Entrepreneurship Institute

Ready, set, start your business! On February 5, 6 and again on February 20, 2010 entrepreneurs from around the region will participate in a highly interactive workshop. During the three day program students will learn about building a business plan, raising capital and running a successful company. On the final day, the students will compete in a mock business plan competition. Entrepreneurship Institute Participants from the last three years went on to win the annual Great Valley Business Plan Competition.

Sponsored by the Northeastern Pennsylvania Technology Institute and in cooperation with the Northeast Pennsylvania Association of Colleges and Universities (NEPACU), the Entrepreneurship Institute provides young people with the fundamental tools they will need to start a business, hopefully right here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. “Our young people and entrepreneurship are the keys to wealth creation and economic growth in NORTHEASTERN PA”, says Dr. John Sumansky, Misericordia University.

By the end of the Institute students will:

  1. Understand the importance of entrepreneurship to economic growth and development, especially in the Wilkes Barre-Scranton-Hazleton-Poconos region.
  2. Know of the many sources and forms of help available to entrepreneurs in the region.
  3. Recognize the characteristics of internationally famous entrepreneurs.
  4. Explore their own attitudes and characteristics related to entrepreneurship.
  5. Know and understand the basic terminology and concepts important to entrepreneurship.
  6. Demonstrate an understanding of the key elements of a business plan.
  7. Present and defend a business plan in a simulation involving local business leaders.

Students may receive academic credit for their participation in the event. Sessions are instructed by a qualified professional, Prof. Jeff Babin, Wharton School, Univ. of Pennsylvania, for approximately 12 hours. In addition, students are expected to devote many hours working with their team members using research, writing, organization, mathematics and presentation skills to produce and deliver a well thought out, coherent and convincing public presentation in a high pressure, public setting.

Colleges that wish to offer the Institute to their students for one credit but who have no instructor of record, may contact either Dr. Jeff Alves at Wilkes University or Dr. John Sumansky at College Misericordia for information on registering students in their one credit options.

All student participants will be provided with Institute learning materials, handouts and a book of readings on entrepreneurship as part of the Institute.

Participants from our region’s fifteen Institutions of Higher Education will be free of charge. Any Non-Collegiate participant will be charged $50 inclusive. Anyone interested in participating in the 8th Annual Entrepreneurship Institute should contact Robert Watts at (570) 341-8099 or rwatts@greatvalleyalliance.com.