Pathway to Business Ownership

Areas

PREPARING TO LAUNCH THE BUSINESS

GROWING THE BUSINESS

1. Business Modeling 2. Customer Development 3. Brand

STARTING THE BUSINESS

4. Product/Service Development

5. Website Development & Technology 6. Funding

7. Marketing & Sales 8. Bookkeeping, Accounting & Financials 9. Legal & Regulatory

SUSTAINING THE BUSINESS

10. Building the Team 11. Business Soft Skills 12. Operations & Strategy

Pathway to Business OwnershipOur entrepreneurs receive support from our advisors & mentors in the following areas:

BUSINESS PLANNING

I need guidance on where to start with my business idea. I need to create a basic design and plan for how my business works and

how it can make money.

-Simone, Partner at Mamacitas Cafe

CUSTOMER DEVELOPMENT

I need to better understand my customers: their problems & desires, the differences between my types of customers, how to

reach them, what they think is valuable, etc.

-Tyrone and Tiffany, Co-founders of Circle Up Education

BRANDING

I need to name my business, create a logo, design how the business looks (i.e. colors, style, designs, etc.), and figure out how

to talk about my business to other people.

-Afiba, Founder of Twisted Roots Project

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

I need to design my products to fit my customers’ needs, and figure out what materials & equipment I need for them, which manufacturer I should choose, how best to get my products

delivered, what price I should charge, etc.

-Victor, Founder of Run The World Clothing

SERVICE DEVELOPMENT

I need to design my services to fit my customers’ needs, and figure out what services I offer (and what I don’t offer…), how

much I charge, how I deliver my services, etc.

-Daisy, Founder of Resilient Wellness

WEBSITE & TECHNOLOGY

I need to design and build a website for my business, and grow my online presence. I need to create and use social media and the

right apps for my business.

-Morgan, Founder of Cakes by Morgan

MARKETING & SALES

I need to get the word out about my business and promote it. I need to get paying customers, and figure out the best ways to sell

and market my products and services.

-Yodassa, Founder of Yoda Will Styling

ACCOUNTING & FINANCIALS

I need to figure out how to manage my business’ money. I need to figure out which taxes I need to pay for my business. I need to

create a budget and financials for my business.

-Brittini, Owner of Prodigious Soles

FUNDING

I need to figure out the best ways to get funding for my business - whether it is loans, grants, investors, crowdfunding, pre-selling my products or services, or just starting my business with what I have

saved.

-Andrew, Founder of Helping

LEGAL & REGULATORY

I want to figure out the legal stuff, like licenses, permits, getting insurance, etc. I want to create the right business structure,

whether it is a sole proprietorship, LLC, cooperative, etc. I want to know what regulations I have to follow for my business.

-Acacia, Founder of Ethnic Ties

BUILDING A TEAM

I need to build a team for my business, and figure out how to handle recruiting and hiring (or getting volunteers), creating roles

for each job position, motivating people, creating incentives, training and managing employees.

-Bri, Owner of Wyred Up Bartending

OPERATIONS

I need to create business processes & systems to help me get organized. I want to be more efficient and grow the business. I

want to find new ways to manage the business, cut business costs, etc.

-Lindsay, Founder of Brown Sugar Baking

STRATEGY

I need to create a strategy for my business so that I can accomplish my goals. I need a more detailed & organized plan that describes what I do and how I grow my business. I want to

identify what the risks and opportunities are for my business over the next few years.

-Brianna, Owner of Catrina’s Popcorn

BUSINESS SOFT SKILLS

I need someone who can be there for me along the way as I build my business, someone who can make introductions, help me learn and grow my skills, avoid mistakes, push past obstacles, and get

to my goals.

-Ajmal, Founder of MyRise