This 10-session workshop will focus on what investors look for in startups. Participating entrepreneurs will tune their business plans, develop market strategies, refine their pitches, and learn how to frame their enterprise as a compelling investment opportunity.
The workshop will meet twice a month for 2-hour sessions. Sessions will be led by Jeffrey Thomas, a veteran entrepreneur/investor who founded the Lever incubator in nearby North Adams, Massachusetts. Jeffrey has taught several entrepreneurship courses at Williams College, including social entrepreneurship and tech entrepreneurship. He helped design Business Plan competitions at Williams and at MCLA, through which more than $100,000 of funding has been granted to first-time entrepreneurs.
The workshop series will feature guest presentations by expert investors. Participants will also have access to expert mentors who will be available help entrepreneurs refine their business plans, revenue models, market strategy, and so on. Project work and homework will be required. There will be several opportunities for participants to practice investor pitches. Participants will be encouraged to apply for the Fresh Tracks RoadPitch Competition to be held in early August.
Topics
- The Business Plan
- Choosing the Right Corporate Structure
- Product-Market Fit
- Go-To-Market Strategies
- Pitching to Investors
- What investors Look For
- Debt Funding with Commercial Lenders
- Debt Funding with Private Lenders
- Equity Crowdfunding
- Equity Funding with Private Investors
- Equity Funding with Venture Capital
Tentative Workshop Dates
All workshops are on Thursdays from 4-6pm at The Lightning Jar in Bennington.
Workshop dates are Thursdays March 16th, March 30th, April 13th, April 27th, May 11th, May 25th, June 8th, June 22nd, July 6th and July 20th.
Cost: Free to students and members of The Lightning Jar or Lever. $300 for non-members. Scholarships are available.
For more information, fill out our contact form here.
Sponsored by Lever and The Lightning Jar