Venture Forth, Inc.
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Idea Description
Venture Forth puts knowledge and real resources at the forefront using the tried and true wisdom of those who have been where you are as an entrepreneur.
Affiliates will represent the small business community in the fields of law, insurance, accounting, management and marketing. Affiliates would facilitate discussion at Venture Forth events held throughout the community.
Affiliates of the program will have to meet specific criteria to ensure that they are ethical, knowledgable, and have excellent references and real-life success stories.
This program is for small businesses and entrepreneurs who are ready to "venture forth" and make their business work for them using local tools.
What will you do if you win $10,000 for this idea?
I will begin to develop a complete implementation strategy and seek input from those that I would ask to come on board as affiliates of the program.
Once there is buy-in and interest we will collectively begin to develop the first pilot program in our community.
A Venture Forth web site and online forum will be developed and launched.
We will market the first Venture Forth event and web forum to the business community.
Comments
Add a commentI know exactly what you mean. I've participated in many of those same programs, but there's something missing. You'd have to make sure you fill that need and really make it a different type of exerience. Thanks so much for your advice!
I agree with br1168, especially about putting yourself in an area with no other resources. On the other hand, if you are better than the rest (given your experience and ability to transfer lessons to clients), then maybe you're ready to take some of them head on. I would think this is a great place to hone your advice-giving skills.
Questions I need advice on
- Q1.
- There are programs like this offered through Small Business Development Centers, Chambers of Commerce, and other non-profit or bureaucratic agencies. However, most of those same programs are not developed or led by people who have actually successfully started their own business. Respond
I definitely like the idea as I work in economic development myself, but as you mentioned there are so many organizations doing this on some level or another. SCORE, the Small Business Development Centers, local universities, Chambers, Keystone Innovation Zones, Ben Franklin Technology Partners, eBIZitPA, Idea Foundry, business incubators and others to name a few. Even so, I think if you are located in an area where these other providers don't have a presence than I say go for it. And having the actual entrepreneurial experience is essential, but you certainly don't want to duplicate someone else's efforts.