Road to Success Cohort
Are you ready to transform your business idea into reality?
This six-week cohort aims to bridge the gap in our entrepreneurial education offerings, guiding pre-venture and emerging businesses towards success. The cohort will introduce fundamental business concepts and guide future and current entrepreneurs through the initial stages of setting up a business. This includes fulfilling state and IRS formalities, opening business banking accounts, drafting a business plan, preparing a pitch, and getting capital ready.
Participants must complete the prerequisite Road to Success Bootcamp and all its assignments before registering.
Funded (in part) through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.
Road to Success Curriculum
Road to Success is a 6-week cohort that builds upon concepts introduced in the bootcamp. This cohort will include five business education workshops and one graduation session. Participants must attend all 5 sessions and complete a project to be considered a graduate.
The cohort curriculum is as follows:
Week One
- Building Business Infrastructure
- Flowchart Review
- Legal Entity Options
- FAQs
- Know Your Industry
- What You Should Know
- How to Find Information. Resources
- Activity: Online Market Research
- Minimum Viable Product. What is it? Benefits
- Discussion: What is your MVP?
- Unique Value Proposition What is it? Examples
- Activity: Craft your UVP
Week Two
- Branding & Marketing
- Brand Message
- Branding Essentials
- Low Cost, No Cost Marketing Strategies
- Resource Bonus: Marketing in an Uncertain Economy Action Checklist
- Business Operations: Customer Service
- Customer Journey
- Activity: Map Customer Journey
Week Three
- Business Finance
- Revenue Projections
Week Four
- How to Write a Business Plan
- Working Session
Week Five
- Digital Tools
- Working Session
- Graduation Event
Ideal Candidates
This cohort was built for pre-venture/emerging entrepreneurs. Anyone who is looking to learn more about resources available to start a business is welcome to apply!
What Our Graduates are Saying
“In this online class I have learned more about my business setup than I ever have. WBDC are exceptional women who have great information. They explain everything well. I am able to follow and learn more and more about what to do moving forward.” – Moremi T. Alexander
“This class benefited me by helping me accomplish what I needed for my business that I didn’t know how to do. With the right tools and resources, I was able to finish my executive summary, business canvas, marketing plan and more. This class also helped me understand why things are important so I do them, instead of putting them off or thinking ‘that doesn’t matter for me.’ I am grateful, thank you ladies!” -Krystle Miles
“I am learning how to set up my business from the beginning to end. WBDC are an exceptional group of women. Totally knowledgeable.” – LeShawn Alexander
“I am so grateful for you all, it can be very lovely and challenging being a solo business owner, and I truly enjoy this community. Thank you!” – Jennifer Schuman
Road to Success Bootcamp
Road to Success Bootcamp is a 4-week bootcamp that covers introductory concepts necessary for emerging and pre-venture entrepreneurs. This bootcamp will include three business education workshops and one combined legal clinic and working session. Participants must complete all four sessions, attend one advising session, and complete a follow-up survey in order to be considered a graduate. Graduates are then invited to attend the Road to Success cohort.
Now Accepting Applications
Funded (in part) through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.
Road to Success Bootcamp Curriculum
Week One: The Proper Mindset, Approach, & Preparation
- Readiness Assessment
- Five Traits of Successful Entrepreneurs
- Five Steps to Starting a Business
- Solve a Problem: Netflix vs. Blockbuster
- Research: Importance of Market Research
- Test: How to Test Your Idea
- Plan + Build: Intro to Legal Steps
- Business Model Canvas
Week Two: Developing the Business Plan and Business Model Canvas
- Craft Your Business Pitch
- Activity: Craft Your 30 Second Pitch
- Marketing Strategy
- Customer Profile
- Discussion: Who is your customer?
- Customer Profile
- Marketing Process
- Flowchart
- Content Creation Tools
- How to Get Started
- SWOT Analysis
- Activity/Discussion: What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Week Three: Capital Readiness for Start-Ups
- Capital Readiness 101
- Reasons to Purse External Capital
- The 5 C’s of Credit
- Cashflow vs. Capital
- Financial Toolkit
- Capital Options
- Alternative funding options
- Kiva
- Direct Lending
- Alternative funding options
- Kiva
- Mission
- Requirements
- Criteria
Week Four: Legal Consult & Working Session
- Legal Consult with Noeli Serna
- Working session