Date/Time	Thursdays, March 18, 25, April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, & May 6 from 12 noon to 1 p.m. EST
Duration	8 sessions 1 hour each
Cost	$440 (just $55 per session)
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	“Geri taught an excellent course in entrepreneurship at The New School. Each week's meeting felt like an informal board meeting with Geri expertly moderating discussion among the budding entrepreneurs," says Eric Schwartz, President and Chief Executive Officer at Validus Aviation. "She added wonderful insight from her years of experience and wealth of knowledge.” Don't go into the jungle without a map! Your business plan is the map you need to start or grow your business. You don’t have to agonize over every twist and turn your journey might take, but you do have to know the basic direction and what you'll need to be successful. A well-written plan guides you through the rough spots -- inevitably, there will be some -- and shows investors that you are up to the task of running a business. As an entrepreneur, you may not have the money to hire a consultant or you may want to OWN your business plan, in a way that can only come from writing it yourself. But you also can't take the risk of muddling through and hoping you get it right. You have to get it right! This Vcourse offers the right balance: minimal investment of time and money to develop an effective, useful, personal business plan that will guide growth and attract funding. It combines the ease and convenience of going online with the high-quality material and peer networking of a university level course. Business Plan Essentials is an 8-session virtual course that takes you step-by-step through a proven approach that Geri Stengel developed after working with students at The New School for the past four years and working with dot.com companies looking for financing before that. In this hands-on, interactive Vcourse, you will get step-by-step instruction in the elements of a business plan and how to present each part. Concepts will be clearly presented in a straight-forward, easy-to-understand style. And, because Geri knows that entrepreneurs learn best from other entrepreneurs, you will get to know your fellow participants and learn from each other. Participants will be able to discuss issues and ideas through a facilitated LinkedIn Discussion Group. You'll learn to: Describe your business so it shines brightly. Identify and meet the needs of the market. Demonstrate sustainable, competitive advantage. Determine who you’re trying to reach, how you will reach them, and what you will say. Address how you will keep your business up and running. Focus on why the management team will succeed. Develop credible financials. Each week, you’ll work on one part of your business plan. You will get feedback from the instructor and from your peers. Of course, to maximize your gain, you'll have to participate and do your assignments. But, if you do , by the end of the Vcourse you will have a business plan to guide your growth and, if you need it, attract investors. You will also have contributed to and learned from discussion with your peers so the planning process, as well as your business plan, is firmly in your grasp. The program is very structured. We'll meet each week via phone and the Internet to go over the week's lesson. To make sure the concepts stay with you -- and to catch you up if you miss a session -- you will receive a link to the recorded presentation and a copy of the slides used in the classes. Sure, it's an investment of time and money. But better to invest in a road map than get lost in the jungle. For more information, review the syllabus
	Who Should Attend? Entrepreneurs and small business owners who are: seeking funding from a bank or angel investor or venture capitalist starting up a company expanding their business entering a business plan competition
Instructor	Geri Stengel , President, Ventureneer A "graduate" of the corporate world, Geri is also a mentor and teacher, who is up to date on the latest and best marketing practices, including technology and social media. At Ventureneer, Geri uses Web 2.0 technology to make networking and learning affordable, convenient, and effective, and to market Ventureneer's services. Yes, she tweets, blogs, networks on LinkedIn and Facebook, and tracks the results of each. Bottom line: Geri knows teaching, she knows business, and she knows social media so she can help you bring your marketing, development or fundraising plan into the 21st century without numbing your mind with jargon or "computerese."
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