Every week we publish a newsletter to our community letting them know what is going on and cool ways to get involved with entrepreneurial activities. This week’s newsletter focuses on how the CSUF Startup Incubator can help entrepreneurs start their businesses. If you would like to become an insider and get this information sent to you every week make sure to sign up here!
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One of the most exciting parts of my job are the opportunities I get to work with motivated entrepreneurs on their business concepts. These ideas run the gamut but one of the key success factors for those entrepreneurs that advance beyond the concept stage is consequential forward progress.
Whether an entrepreneur has a new idea or has been working on an idea for years, when we sit down with a new Resident (entrepreneur) at the CSUF Startup Incubator for the first time we create a custom plan of action for that entrepreneur for the next six months. During these six months, we work with our Residents to continuously move their concepts forward and making them into real businesses. How do we do this? Consequential forward progress for a startup means focusing on the most important areas of a startup. That means: building a team, launching a minimum viable product or service, creating a lean startup plan, and the handful of other aspects that are truly important for a business that is starting up. There are hundreds of things that new entrepreneurs think they should be doing but what we do is help them focus on what truly matters to set them up for sustained success. Many of the entrepreneurs who have become Residents at the CSUF Startup Incubator have told me that they wish they had started working with us sooner. All that time they spent trying to figure out the basics of how to launch their businesses could have been better utilized focusing on those activities that actually mattered. If you or someone you know is starting a business have them get in touch with me and let them know about our events (meeting face to face is the best way to discuss these kinds of things). This Wednesday at 6pm we welcome David Gosselin in to talk about Equity Crowdfunding.
Sincerely,
John Bradley Jackson PS: And a sincere thanks must go out to our hundreds of mentors who have helped entrepreneurs we work with make consequential forward progress! Without them many entrepreneurs could not have accomplished all of the great things they have over the years. |
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Raising money for a startup is difficult if not almost impossible. But thanks to recent changes in the law equity crowdfunding has democratized this market so that more people can now invest in startups. David Gosselin, a Principal at DBBMcKennon and a Partner at BizCFO, will be giving a talk at the CSUF Startup Incubator to help you understand how to take advantage of these changes. And, just maybe, help you figure out how you can raise money for your company! |
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In a world where every industry is hyper-competitive, great design is the key to making your business stand out from the competition and have more meaningful interactions with customers. Great design helps your customers connect with product, and “Design Strategies for a more Profitable Business” will help you learn how to do exactly that.
After listening to this talk by User Interface (UI) designer and developer Adam Rasheed, you will learn the basic principles of design that will help you drastically improve your current branding, as well as advice for improving the usabilty and general experience of your product.
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There is always a lot of promise in startups: the sky is the limit!
But getting from startup to a sustainable and profitable business is not easy. It’s a difficult undertaking that most entrepreneurs, especially first time entrepeneurs, aren’t prepared for. Basically, trying to take a startup and make it into a successful business for most people is like trying to find buried treasure without a map.
That is why we are so glad to have Jeff Greenberg in to talk. He has six key metrics that he uses that determine how well a startup is doing in making that transition into a successful business. Those metrics are: Product, Management, Financing, Staffing, Revenue, and Operations. Come by to find out what these metrics are, how to interpret them, and how they change as a startup evolves into a successful business.
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The CSUF Entrepreneurship Alumni host a business roundtable on the third Thursday of every month at the CSUF Startup Incubator and all are encouraged to attend these free meetings. Bring your entrepreneurial ideas, challenges, or just sit in and listen!
The CSUF Entrepreneur Roundtable features a fantastic group of mentors with impressive backgrounds so that every participating entrepreneur will get tremendous feedback on what they are working on. Don’t be shy! This can turn out to be one of the most consequential entrepreneurial events you ever attend.
Upcoming CSUF Entrepreneur Roundtables:
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PITCH YOUR STARTUP IDEA. WIN SCHOLARSHIPS. GET FUNDING.
Student-Entrepreneurs: It’s time for you to crush it!
