Category: Entrepreneurship

Attached is my first attempt at a business plan and coursework requirements. Most of the content is made up by me, and the information may be inaccurate. I’m also not entirely sure about the integrity of the entire business plan. Please help edit and supplement where necessary. Thank you!

Your mission is to create a Business Plan for a business idea you will develop. It
can be any product or service that YOU are interested in. Obviously, creativity is
not only encouraged, but necessary. That said, your business idea must be
feasible, however some information will be fictional (ie: Website address. etc.).
Be creative! I would also suggest you browse the Small Business Administration (US Government) website
on Business Plans. (www.sba.gov).
AS ALWAYS, I will applaud and enjoy your original work. Plagiarism in any form
will result in your earning NO CREDIT for the project. As this constitutes 20% of
your grade, DO NOT RISK IT!
Your Business Plan MUST contain AT A MINIMUM the following sections.
REQUIRED PARTS OF YOUR BUSINESS PLAN:
I Cover Sheet
Include your name, your company name, email and website address and your
company logo and slogan. This should be a separate page.
II Business Summary
This will be a three or four paragraph statement that will serve as a BRIEF
introduction to your business. The key elements of this section should include:
 Your company’s mission (statement)
 The product(s) and or service(s) you sell (briefly)
 Where you will operate your business (location(s), on-line, etc.)
 Staffing needs (number of employees, their positions, etc.
III Product/Service Details
This section will describe in detail what your product or service is and how it will
meet the needs of your customers. (Drawing, photos, etc. are welcome). You will
explain the benefits of your product or service and the advantages it has over
your competition (what is your “competitive advantage”).
This section should also include a discussion on pricing – how much you will sell
your product for, as well as costs – what your product will cost to produce and
sell, and then, your anticipated profit per unit.
IV Marketing Plan
In this section you will provide detailed information to show that you have a solid
understanding of the industry within which your business will operate. It should
answer the following questions:
 Who is your target market (customer base)?
 Who is your competition?
 How will you “sell” (market) your product or service?
 How will you “advertise” your product/service to your potential customers?
 Why should your customers buy your product or service versus that of your
competitors?
 A RESEARCHED statement of the present and future growth potential for
your business and your industry (why you decided to enter this particular
business)
V The Financial Plan
This section is key to attract investors and satisfy lenders because it shows that
your company is built on thoughtful planning. There will be considerable fiction in
this section, albeit I will be looking for REASONABLE numbers. For example, rent
on a storefront in Nassau County will not be $1,000,000 a month, nor will it be
$200 a month. DO SOME RESEARCH!
At a minimum, you need to answer the following questions:
 How much money will you need to start your business?
 What will you do with these funds? (This requires a schedule of numbers).
 How do you intend to raise your start-up capital? From what sources?
The foregoing is also called your “Sources and Uses” statement.
This section should also include at least the three financial statements as
indicated below. I would refer to your textbook – Chapters 12 through 15 for
guidance.
Profit and Loss Projection (Income Statement): This statement answers
the questions
 How much will I sell in my first year of operations?
 What will my costs be?
 Will I have a profit or a loss?
Projected Balance Sheet: This should be done for DAY 1 of Operations
and PROJECTED for the end of your first year of operations. This
statement estimates the resources your business will need, and how they
will be financed.
Breakeven Analysis: This shows when your business will be able to cover
all of its expenses and begin making a profit based on your costs and the
numbers of units “sold”.
VI Appendicies
This is a “catch-all” section. You can include anything to “flesh-out” your plan.
This can include advertising copy, product information, store layouts, etc.

Students will do The Chase: an exercise to find interesting entrepreneurial initiatives around the world. You are expected to:
Identify a new and interesting entrepreneurial initiative that comes from the domain or field of expertise of your bachelor degree (business)
This entrepreneurial initiative could be a new venture, an internal project in an existing company, a new project in the public sector, an NGO, a foundation, etc… but it must be less than 4 years old.
Write and submit (before session 27) a report (maximum 2 pages).
The main objective of the report is that you reflect on specific situations of the story of that initiative (e.g., how they explored the problem, created the idea, created the team, validated the solution, defined the business model, executed the go-to-market strategy, raised funds…) and connect them with concrete and relevant concepts and situations seen during the course. These concepts could have appeared in cases, workshops, readings, simulations, slides, something discussed in class, coaching, deliverables…). This assignment aims to encourage reflection about how the concepts covered during the course and creativity, therefore the structure is completely open and you can comment on what you consider most relevant. 
Any type of initiative, including both successful and unsuccessful ones, can be a source of interesting insights and can be the subject of this “Chase”.
Students are encouraged (not required) to use the first 10 minutes of each session to comment on “The Chase”. In this way, the individual discoveries will be shared in the class and can serve to improve the participation grade. The sooner you start thinking about and working on your Chase, the more likely you are to share your findings with the class. You can do so from Session 3 onward.
This exercise is a brief report: focus on quality, not quantity; demonstrate knowledge as well as critical and original thinking about the course topics. If applicable, students are welcome to use personal experience for this exercise.
The Chase is a brief report, with no pre-defined structure by design – ie, the focus and style is your decision. As per the syllabus, “focus on quality, not quantity; demonstrate knowledge as well as critical and original thinking about the course topics. If applicable, students are welcome to use personal experience for this exercise”.
Points you should be paying attention to:
Incorporating concepts from the course – in 2 pages, you will only be able to use some. Mention/incorporate the concepts as relevant, based on the company’s reality and your chosen approach.
Analysis – you do not just throw facts or copy information, you also analyze it and evaluate it when needed.
Presentation and writing quality – as in any report, you should be clear and engaging.
If you are using external sources (includig Chat GPT or similar) please remember to mention it in some format (footnotes, bibliography etc.) – if you are using many you can use an additional page to reflect those. Interviewing the entrepreneurs or someone related to the company is a very valuable resource to – should you have the chance; remember to mention it if you do it.

