American Public University to Hold Workshops in Charles Town

From May 13-June 3, 2015, American Public University in Charles Town, WV will hold Eptic-Dynamic Entrepreneurship. This workshop will focus on value proposition, business model canvas and lean startups and will be hosted by Eptic Eastern Panhandle Technology Innovation Center. Workshops will be held Wednesday nights from 6:30-9 p.m.

Workshop Information

The workshop is designed to give participants an overview of the tools and processes used to design, develop and launch dynamic entrepreneurial ventures. It differs from traditional startup workshops in that the goal is not to develop a set business plan and apply for funding at banks or other lenders, but rather it is a customer based approach that utilizes the dynamic process of iterative thinking and action to provide valuable and sustainable solutions to customer problems and opportunities. The key outcome of the workshop is a viable business model that is dynamic and adaptable as ongoing contact with customers leads to new learning and continuous model development. The 4 session workshop outline is shown below.

Session 1-BMC BLOCK 1-THE VALUE PROPOSITION

5/13/15 Target Area –Value Proposition and Market Segment

LSU-Minimum Viable Product

Session 2-BMC BLOCK 2-BUILDING THE ORGANIZATION

5/20/15 Target Areas-Activities, Partners, Resources

LSU-Build-Measure-Learn

Session 3-BMC BLOCK 3-CREATING THE CUSTOMER

5/27/15 Target Areas-Customer Relationships, Channels, Segments

LSU-Validated Learning, Pivot or Persevere

Session 4-BMC BLOCK 4-FINANCIAL ITEMS, COSTS AND REVENUE

6/3/15 Target Areas-Capital and Operating Costs, Revenue Streams

LSU-Scaling

WORKSHOP FEE AND APPLICATION PROCEDURE

The fee for registration is $35. $20 for Veterans. Prospective registrants should contact Joe Rice at EPTIC for further information and application to register.

Contact information for Joe Rice: Tel (443-739-7605) email: JRice@apus.edu

WORKSHOP DEVELOPER AND LEADER

The course was developed and will be led by Richard Walton, Adjunct Professor of Management at Frostburg State University in Maryland as well as at New School University in NYC.

CONTENT AND DELIVERY METHOD

Content will be provided over a four week period in which participants will be introduced to the theory and practice of entrepreneurial dynamics in which products and services are created and developed using customer feedback to guide all phases of organizational structure and process design to maximize sustainable value to the client while operating at a profit. Participants will gain valuable experience in the utilization of the tools and processes of dynamic entrepreneurship.

Each Wednesday evening as per the workshop schedule, we will meet in class from 6:30-9:00 PM to review and discuss selected articles on the session topic (see workshop schedule below) as well as review topic related videos. In addition, guest speakers will periodically address the class on issues related to entrepreneurship.

Class meetings will be held in the conference room on the first floor of 216 South George Street, on the APUS campus in Charles Town, West Virginia.

OBJECTIVES

Workshop Objectives are as follows:

Note the following abbreviations: BMC-Business Model Canvas

LSU-Lean Startup

VP-Value Proposition

Participants will understand the principles of The Value Proposition Design, the Business Model Canvas, and The Lean Startup and be able to apply these principles in the design of a business model for anew entrepreneurial business or social venture.
Participants will utilize the BMC, the VP and the LSU concepts to be able to design The Value Proposition and then develop a VP targeted to a selected Customer Segment of a defined market.
Participants will be able to utilize the BMC and the LSU to design and then develop an Organization Structure and Process plan for their new business venture..
Participants will be able to utilize the BMC and the LSU to design and then develop a Marketing Plan for creating valuable products and or services that meet customer needs on a sustainable and profitable basis..
Participants will be able to utilize the BMC to design and then develop a financial plan (projection) both for initial startup and then operating costs and determine ultimate profitability.

CONTACT DETAIL

Instructor (Richard Walton) may be contacted by email at rwalton432@gmail.com, or in person during weekly class meetings.