Clear your calendar – It’s going down! The Titan Fast Pitch Competition kicks off Saturday October 29th, 2016 at 1pm and you’re invited! Come compete with or watch the most innovative student-entrepreneurs vie for a spot on the winner’s podium and their share of scholarships. All finalists are chosen in real time. CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT COMPETING AND HOW TO ATTEND |
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Being successful at marketing your business online can make the difference between success or failure for your business. But, chances are, there just isn’t enough time in the day for you to fully take advantage of this medium.
That is why we are very happy to bring in Jason Khoo for office hours! Jason is the Marketing Director at Ron Wave Design and he has given a talk at the CSUF Startup Incubator titled: “An Entrepreneur’s Guide to SEO” (video here).
Bring your internet marketing questions to Jason every other Monday from 4:00pm to 7:00pmย @ CSUF Startup Incubator.
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Working on a startup? Have a question about what it takes to be an entrepreneur? Developing the next great idea and you need help figuring out how to bring it to market?
For over 24 years, Professor Jeff Longshaw,ย MBA, MSBA,ย has been aย Business management and communicationย consultant, teachingย proposal writing and composition to companies to improve their win rate.ย While he has managed and participated in over 20 large scale proposals for Westinghouse,ย Lockheed, Bath Ironworks, General Dynamics and others; he has also produced business plans for start-up companies.
Bring your startup ideas on Tuesdays fromย 3:30pm to 6:00pmย @ CSUF Startup Incubator. |
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Dave Kinnearย is one of our great mentors at the CSUF Startup Incubator who will be holding office hours toย answer your startup and strategy questions.
Dave Kinnear is a Business Advisor, Mentor and Executive Leader Coach.ย Through his affiliation with Vistage International, Dave convenes and facilitates peer advisory boards of Business Owners, Company Presidents, General Managers and Chief Executives dedicated to becoming better leaders who make better decisions and achieve better results. Dave’s upcoming office hours:
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Launching a business can be an extremely difficult thing to do, especially if you haven’t done something like it before. That’s why we are making office hours with CSUF Startup Incubator mentor and speaker Jim Cooper available.
During these office hours, entrepreneurs will have the chance to sit down with experienced startup mentor Jim Cooper for a half an hour to get help with their business. A half hour may not seem like a long time but Jim is full of ideas and advice and we’re sure that he’ll be able to help your business.
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Center for Entrepreneurship Board Member, Andrew Carroll, has graciously set aside time in his busy day to help entrepreneurs is his areas of expertise as well as providing general guidance for those looking to get their ideas off the ground.
Andrew isย a freelance CFO, CPA, consultant, and advises on: taxes, investments, insurance, business strategy, operations, mergers and acquisitions, and accounting. ย Read more about Andrew and the clients he helps atย https://cfoandrew.com
Bring your startup ideas on alternating Mondays from 1:00pm to 4:00pm @ CSUF Startup Incubator
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Get Involved with CSUF Consulting and the CSUF Startup Incubator
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“The group was tasked to conduct a complete market analysis to best determine our sales, marketing and distribution strategies for new brand and product line. My time requirements were minimal and the group researched everything necessary to complete the task. Their data resulted in a number of analytical ways to determine the most effective strategy.”
Scott M. Decker, President/CEO, Cramer Decker Medical, Inc.
To find out how we can tailor a project to fit yourย business’ needsย contact our Client Project Specialist, Charlesetta Medina at (657) 278-8243 or to request an application email entrepreneurship@fullerton.edu. |
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Whether you are a professional who gets satisfaction from being a mentor to someone who wants to work in a startup as a team member or are interested in investing in some of our thriving startups; we want to hear from you!
To join our large professional network you don’t have to be an alumni but we need your expertise and hard work to help make Northern Orange County (especially Fullerton) a strong startup community! Please take a minute to tell us about yourself so we can properly welcome you into the CSUF Startup Community.
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#CSUFEntrepreneur #CSUFStartup
For more details on CSUF Entrepreneurship: http://bit.ly/CSUFEntrepreneurship
For more details on how we help people become entrepreneurs: http://bit.ly/csufstartup
Attend one of our entrepreneur events or sign up for a free mentoring session: http://bit.ly/CSUFEntrepreneurEvents |