Empathy Simon Sinek

• The New ABC's of Selling, Daniel H. Pink

• Additional Resources Here

4.2-TO DO LIST

1. Continue working on your Business Plan

2. Continue working on your Website

3. Continue Filling Out Your Business Startup PDF Checklist
   or Use this Alternative Online Form 

Week 5 - Financial Planning

5.0.Week 4 Makeup Class - Monday April 28 - 2pm-4pm

5.1-Tuesday April 29 - 11am-1pm

Accounting & Financial Planning

Recording of the Cohort 1 Class Here

Recording of the Cohort 2 Class Here

Recording of the Cohort 3 Class Here

Recording of the Cohort 4 Class Here

• Participants Check In - 30 mins

• Excel & Google Sheets Accounting Skills - 30 mins

• Balance Sheet, Income Statement & Cash Flow- 30 mins

• Taking Payments, Tax Forms - 30 mins

5.1-TO DO LIST

1. Prepare your Financia Plan

2. Prepare your Budget

3. Continue working on your Website

4. Continue filling out your Business startup checklist

5.2-Thursday May 1 - 11am-1pm

Fundraising & CrowdSourcing

Recording of the Cohort 1 Class Here

Recording of the Cohort 2 Class Here

• Participants Check In - 30 mins

• Checking Your Credit Score - 20 mins

• Family & Friends Investors - 10 mins

• Crowdsourcing & Angel Investors  - 20 mins

• Small Business Loans, Credit Cards- 20 mins

• Subscription Services, Pre-paid Orders other Loans - 20 mins 

5.2-TO DO LIST

1. Update your business plan

2. Continue working on your Website

3. Continue filling out your Business startup checklist

Week 6 - Present Your Business

6.0.Week 5 Makeup Class - Monday May 5 - 2pm-4pm

6.1-Tuesday May 6 - 11am-1pm

Business Plan Check In

Recording of the Cohort 1 Class Here

Recording of the Cohort 2 Class Here

Recording of the Cohort 3 Class Here

• Participants Check In - 30 mins

• Present Your Business Plan- 60 mins

• Business Plan General Discussion - 30 mins

6.1 TO DO LIST

1. Update your business plan

2. Continue working on your Website

3. Continue Filling Out Your Business Startup PDF Checklist
   or Use this Alternative Online Form 

6.2-Thursday May 8 - 9am-11am

• Presentation on the May 29th Pitch Event by Tuyen Fiack

Digital Skills Training

Recording of the Cohort 1 Class Here

Recording of the Cohort 2 Class Here

Recording of the Cohort 3 Class Here

• Participants Check in - 60 mins

• Open Forum on Digital Skills - 60 mins

6.2-TO DO LIST

1. Work on your Digital Skills

2. Update your business plan

3. Continue working on your Website

4. Continue Filling Out Your Business Startup PDF Checklist
   or Use this Alternative Online Form 

6.3-Google Sites - Jump Links & Monetizing Forms

Recording of the Class Here

Week 7 - Contracts, Permits & Insurance

7.0.Week 6 Makeup Class - Monday May 12- 2pm-4pm

7.1-Tuesday May 13 - 11am-1pm

Jode Hamilton SBDC Presentation 12pm-1pm

Recording of the Cohort 1 Class Here

Recording of the Cohort 2 Class Here

• Participants Check In - 30 mins

• Business Contracts - 30 mins

• Business Permits & Licences 30 mins

• Business Insurance & Taxes - 30 mins

7.1-TO DO LIST

1. Update your business plan

2. Update your Website

3. Continue Filling Out Your Business Startup PDF Checklist
   or Use this Alternative Online Form 

7.2-Thursday May 15 - 11am-1pm

Business Contracts, Permits, Licenses, Taxes, Insurance.

Recording of the Cohort 1 Class Here

Recording of the Cohort 2 Class Here

Recording of the Cohort 3 Class Here

• Participants Check in - 30 mins

• Business Contracts - 30 mins

• Business Permits & Licences 30 mins

• Business Insurance & Taxes - 30 mins

7.2-TO DO LIST

1. Obtain any Permit & License Information

2. Obtain a Business Insurance Quote

3. Update your business plan

4. Continue working on your Website

5. Continue Filling Out Your Business Startup PDF Checklist
   or Use this Alternative Online Form 

Week 8 - Program Graduation & Next Steps

8.0.Week 7 Makeup Class - Monday May 19 - 2pm-4pm

8.1-Tuesday May 20 - 9am-11am

LAST DAY TO SUBMIT BUSINESS PLAN AND  STARTUP CHECKLIST 

Recording of the Class Here

Recording of the Cohort 3 Class Here

• Participants Check in - 60 mins

• Review Business Plan and Startup Checklist.

8.1-TO DO LIST

1. Review the Ongoing Support Page of the Website

2.  Complete Filling Out Your Business Startup PDF Checklist
   or Use this Alternative Online Form 

3. Fulfill the deadline for completing your Business Plan and updating and submitting your Checklist

4. Continue updating your Website

8.2-Thursday May 22 - 11am-1pm

Program Graduation & Next Steps

Recording of the Class Here

Recording of the Cohort 3 Class Here

• Participants Check In - 30 mins

• Next Steps 30 mins

• Celebration - Virtual Coffee with YWCA staff - 60 mins

8.2-TO DO LIST

1. Review the Ongoing Support Page of the Website

2. Continue working on your Business Plan,  Busines Startup Checklist, The Pitch Competition, Your Pitch Deck and Presentation Skills

3. Follow up with the SBDC for personal coaching and mentoring.

4. Check out the SMALL BUSINESS EXPO

5. Continue updating your Website