Great Valley Techology Alliance

Entrepreneurship Institute 2008

Sponsored By:

Ready, set, start your business!! On February 1, 2 and again on February 16, 2008, college students 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 each year 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:

Understand the importance of entrepreneurship to economic growth and development, especially in the Wilkes Barre-Scranton-Hazleton-Poconos region.
Know of the many sources and forms of help available to entrepreneurs in the region.
Recognize the characteristics of internationally famous entrepreneurs.
Explore their own attitudes and characteristics related to entrepreneurship.
Know and understand the basic terminology and concepts important to entrepreneurship.
Demonstrate an understanding of the key elements of a business plan.
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 Misericordia University 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 must be college students from our region’s thirteen Institutions of Higher Education. Anyone interested in participating in the 6th Annual Entrepreneurship Institute should contact Ken Okrepkie at (570) 408-9810 or kokrepkie@greatvalleyalliance.com.

Agenda:

DAY 1 - Friday, February 1, 2008
Location: Wilkes University, Henry Student Center Auditorium

Time: 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Sessions:

Refreshments and introductions
Welcome
Importance of Entrepreneurship in Region
Who Can Be An Entrepreneur?
Mr. Jeffrey Babin, Wharton Entrepreneurship Program
Entrepreneurs and Their Characteristics
Creativity and Opportunity Recognition
"Where do good ideas come from?"
Mr. Jeffrey Babin, Wharton, Entrepreneurship Program

DAY 2 - Saturday, February 2, 2008
Location: Wilkes University, Henry Student Center Auditorium

Time: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Sessions:

Assessing Entrepreneurial Opportunities: Marketing and Economics
Mr. Jeffrey Babin, Wharton Entrepreneurship Program
Student teamwork on Marketing and Economic Feasibility
Mr. Jeffrey Babin, Wharton Entrepreneurship Program
Creating and Presenting Business Plans
Mr. Jeffrey Babin, Wharton Entrepreneurship Program
Instructions to student-teams on business plan assignment

Two weeks for student teams to work on team business plans

DAY 3 - Saturday, February 16, 2008
Location: University of Scranton, 5th Floor Brennan Hall Conference Room

Time: 9:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Student teams re-assemble to present and defend their Plans before a distinguished panel of local business and finance leaders.
Winners are announced after lunch (1:00 - 1:30 p.m.)