NaperLaunch Academy offers new options for entrepreneurs to access business curriculum

To meet the needs of busy entrepreneurs, NaperLaunch Academy curriculum will soon be available in two formats: live workshops and self-guided virtual courses.

Starting Wednesday, Sept. 23, SCORE mentors and NaperLaunch staff will present NaperLaunch Academy curriculum in a series of six two-hour workshops on Zoom.

Each workshop which will be offered in an ongoing, sequential rotation and will cover topics on business conceptualization, startup financial issues, business operations, business planning, strategic marketing planning and sales.

"We've condensed what is normally a 17-week curriculum into six workshops," said Kent Palmer, business librarian and NaperLaunch facilitator. "The busy entrepreneur does not have time to commit to 17 weeks of class sessions, so they will get all the material in six weeks. They can then complete the work and activities that we suggest in the workshops on their own time schedule."

NaperLaunch Academy curriculum covers startup issues related to building a business concept and model that solves a customer's problem.

Entrepreneurs will learn the lean startup process, the importance of a Unique Value Proposition, the purpose of a written business plan and more.

"Entrepreneurs will learn how to use library online resources to compete market research, demographic studies, competitor analysis, and then how to use Gale Business: Plan Builder to actually create a written business plan and a strategic marketing plan," Palmer said.

Finally, the curriculum is capped off with a sales workshop that will focus on customer needs and how entrepreneurs can communicate the benefits of their products and services that meet those needs.

In addition, for entrepreneurs working at their own pace, the original 17 NaperLaunch Academy class sessions are available virtually on the NaperLaunch BizVids webpage.

Sessions were recorded during a previous NaperLaunch Academy cohort and are provided with links to handouts and PowerPoint presentations.

Since 2016, more than 170 local entrepreneurs have attended classes at NaperLaunch Academy to develop fundamental business knowledge and learn the "lean startup process."

The next NaperLaunch Academy Workshops will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Sept. 23 to Oct. 28.

A series of Tuesday sessions will be offered from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 20 to Nov. 24. The Wednesday sessions also will be offered Jan. 13 to Feb. 17.

Workshops will take place via Zoom videoconference until further notice.

For more information about NaperLaunch Academy, or to become a member of NaperLaunch, visit www.naperlaunch.org/knowledge/naperlaunch-academy.