Startup School
Startup School provides fundamental entrepreneurial education to aspiring and emerging entrepreneurs alike.
This term, students and founders can take advantage of practical education on topics curated to accelerate a startup’s growth. Join top industry experts, academic thought leaders and seasoned entrepreneurs as they lead sessions on the topics crucial to entrepreneurial success.
PS. We feed you at the end too!! FREE PIZZA FOR ALL :)
Date: September 29th, 2016
Session: Intro to the Lean Startup Method
Led by: Dave Valliere
Description: Ready, Fire, Aim is the new battle cry of startup founders. The lean startup methodology is a way to go from idea to launch: faster, better, and with a much lower fail rate.
October 6th, 2016
Session: Why Should I Choose You
Led by: Ian Chamandy and Ken Aber
Description: “Why should I choose you?” is the most important strategic question in business; its answer will guide everything your company says and does. Learn how to answer it in 7 words or less, and how to use it to make decisions.
NOTE: October 13th NO CLASS
October 20th, 2016
Session: Competitor Analysis
Led by: Phil Walsh
Description: No idea is unique. There are always others trying to solve similar problems. Learn how to analyze the efforts of others and how to position your venture as a result.
October 27th, 2016
Session: Finding Cofounders
Led by: Eric Rafat / Founder & CEO of Keyobi
Description: Entrepreneurship is a team sport. Solo founders don’t succeed. Find out who to hire, where to find them and how to build a killer team.
November 3rd, 2016
Session: First Funding
Led by: Alan Lysne
Description: You might have a great idea, but do you have capital? Alan Lysne has raised angel and venture capital, and has invested in numerous startups. He’ll teach you about the different types of capital, the pros and cons of each, and what you need to know before pitching to different groups.
November 10th, 2016
Session: Startup Law 7 Things to Avoid
Led by: Kobi Bessin
Description: Let’s talk about the pitfalls and things to avoid throughout the life cycle of your business by exploring the advantages/disadvantages of different corporate structures, aspects of shareholders agreements, employee stock options plans and startup financing.
November 17th, 2016
Session: Startup Social Media
Led by: Brent Stirling of Secret Weapon Media
Description: Do you know about the “burrito principle?” This is a crash course on SEO, website set-up, audit checklists, social media strategies and how to build one, which platforms to use, execution and measurement.
November 24th, 2016
Session: Design Thinking
Led by Dr. Steven Gedeon
Description: Design thinking is a formal method for practical, creative resolution of problems and creation of solutions, with the intent of an improved future result. Learn how to apply design thinking to your startup.
December 1st, 2016
Session: Growth Hacking from 10,000 to 100,000
Led by Matt Loszak Founder of JamCam
Description: You’ve launched and you have your first customers. How do you scale and add users at a cost lower than the revenue they generate?