Workshop Recap: Biz Camp
During the past six weeks or so it has been workshop season at theCO, where classes and tutorials on interests ranging from typography to social media strategy have been available to both members and the public. A majority of the workshops offered have experienced much success in the past and warranted returns, but there were also new classes introduced that saw a number of participants join in on. One of these workshops was Biz Camp, a workshop crafted specifically for budding entrepreneurs in elementary and middle school age groups that set out to outline the basic trajectory of any startup business so that participants would feel more encouraged to actualize their own business ideas.
Children were first given an overview of the small-business lifecycle, where steps from conceptualizing an initial idea, formulating a basic business plan, and preparing an execution plan in the form of a pitch for potential investors were covered. After the fundamentals were understood, each participant began the creative process of trying out new ideas for products and services could provide themselves until one was decided upon.
After several classes were completed over the course of two weeks, the workshop concluded with a simulated “pitch night” where each participant organized their ideas into a formal, two-to-three minute presentation for friends, family, and co:members to listen and respond to with questions. Business proposals included everything from apparel companies to weed-pulling services.
David Roberts, the workshop’s instructor and member of theCO, applauded each of the children’s ability to not only concepts involving overhead expenses and profit margins, but also the way they were able to form their own viable business ideas and implement the principles learned so that a well-rounded and through-through business plan was formed. While each child varied in their interest to move forward with their idea, all exited the workshop with a newly acquired skill-set and the gained experience to take any future entrepreneurial gleanings to the next level.
Written by Joseph Smith.