Demystifying Entrepreneurship Workshop in Olathe on April 28-29
NEW BUSINESS RESOURCES AIM TO REDUCE BARRIERS TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE REGION
Montrose, Colorado (March 27, 2023) – Local entrepreneurs will get a big infusion of resources this April with the opening of The Business Cultivator, a new business incubator in Olathe, and availability of world-class entrepreneurship training programs. On April 28 and 29, the Demystifying Entrepreneurship workshop will be held at the newly remodeled center located at 300 Hap Court. The 1.5-day program will be run by the West Central Small Business Development Center (SBDC), hosted by Region 10. The engaging and energetic workshop is taught by instructors from the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business, who are not only award-winning teachers but successful entrepreneurs themselves.
The Friday evening kickoff features a dynamic panel discussion, spotlighting local business owners. On Saturday, the workshop will explore what it means to be an entrepreneur, product differentiation, competitive advantage, and funding. The cost is $50 and includes refreshments and meals prepared by local food entrepreneurs. The program will be held at The Business Cultivator, the new Olathe incubator. To register, https://clients.coloradosbdc.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=160430007
Demystifying Entrepreneurship will focus on building, growing, and sustaining small businesses on the western slope. It is designed to help entrepreneurs navigate the startup process and to assist existing businesses pursue growth possibilities. The program has been offered in many other rural parts of Colorado including Trinidad, the Yampa Valley, Sterling, Vail, and Telluride with rave reviews from participants.
“Our workshops target the areas that traditionally have fewer programs in place to support the education of current and potential business owners. The goal is for each Colorado community to see an increase of people starting and growing their ventures, leading to job creation, and a higher quality of life throughout Colorado,” says Erick Mueller, who teaches the program and serves as an adjunct professor and executive director of the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship at the CU Boulder Leeds School of Business. He also has started several businesses, including Real Measure and EyeThink Corp.
“We are thrilled to bring CU’s expertise to Montrose and Delta to elevate entrepreneurship, innovation, and help drive economic vitality and quality of life,” Mueller says.
“The highlight of this workshop is that it breaks down entrepreneurship into tangible steps,” says Chelsea McGuire of Steamboat Springs, who founded The Whole Self, LLC. “You will walk away with the tools and confidence to know where to start.”
“The workshop provided practical tools that I can use right away to develop my business,” says James Fogerty, who attended the workshop in Trinidad and has developed a unique waffle recipe. As the owner of Trinidad Waffle Company, he set out to create masterpiece waffles that are sweet and savory—healthy, homemade, wholesome waffle-fusion fast food. “In addition, I connected with amazing community members that I can contact for support.”
To learn more about Demystifying Entrepreneurship, watch the video! https://vimeo.com/805600633
“Rural communities are entrepreneurial by nature. They have to be!” says Nancy Murphy, Region 10’s business development director. “The Business Cultivator brings the opportunity to support rural entrepreneurs with essential startup trainings—specifically with Demystifying Entrepreneurship and Kauffman Foundation’s FastTrac. These programs provide strong, foundational business training that help pave the road to success,” says Murphy, who also serves as the West Central SBDC director, a part of the Colorado SBDC network. “Because being really good at what you do is only part of what makes a successful business.”
The Leeds team will return to the region for additional Demystifying Entrepreneurship workshops every year for the next four years. Years 1 and 2 explore the initial stages of a company and how to avoid common pitfalls. Years 3 and 4 explore the transition “From Startup to Scaleup,” covering topics such as growth strategies, managing growth, marketing, and funding. The final year, Year 5, the program transitions to “Shore Up” and explores people, numbers, technology, pitches, and additional topics in marketing.
The Business Resource Center and this programming is made possible by Region 10, which hosts the SBDC, BLF, and The Business Cultivator. Over the next few years, the organization will work to build a regional ecosystem that supports entrepreneurship. This will connect entrepreneurs and small business owners, entrepreneurial service organizations, financial funders, and education providers in creating a shared culture to enable new business growth.
A strong partnership formed around the entrepreneurial ecosystem project. It includes the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA-Rural Development), Montrose County, Town of Olathe, Montrose County Housing Authority, Gates Family Foundation, Colorado Department of Local Affairs’ Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI), and the Colorado Small Business Development Center (SBDC).
About Region 10 & West Central SBDC
Since 1972, Region 10 League for Economic Assistance and Planning (LEAP) has leveraged resources to help build strong communities. This happens through providing senior services, small business services, and regional development support to a six-county area that includes Delta, Montrose, Hinsdale, Gunnison, Ouray, and San Miguel counties. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, Region 10 is supported by local and county governments, and its programs are supported by state and federal programs and funding sources.
West Central SBDC provides no-cost consulting and low-cost training on a wide range of business functional areas and serves Montrose, Delta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Ouray, and San Miguel counties. The Business Loan Fund (BLF) works closely with West Central SBDC to provide access to capital. For more information, visit Business Resources – Region 10.
###
Media Contact:
Ann Bradford, Program Manager for The Business Cultivator, 970-765-3132, abradford@region10.net