Spring 2021 Start Smart Seminar for Entrepreneurs [Virtual]
The seminar runs for 4 weeks on Monday & Thursday evenings from 6:00 PM EST – 8:00 PM EST, followed by a one-hour workshop at noon the following Tuesdays & Fridays (unless otherwise noted).
Spring 2021 Start Smart Seminar for Entrepreneurs [Virtual]
The seminar runs for 4 weeks on Monday & Thursday evenings from 6:00 PM EST – 8:00 PM EST, followed by a one-hour workshop at noon the following Tuesdays & Fridays (unless otherwise noted).
Entrepreneurs must sign up for all seminar dates to reap the full benefits of the content.
Start Smart is an interactive virtual seminar for entrepreneurs who are serious about launching a startup. CEOs, successful entrepreneurs, and others who’ve seen and done it all before are invited guest speakers and an integral component of the learning experience!
The seminar is highly recommended for the concept, pre-funded, and startup stage Founder who needs to define and/or refine their company’s target market, product positioning, business model, and go-to-market strategy.
Want to Learn More?
Join us for an hour-long info session with some of the instructors to learn more and get your Q’s answered.
Info Session 2: Spring 2021 Start Smart Seminar on 10 MAY
Why Start Smart?
- Learn What it REALLY Takes. Get insights on how to prep your startup for rapid growth. Define and/or refine your company’s target market, product positioning, business model, and go-to-market strategy.
- Build a Lifetime CEO Network. The other attendees are a natural source of an in-the-trenches peer-group + we connect attendees and instructors via slack to continue the conversations beyond the seminars.
- Expert & Peer Feedback. Bring exercises you have completed to each seminar, discuss your results, and receive expert and peer feedback on how to make improvements.
- Create and/or Refine Your Pitch. Your pitch will be suitable for potential investors, clients, recruits, and partners.
Please note: that if you are an entrepreneur of color (BIPOC), there is an option to participate in this program, the Mentor Program, and the Startup Spotlight program for free; but there is a separate application process.
Digital Resources Included in Seminar Tuition Fee
- Disciplined Entrepreneurship Toolbox
- MIT EdX videos on entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurs Must Purchase the Following Books for the Seminar
- Disciplined Entrepreneurship: 24 Steps to a Successful Startup
- The Evergreen Startup: The Entrepreneur’s Playbook for Everything from Venture Capital to Equity Crowdfunding
The seminar is presented in partnership with MIT Enterprise Forum Cambridge. Questions feel free to send an email.
AGENDA
Seminar #1: May 17 – 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM PM: Who is Your Customer?
Seminar #1.1 (Optional) May 18 – 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM More on Who is Your Customer?
Seminar #2: May 20 – 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM What is Your Value Proposition & Competitive Position?
Seminar #2.1 (Optional): May 21 – 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: More on What is your Value Proposition & Competitive Position?Seminar #3: May 24 – 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Legal Issues for Startups
Seminar #4: May 27 – 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Pitching (Investors, Partners, and Customers)
Seminar #4.1 (Optional): May 28 – 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: More on Pitching
Seminar #5: June 3 – 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Determining Your Go to Market Strategy
Seminar #5.1 (Optional): June 4 – 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: More on Determining Your Go to Market Strategy
Seminar #6: June 7 – 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM: How Will Your New Venture Make Money?
Seminar #6.1 (Optional): June 8 – 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: More on How Will Your New Venture Make Money?
Seminar #7: June 10 – 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM: How do you Design & Build Your Product/Service?
Seminar #7.1 (Optional): June 11 – 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: More on How do you Design & Build Your Product/Service?
Seminar #8: June 14 – 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Raising Capital
Seminar #8.1 (Optional): June 15 – 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: More on Raising Capital
Seminar #9: June 17 – 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Practice Pitch Session
Note: All times are EST
REGISTER NOW
USE [CASE SENSITIVE] CODE: MITEFCTSSM20
For the member price ($585)!
The registration link will redirect you to
MIT Enterprise Forum Cambridge’s
event registration system.
DETAILS
Please Note: All seminar times are EST
Seminar #1: Who is Your Customer?
Attendees will learn about company purpose and mantra, selecting a beachhead market, defining an end-user profile, and estimating a total addressable market.
Seminar #1.1 (Optional): More on Who is Your Customer?
Seminar #2: What is Your Value Proposition & Competitive Position?
Attendees will learn about quantifying the value proposition of their offering to their target market and charting their competitive position.
- Speaker: Melissa Pegus, Head of Revenue, diff
Seminar #2.1 (Optional): More on What is Your Value Proposition & Competitive Position?
Seminar #3: Legal Issues for Startups
Attendees will learn what they need to know about startup legal issues in the areas of corporate law, employment, intellectual property, and financing.
- Led by: TBA
Seminar #4: Pitching (Investors, Partners, and Customers)
Attendees will actively work on their pitches; which can be used to achieve many goals; raising money, closing a sale, securing a partnership, and recruiting employees.
Seminar #4.1 (Optional): More on Pitching
Seminar #5: Determining Your Go to Market Strategy
Attendees will consider how their target market customers will acquire their product/services.
Seminar #5.1 (Optional): More on Determining Your Go to Market Strategy
Seminar #6: How Will Your New Venture Make Money?
Attendees will consider their business model and its alignment with target market buying behavior.
Seminar #6.1 (Optional): More on How Will Your New Venture Make Money
Seminar #7: How do you Design & Build Your Product/Service?
Attendees will consider all key assumptions underlying their business model / go-to-market strategy in defining a minimum viable product with which to test market acceptance/preference.
Seminar #7.1 (Optional): More on How do you Design & Build Your Product/Service?
Seminar #8:Raising Capital
Attendees will examine techniques for successfully raising capital from a variety of sources because while it’s possible to build a business without capital, but it may be much easier with it.
Seminar #8.1 (Optional): More on Raising Capital
Seminar #9: Practice Pitch Session
Attendees will have time to present their company pitch deck. Each presentation will be followed by feedback from the class and other invited guests.
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