Launch Denver is a 10-week Business Startup workshop that is free for faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members. The program is held twice yearly and is intended to be an outreach effort to engage participants throughout the university and greater Denver community. The goals of Launch Denver include helping participants write a business plan, create a pitch deck, create an MVP (minimum viable product) to show stakeholders and pitch their idea to potential stakeholders/investors/judges. Since its beginning Fall 2019, we have had 175 participants. The program is taught by a variety of professors, alumni and community partners, including The World Trade Center Denver.
Potential Goals of Launch Denver:
- Learn the fundamentals of business from subject matter experts
- Write or strengthen your business plan
- Create a pitch deck to share with stakeholders
- Create an MVP (minimum viable product) to generate feedback
- Pitch your idea to potential stakeholders/investors/judges
- Network with other entrepreneurs
- Gain access to resources and financial support through the micro loan program
Accessing the Launch Denver Applications: http://bit.ly/3VdknJZ
TENTATIVE SPRING 2023 SCHEDULE
1: FEB 15—Orientation, Business Planning, International Market Strategy with the World Trade Center Denver Guest Speaker (in person room 130 and Zoom)
2: FEB 22—Fundamentals of Starting a Business, SWOT, Market & Competitive Research, Goal Setting, Vision & Mission (Zoom)
3: MAR 1—Branding Strategy & Digital Transformation with Kayla Klein of Creative Alchemy (Zoom).
4: MAR 8—Business Structure (Adam), Strategic Marketing Plan, Website & SEO (Zoom)
5: MAR 15—Organizational plan, Funding Your Business, Financial Forecasting, Key costs & streams of revenue (Zoom)
Spring Break
6: MAR 29—Financial Feasibility Adjustments (in-person room AD130 and Zoom)
7: APR 5—Legal Concerns with Eric, Insurance, Taxes, Accounting with Genisi (Zoom)
8: APR 12—Promotion & Social Media Strategy with Sally, Pitch Presentation Preparation (Zoom)
9: APR 19—Special topics: MSU Microloan Program, MVP & customer discovery process (Zoom)
10: APR 26—Pitch Presentations and Graduation (in-person room AD130 and Zoom)
