What is the startGBC Entrepreneur Bootcamp?
Are you considering entrepreneurship as an alternative career path? Or are you already an early-stage budding entrepreneur? Would you like some guidance on topics that will have an impact on the successful scaling of your business idea?
Enroll in the startGBC Entrepreneur Bootcamp to discover tools that can help support the growth of your skills to achieve an understanding of all the fundamental aspects required for a profitable business.
Fall Cohort Starts (next cohort): Tuesday 10 September 2024
Winter Cohort Starts: Tuesday 14 January 2025
Register now
This 6-week, 12-session Bootcamp meets Tuesday and Thursday between 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Sessions will take place in person at 200 King St East.
The next cohort will begin on Tuesday, September 10, 2024.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this program, you should be able to:
- Understand what an enterprise/social enterprise/social innovation is and the resources available for start-ups within the GTA
- Identify financial, marketing, legal, human resource, operations, and general management skills necessary to launch and operate an enterprise
- Develop entrepreneurial management and growth techniques through strategic plans and product validation research to prepare for product launch
- Gain knowledge of educational resources to support entrepreneurial growth
- Understand the key challenges facing an entrepreneur at different stages in the growth cycle
- Understand different tools/models that can be used to minimize risk at different stages of the entrepreneurial journey
- Identify possible funding sources/streams/structures that could be applied to your business
Week-by-Week Agenda
Session 1: Program Overview, Mission & Key Business Pillars
Agenda:
- Review Business Pillars
- Vision & Mission Statement
- Value Proposition
- Ideation
Session 2: Research, Value Proposition & SWOT Analysis
Agenda
- Value Proposition Canvas
- Research Skills and Resources
- S.W.O.T.
- External Resources
Session 3: Design Thinking & Market Sizing
Agenda:
- Design Thinking
- Product/Customer Validation
- Empathy Map
- Marketing Sizing
- Segmentation
Session 4: Business Market Canvas & Business Plan
Agenda:
- Business Model Canvas/Social Canvas
- Business Plan Tools
Session 5: Legal Fundamentals
Agenda:
- Legal Structures and Governance
- Intellectual Property
- DealPrep Contracts Tool
Session 6: Finance & Fundraising
Agenda:
- Funding/Grant Writing
- Legal Requirements/Book-keeping
Session 7: Marketing & Communications
Agenda:
- Marketing/Communications
Session 8: Sales & Marketing
Agenda:
- Sales Skills
- Marketing
- Privacy Policy
Session 9: Costing/Pricing & Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
Agenda:
- Costing & Pricing
- Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
Session 10: Managing Teams & Technology
Agenda:
- People Resources: Key People and Team Employment
- Technology Resources
Session 11: Pitching Skills
Agenda:
- Pitching Skills
Session 12: Pitch Practice & Reflection
Agenda:
- Final Pitch
- Reflections & Next Steps