This 2-page exploratory project where you will seek out and analyze a new and compelling entrepreneurial initiative (can be in large organizations, NGOs, and even government) from around the globe
To begin the exploratory project, select a new and innovative entrepreneurial initiative within the realm of business that aligns with your bachelor’s degree. Ensure the initiative is relatively recent, not exceeding 5/6 years, and gather comprehensive information from credible sources such as interviews, podcasts, or recorded sessions with founders. Focus on understanding key aspects of the initiative’s development, including the formation of the team, the development of the value proposition, iteration of products or services, and business growth. Reflect on specific situations within the initiative’s story and connect them with relevant concepts covered during the course, emphasizing how course material intersects with the initiative’s strategies. Structure your report to include sections on the initiative’s originality, impact, practicality, and connection to course concepts, ensuring clear and concise writing throughout the analysis. Finally, consider evaluation criteria, emphasizing the initiative’s uniqueness, potential impact, and the viability of its business or impact model to meet grading criteria.
THE MAIN SOURCES SHOULD BE THE PDF’S ATTACHED TO THE ASSIGNMENT
Some Guiding questions: 
Entrepreneurial Mindset 
* How does the entrepreneurial mindset affect decision-making in the chosen company? What examples from the company’s journey reflect this mindset? 
* What role does innovation play in their strategy and culture? 
Team Building and Collaboration 
* How did the company build its team? What principles of collaboration did they follow? 
* Were there any notable team dynamics or leadership styles that contributed to their success?  
Value Proposition and Business Model 
* What is the company’s unique value proposition? How did they validate it with their customers? 
* Which business model elements were crucial to their growth and success? 
Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainability 
* Does the company have a broader mission or social impact goal? If so, how does this influence its business model? 
* What sustainability initiatives does the company implement, and how do they align with its business objectives?
Market Analysis and Go-to-Market Strategy 
* How did the company identify its target market? What customer insights guided their strategy? 
* What were the company’s go-to-market strategies, and how did they adapt over time? 
Product Development and Innovation 
* How did the company iterate on its products or services? What processes or methodologies (like Design Thinking) did they use? 
* Can you identify examples of customer feedback driving product changes?

SMEs constitute a significant portion of GDP and employment in developing countries. Research on this topic could provide valuable insights into how to support SMEs to successfully enter the era of Industry 4.0. Developing countries face unique challenges in adopting Industry 4.0, including a lack of infrastructure, financial resources, and expertise. However, there are also significant opportunities for SMEs in these countries, such as access to new markets and increased efficiency. 
The aim is to conduct a review of the advantages, challenges, opportunities, and drawbacks of the impact of Industry 4.0 on the challenges and opportunities for small and medium enterprises in developing countries. 
The paper should provide guidelines and recommendations to the governments of developing countries on how to support SMEs to successfully enter the era of Industry 4.0. I will focus on the specificities of developing countries and their role in facilitating the transition to Industry 4.0.
Hypotheses are:
1. Insufficient financial resources represent a key challenge for SMEs to successfully enter Industry 4.0.
2- Lack of expertise poses a limiting factor for SMEs to swiftly transition into Industry 4.0.
The research can unveil deficiencies in existing policies and identify new options for Industry 4.0 for SMEs. It can provide practical information to SMEs in developing countries on how to adapt to challenges and capitalize on the opportunities presented by Industry 4.0.

The a-s-s-e-s-s-m-e-n-t will
Individual business venture analysis
Please see the questions shown in the screenshot. I will send you all the info after being hired, eg PPTs, student access etc. Please send a draft in 12hrs -1 day time, day 2, and day 3 as well. + Will need to draft some questions to ask the teacher and revise base on feedback (Send bk ard in 1 day max)

Please revise the Customer Segments section of the “Competitive Analysis” document to focus now on using AR to try on products (instead of using it for BOTH 1) to try on products and 2) to locate items online or in a physical store.
This starts on Customer Needs (page 20) through Optimal Time and Place (page 23)

The goal of this assignment is for you to consider some of what you have learned over
the past weeks. The paper is a personal essay and does not require outside research,
although if you do refer to specific materials, you should cite them accordingly. Your
paper should NOT exceed the university protocol for <20% match on TURNITIN (see syllabus for more info on this protocol and standard). The paper should be at least 4 pages and no more than 7 pages in length, written in standard 12 point font and double- spaced. You should write it in the first person (using the pronoun “I”). First and most importantly, do not repeat what is in the textbook. This is your opportunity to show me what you have learned outside of a testing type situation. Please take special note to show what you learned from the videos, lectures and outside of the textbook. I am NOT interested in a reflection of textbook learning since that is what the exams assess! You do not need to summarize the film. Identify examples of things like labor issues, transportation, management decisions, etc.. It is perfectly acceptable to say things like, “I never knew that ....,” “I knew cars were made around the world, but I was surprised by ....” Also think about factors which affect these businesses – competitors, customers, governments, technology, etc. Use examples and display what you have learned in your own words. If you have questions about anything or discover something you would like to know more about, include it in your paper. The key part of this assignment is demonstrating that you can connect material to the elements of Global Business. Good writing style is a must. I am very interested to see you display good format, layout and writing semantics. Use proper intro, body and conclusion layout. Indent paragraphs, etc.