Smart Start Entrpreneurship Program
'Turning Unemployed Into Self-Employed Business Owners'
A program of the We Can't Have That Foundation developed in conjunction with
the Enterpreneurship Learning Initiative, LLC and the Kaufman Foundation.
The Smart Start Entrepreneurship program (SSEP) was specifically designed to help umemployed resident of low income communitiess with a high school eduction or less. Focused on creating jobs, the program will help potential entrepreneurs develop an entrepreneurial mindset and to create and grow early stage companies. ‘Turning Unemployed Into Self-Employed BusinessOwners’.
Rather than focusing on the ‘Plan and Pitch’ mechanics of typical entrepreneurship programs (Business Plans, 5 year sets of financial and cash flow projections, etc.), SSEP focuses on development of an entrepreneurship mind set and the skills needed to recognizing and evaluate opportunity, transform ideas into a sustainable businesses, identify and obtain resources, establish proof of concept, avoid common mistakes entrepreneurs make and manage risk in real-world unpredictable circumstances.
Participants learn business skills and life lessons from first-hand real world entrepreneurs and mentors, that look and sound like them, who have successfully overcome adversity and setbacks similar to theirs to build creative and independent life’s. Instead of a traditional ‘seat time’ classroom experience, potential entrepreneurs participate in an active learning, multi-site, state-of-the-art multi-media experience combining digital chalk-board presentation, live, recorded and high definition video conferenced (HDVC) presentation, and mentored multi-site ‘learn by doing‘ sessions designed to stir their imagination, ignite their ambition and foster skills and habits that will help them succeed, regardless of their starting point or path they choose.
Live interactive HDVC, linking participating students, instructors, entrepreneur, mentors and advisors in multiple cities helps to broaden the learning experience while increasing the programs scalability and reducing costs. HDVC enables participant to see and hear each other, live and in real-time, ask and answer questions and share data as if the were in the same room.
Upon sucessfull completion of the program, participants planning to start a business with more than an average chance of success are given an opportunity to launch their business with the help of a start-up seed capital investment. Start-up seed capital is essential to make it possible for economically and socially excluded men and women to start businesses. Prospective returns from the start-up seed capital investment will, over time, enable the SSEP to become self-sustaining while providing modest economic returns for socially responsible investors.
The Smart Start Entrepreneurship Program will immerse participants in the skills needed to become an entrepreneur. It will expose participants to new ways of thinking that can stir their imagination, ignite their ambition and foster habits that will enable them to succeed, regardless of their starting point, or the path they choose.
Pilot Program:
Thanks to the support and assistance of the Kauffman Foundation, The Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative, LLC and financial support from We Can’t Have That Foundation (WCHTF) Board Members and the ShiffHarden law firm, we are on target to start a pilot program mid to late February. Twenty-four students will participate in the pilot program from two sites (12 at each site) linked by interactive high definition video conferencing (HDVC).
Sites have been secured for the pilot in two representative majority-minority, low-income communities with high unemployment and the need for it to be addressed. One site is located Englewood section of Chicago, IL; the other in the Harlem Heights section of Ft. Myers, FL. (While the pilot program links participants from two sites through HDVC, participants from as many as four or five sites can participate together in future programs.)
The Harlem Heights Foundation in Ft. Myers, FL and the Leo High School in Englewood, Chicago, IL have each agreed to partner with the WCHTF and provide an equipped classroom, broadband internet connectivity and security, recruit local site facilitators, mentors and advisors and promote the program in their communities. WCHTF will provide the curriculum, instructional material, instructors, site facilitators, train, supervise and coordinate with local-site site facilitatiors, mentors and advisorss, provide each local partner site with a HDVC system and provide the local site-partners with Posters and Tri-fold flyers promoting the SSEP as well as draft press releases.
The Pilot SSEP program will will meet for 2 hrs 30 min. twice per week (Monday and Thursday) for 10 weeks.
Funding for all components of the pilot program (entrepreneurial mindset training, business skills development, mentoring and start-up seed capital investment) is in place.
Assessment:
The Kauffman Foundation has indicated its willingness to use the pilot program as a case study, closely watching as pilot program as it rolls out and helping to document the process and outcomes.
Next Steps:
After completion of the Smart Start Entrepreneurship pilot program & documentation of outcomes, WCHTF will need to secure grants and or socially responsible investments in order to offer more programs at the first two sites and to and add sites and offer the program to other low income communities with high unemployment. An opportunity currently exists for a potential grantor and or socially responsible investor(s) to watch the pilot program as it rolls out and to independently monitor its outcomes.
Founding a business isn’t for everyone. Hours are long, initial earnings low, and the failure rate significant, even in boom times. While making the entrepreneur’s path risk-free is impossible, well executed entrepreneurial assistance programs can help completing participants start businesses and create jobs and a better life for themselves and others while providing needed services in their community.
Entrepreneurs create create jobs and social value, making the world a better place by filling needs, providing services, or simply by making things better, faster or cheaper.
