Building and launching a successful company is not easy. The Charlotte Venture Challenge process is aimed at exposing entrepreneurs to as many learning experiences as possible.
The process begins with a series of workshops designed to inform, educate and connect entrepreneurs.
1. Entrepreneur Education: Developing your Opportunity Assessment
- (Completed) Workshop #1 February 1st, 2012 at the Ben Craig Center from 5:30pm to 8pm
- Arrive at this workshop with your business idea and leave with an understanding of whether that idea is a business opportunity. You will be exposed to tools and resources that will help you evaluate the strengths (and weaknesses) of your business opportunity.
- Bring the information you have on your business idea—a design sketch, notes you scribbled on a napkin, market data. You will leave with a checklist of what you do know, and what you’ll need to find out before moving forward.
- (Completed)Workshop #2 February 16th, 2012 at the Ben Craig Center from 5:30pm to 8pm
- Consider key legal decisions and structures including form of organization, intellectual property, and financing.
- Assess your potential market and key competitive factors
- Begin to develop a marketing plan that targets the right segments and communicates a value proposition that will generate profitable customers.
- Bring your marketing ideas and participate in the workshop for real time feedback.
- (Completed)Workshop #3 February 22nd, 2012 at the Ben Craig Center from 5:30pm to 8pm
- Arrive early for an appointment with an attorney to discuss your questions concerning business formation legal issues.
- Refine your business model to assess your venture’s ability to serve customers and achieve financial stability.
- Examine the elements of a financial plan that you must develop to attract funding and to help manage your business.
- Explore the alternatives for funding your business: family and friends, angel investors, and, rarely, venture capital. Consider the limited role of debt in most start-up businesses. Leave with a clear sense of investor expectations and the financial information that you must provide.
- Every new business needs to be communicated to potential employees, investors, and lenders. Learn how to write a compelling executive summary and begin to develop an engaging elevator pitch.
2. Opportunity Assessment Applications
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Due February 29th, 2012 at 11:59pm
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Submit Application (Apply Here) – You do not have to attend workshops to submit applications
3. Entrepreneur Education: Developing your Pitch Presentation
- Semi-Finalists Only
- Workshop #4 March 14th, 2012 at the Ben Craig Center from 5:30pm to 8pm
- Learn the difference between verbal and written communication of your business.
- Assess what information needs to be communicated and what information can be left out of your pitch.
- Evaluate other presentations in terms of content and style and begin to understand how they are viewed and critiqued by judges.
- Come prepared with an elevator pitch and receive feedback and experience pitching to a group.
4. Semi-Finals:
- March 20th, 2012 at the NC Research Campus
- 5 Minute PowerPoint Presentation and 5 Minutes of Q&A
5. Mentoring Begins - March 26th thru April 19th
- Each Finalist Team is assigned 3 to 4 mentors based on their needs.
6. Entrepreneur Education: Finals Prep and CVC Alumni Coaching
- Finalist Only
- Workshop #5 April 4th, 2012 at the Ben Craig Center from 5:30pm to 8pm
- Congratulations! You have made it this far. Now learn what it is going to take to win the Charlotte Venture Challenge from past participants.
- Explore what to expect and be prepared for from interactions with investors, the media and people interested in coming to work for your company.
- Learn what materials and information you should have at your table during the networking portion of the finals event.
- Ensure you understand the deliverables, due dates, expectations and process of the finals.
7. Charlotte Venture Challenge Finals: April 19th 2012
- Want to attend the Grand Finale - REGISTRATION
