Cohort 8 - Schedule
March 10 - April 30

COHORT 8 - IMPORTANT INFORMATION - PLEASE READ

Log Into Class

Week 1- Becoming an Entrepreneur

1.1 Welcome To The Entrepreneurial Program

Tuesday March 10th 4pm-6pm

1.1 PowerPoint

• Program overview

• Website Overview

• Introductions 

• Understanding The Gig Economy 

• Teamwork and Using Digital Skills 

• SMART Goals

• Using A.I. 

1.1-Homework (Due March)

1. Become Familiar With the Digital Skills Page

2. Complete The Entrepreneurial Mindset Survey

3. Complete The Self Employment Checklist Survey

1.2 Validate Your Idea

Thursday March 12th 4pm-6pm

1.2 PowerPoint

• Class Overview 

• Participants Check In 

• Business Startup Checklist

• The Golden Circle - Finding Your Why Video

  • The Golden Circle Webpage

• Business Idea Discovery Pt. 1 Worksheet

• Sample Business Idea Validation Report

• Create your Idea Validation Report or Business Validator Using AI

1.2- Homework (Due March)

1. Write your Elevator Pitch Form Submission

2. Create your Idea Validation Report or Business Validator Using AI

3. Update your Business Startup PDF Checklist

4. Business Idea Discovery Worksheet PDF Form Optional

Week 2 - The Business Plan

2.1 Create Your Business Plan

Tuesday March 17th 4:30pm-6pm

2.1 PowerPoint

• Class Overview 

• Participants Check In

• Practice Pitch

• Business Validator Updates 

• How to Start a Business

  • Your Business Name 

• What's a Business Plan

  • Your Business Plan Outline

  • Executive Summary

• SWOT

2.1- Homework (Due March 12th)

1. Search your business name

2. Update your business plan: executive summary with your WHY

   1. Business Plan Worksheet w/o A.I.

   2. Business Plan Worksheet using A.I

3. Update your Business Startup PDF Checklist

2.2 Market Analysis & Competition

Thursday March 19th 4:30pm-6pm

• Class Overview 

• Participants Check In 

• Industry overview, target customers, trends, demand, barriers 

• Your Target Population - Identify  your Customers, Target them and Reach Them

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

• Market Researching

• 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 

• Your Competition - Direct and Indirect

• Marketing Analysis Worksheet

2.2- Homework (Due March 17th)

1. Update your business plan with your Market Analysis 

2. Update your business plan with your Competition

3. Complete your SWOT Analyst

4. Update your Business Startup PDF Checklist

Week 3 - Products & Services

3.1 Define Your Products & Services

Tuesday March 24th 4pm-6pm

Products & Services PowerPoint

• Participants Check In 

• Products & services competitive analysis resource: Here 

• Products & Services, Features Versus Benefits 

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

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

3.1- Homework (Due Sept 25)

Products & services competitive analysis resource: Here 

1. Products, Services and Competitors Form

2. Update your business plan with your products & services

3. Update your Business Startup PDF Checklist

3.2 Develop Your Website

Thursday March 26th 4pm-6pm

PowerPoint

• 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- Homework (Due March)

1. Create or continue working on your website

2. Secure your domain if you need to (optional)

3. Create graphic and written website content

4. Continue Working on your Business Plan

5. Update your Business Startup PDF Checklist

Week 4 - Sales & Marketing

4.1 Marketing Strategies

Tuesday March 31st 4pm-6pm

Week 4.1 PowerPoint

Marketing strategies 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.

• Google Sites - Create a Form Class Here

4.1- Homework (Due Oct 1)

1. Update your business plan with your Marketing Plan

2. Update your business plan with your Competition

3. Continue working on your Website

4. Update your Business Startup PDF Checklist

4.2 Marketing & Sales How-To's

Thursday April 2nd 4pm-6pm

Week 4.2 Sales PowerPoint

• 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

• Selling Worksheet

4.2- Homework (Due April)

1. Continue working on your Business Plan

2. Continue working on your Website

3. Update your Business Startup PDF Checklist

Week 5 - Present Your Business

5.1 Business Plan Check In

Tuesday April 7th 4pm-6pm

• Participants Check In - 30 mins

• Present Your Business Plan- 60 mins

• Business Plan General Discussion - 30 mins

5.1 Homework (Due April)

1. Marketing Material

2. Update your business plan Marketing Strategy

3. Continue working on your Website

4. Update your Business Startup PDF Checklist

5.2 Operations, Management & Organization, Start Up Cost

Week 5 Day 1 PowerPoint

Thursday April 9th 4pm-6pm

• Participants Check in - 60 mins

• Starting Cost 

5.2- Homework (Due April)

1. Marketing Material

2. Update your business plan Operations and Management Section

3. Continue working on your Website

4. Update your Business Startup PDF Checklist

Week 6 - Financial Planning

6.1 Accounting & Financial Planning

Tuesday April 14 4pm-6pm

Week 6 PowerPoint

• 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

6.1- Homework (Due Oct 9)

1. Prepare your Financial Plan

2. Prepare your Budget

3. Continue working on your Website

4. Update your Business Startup PDF Checklist

6.2-Thursday Oct 9 - 4pm-6pm

Fundraising & Crowdsourcing

• 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 

6.2- Homework (Due Oct 14)

1. Update your business plan

2. Continue working on your Website

3. Update your Business Startup PDF Checklist

Week 7 - Contracts, Permits & Insurance

7.1 Business Permits and Jode Hamilton SBDC Presentation

Tuesday Oct 21 - 4pm-6pm

• Participants Check In - 30 mins

• Business Contracts - 30 mins

• Business Permits & Licenses 30 mins

• Business Insurance & Taxes - 30 mins

7.1- Homework (Due Oct 22)

1. Update your business plan

2. Update your Website

3. Update your Business Startup PDF Checklist

7.2-Thursday Oct 22 - 4pm-6pm

Business Contracts, Permits, Licenses, Taxes, Insurance.

• Participants Check in - 30 mins

• Business Contracts - 30 mins

• Business Permits & Licenses 30 mins

• Business Insurance & Taxes - 30 mins

7.2- Homework (Due Oct 28th)

1. Obtain any Permit & License Information

2. Obtain a Business Insurance Quote

3. Update your business plan

4. Continue working on your Website

5. Update your Business Startup PDF Checklist

Week 8 - Program Graduation & Next Steps

8.1-Tuesday Oct 28- 4pm-6pm

LAST DAY TO SUBMIT BUSINESS PLAN AND  STARTUP CHECKLIST 

• Participants Check in - 60 mins

• Review Business Plan and Startup Checklist.

8.1- Homework (Due Oct 29)

1. Review the Ongoing Support Page of the Website

2. Submit your Business Startup PDF Checklist

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

4. Continue updating your Website

8.2-Thursday Oct 29 - 4pm-6pm

Program Graduation & Next Steps

• Participants Check In - 30 mins

• Next Steps 30 mins

• Celebration - Virtual Coffee with YWCA staff - 60 mins

8.2- Homework (Due Oct 31st)

1. Review the Ongoing Support Page of the Website

2. Continue working on your Business Plan,  Business 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