Questions pertaining to university policies should be directed to (Joseph Rice) jrice@apus.edu

ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION POLICY

Participants are expected to attend weekly workshop onsite sessions, as well as participate in the discussions which will cover both written articles and video presentations. There are also Business Model assignments which should be prepared during the week and be available for presentation and comment during class. This is not a lecture class. It is a combined discussion and action class in which participants play a key role in both understanding the process of dynamic entrepreneurship and utilizing it in the creation of a business model for the new venture.

UNIVERSITY POLICIES

No smoking is permitted within the building.

WEEKLY WORKSHOP SCHEDULE

SESSIONS 1-4

Week	Topics	Resources	Discussions	Activities and Assignments
1, May 13 2015	Introduction, Workshop Outline and objectives Introduction to Business Model Canvas-Block 1 THE VALUE PROPOSITION-CUSTOMTER SEGMENT	Articles and videos pertaining to Value Proposition Design and Utilization. Lean Startup: MVP (minimum viable product)	The Importance of the Value Proposition and customer segment	Formulate Your Business Idea, Design your Value Proposition
2, May 20, 2015	Business Model Canvas-Block 2 BUILDING THE ORGANIZATION	Articles and videos pertaining to Activities, Partners, and Resources Lean Startup: BML (build-measure-learn)	How to build a dynamic entrepreneurial organizational structure using the BMC target areas	Design Your Organization
3, May 27, 2015	Business Model Canvas, Block 3 MARKETING AND CUSTOMER CARE	Articles and videos pertaining to Customer Segments, Channels, Customer Relationships. Lean Startup: VL (validated learning, pivot or persevere)	How to build a dynamic Marketing organization using BMC target areas	Design Your Marketing Plan
4, June 3, 2015	Business Model Canvas, Block 4 CAPITAL AND OPERATING COSTS AND REVENUE STREAMS	Articles and videos pertaining to startup capital and operating costs Lean Startup: Scaling	How to build a profitable business while simultaneous controlling costs and exploiting revenue opportunities	Design Your Financial Plan

WORKSHOP PROCESSES

The workshop participants meet as a group each Wednesday evening from 6:30-9:00 PM. Location of classroom is 216 South George Street, Charles Town West Virginia..

Participants will be provided with a handout that will cover all planned activities for the session. In the first hour of class time we will have a brief review of the preceding week’s class and an introduction to the material and activities to be discussed and/or worked on in the current week. Prior to or in conjunction with classroom discussion there may either be a video presentation or a guest speaker. The discussion materials for each week will be found on the Weekly Workshop Schedule.

There will be a short break at 8PM for refreshments.

We will then re convene for the Activities Section of the workshop. In this period participants are expected to work on their idea/project as indicated on the workshop out line. Instructional staff will be available during this period of answer questions and provide guidance as needed.

At 9:00 PM, instructor will cover the plans for the coming week, including readings, as well as project follow-ups. Workshop will then adjourn.

SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE WORKSHOP

BUSINESS MODEL PRESENTATION AND CRITIQUE

At the final session of the workshop, participants will present their completed business models before the class in order to receive constructive comment and feedback. Business Models always improve with further information and thought.

WORKSHOP FOLLOWUP, COUNSELING AND EPTIC MEMBERSHIP

Workshop participants will automatically qualify for reduced rates for membership in EPTIC while developing their model and plan. Services such as email and onsite counseling will be provided as well as co working space and access to other business and office services. Desk space availability will be limited. Email newsletter will be available covering topics of entrepreneurial interest.

ACCESS TO EPTIC RESOURCE CENTER

The EPTIC Resource Center (ERC) will have available for reference and/or purchase of the following books for further learning about dynamic entrepreneurship

Value Proposition, by Alexander Osterwalder

Business Model Generation, by Alexander Osterwalder

The Lean Startup, by Eric Ries