Entrepreneurship Seminar
Or
“Should I Start a Business?”

During the difficult employment times of 2002 and 2003, NOVA/CONNECT! (http://www.novawesorks.org/about_nova/) contacted Silicon Valley SCORE in July, 2003, with a request for us to do a seminar about what it takes to be successful in starting a business.  NOVA is a nonprofit, federally-funded employment and training agency that provides customer-focused workforce development services. Located in Sunnyvale near the library, they work closely with local businesses, educators and job seekers to provide opportunities that build the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to address the workforce needs of Silicon Valley.

This seminar was to be an introduction on business to provide an alternative for out-of- work persons.   During the first three years, 35 seminars were conducted with at total of nearly 750 attendees.  Many of these then attended workshops at SVSCORE and took advantage of our counseling services.  Because of this success, 4 seminars were conducted at the E-center during 2006.  For 2007, the number of seminars has been extended to 10 http://www.svscore.org/workshopsSeminars/entrepreneur.htm.  Mike Gilbert is now chair for the seminar.

These seminars are conducted by a team that includes: Jill Breckenridge, Allan Campbell, John Edwards, Mike Gilbert, Marty Schwartz, Nicole Barde and Carol Harrington (the latter two now on leave).  The present topics for the seminar are:

• Today’s business climate and the role of Small Business

• Personal Characteristics & Capabilities for success

• Requirements to succeed

• Steps to getting started

• Overview of the Business Plan

• Elements of a Financial Plan

• Advice and help from SCORE

Feedback from the clients indicated that a discussion on ways to choose a business was needed and this has been added.  This helps persons who might want to start a business, but need help in getting started at looking for a viable alternative to regular employment. As the seminar developed, an emphasis on cash flow projection was also added. Feedback also indicates that the course is an excellent prerequisite to the standard all day seminars of either “Small Business Workshop for Startups & Existing Businesses ” or “Successful Consulting”.  With that in mind, an evaluation will be done during 2007 for the purpose of developing a certificate granted by SVSCORE in Small Business Management.  This will be one of the key courses for anyone not yet in business.