Go For Launch

Go For Launch is an experience designed to spark excitement for business creation and ownership in entrepreneurs and the Lincoln community!

In this immersive, entrepreneurship workshop, participants will attend eight value-packed sessions to help them build from a new idea or expand on an already existing business. Lessons will be taught using the instructor-created IGNITE© curriculum. Participants will learn about ideation, feasibility, funding, financial know-how, marketing, advertising, target customers, legal issues, insurance, small-business accounting, customer service and business relationships. All students will receive an electronic and printed manual to use throughout the course. In each session, guest speakers will share their experiences and connect with participants. Learning will be taught through innovative learning methods including hands-on activities. Students will meet regularly one-on-one with instructors and coaches to tailor their experience to their needs. Entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to present their business idea plans and progress to professionals and investors at the end of the workshop. Each participant will leave this workshop with a clear vision for the next step in their entrepreneurial journey. Go For Launch is an inclusive learning opportunity open to small business dreamers of all ages, stages, and backgrounds. Those who sign up will have the option of registering for college-credit through Doane University or to take the workshop without credit.

Go For Launch Partners

Classes will be held weekly and begin on Tuesday, October 15th, 2024, 5:00pm - 9:00pm on the Doane Lincoln campus.

This workshop is being offered through a Doane University collaboration with Lincoln Partners for Economic Development. 

Instructor: Lisa Tschauner, Assistant Professor of Practice in Entrepreneurship at Doane University.

Cost: $500 for non-credit seeking participants. Students who wish to get college-credit will register for ENT 471/699 (a three-credit course).

Scholarships are available for professional participants experiencing financial barriers. To apply for a scholarship, please complete this online form.

Location: Room 202 in the Fred Brown Center at Doane's Lincoln Campus

Participants must be at least 18 years old.

Entrepreneurship Workshop Sessions

Tuesday, Oct 15 - Session One: From Idea to Business
Tuesday, Oct 22 - Session Two: Feasibility of Concept
Tuesday, Oct 29 - Session Three: Funding and Financials
Tuesday, Nov 5 - Session Four: Brand Image and Advertising
Tuesday, Nov 12 - Session Five: Marketing Strategies for Small Business
Tuesday, Nov 19 - Session Six: Taxes, Business Structure and Accounting
Tuesday, Nov 26 - Session Seven: Legal Issues and Protecting a Business
Tuesday, Dec 3 - Session Eight: Customer Service & Business Relationships
Tuesday, Dec 10 - Final Session: Business Showcase
 

Layout of each session

5:00 – 6:00: Lesson/Lecture
6:00 – 7:00: Guest Speaker (topic expert)
7:00 – 8:00: Class Activity
8:00 – 9:00: Networking & 1:1 meetings with instructors

Session Descriptions

Session One: From Idea to Business

In this session, students will discuss how entrepreneurship is defined, explore their own motivations toward entrepreneurship, and identify personal and professional goals for business ownership. The different types of businesses will be presented with pros/cons of each as well as the basics of business planning. Participants will be exposed to strategies and tools for growing an idea into a potential business by creating solid problem statements.

Session Two: Feasibility of Concept

Session two is where participants learn the value of user discovery for their business problem/solution. They will learn important business terms and phrases and the research approaches used when proving concept for their ideas. This session is full of resources and tools used for confidently moving forward with a business effort.

Session Three: Funding and Financials

The third class in this series is full of financial forward information. Participants become with familiar financial methods and models including the function of cashflow, start-up costs, business life cycle, valuation of time and service, return on investment, and financial proforma documents. Funding opportunities including venture capital, loans, grants will be discussed as well as financial management practices.

Session Four: Brand Image and Advertising

This session is rich with tried-and-true marketing strategy based on theory with the influx of modern methods that work for today’s consumer. Students will learn about building a solid, recognizable brand, including logo development, that leads to building effective marketing collateral. Participants will learn how to use the marketing mix theory to adjust their efforts and prepare and plan their marketing budget.

Session Five: Marketing Strategies for Small Business

Participants in this session will learn how to use traditional and unconventional marketing methods including how to leverage social media and the influencer culture. Alternative strategies will be discussed and applied along with traditional tools like SWOT analysis, niche marketing and identifying the share of the market. Online marketing and e-commerce opportunities will also be explored.

Session Six: Taxes, Business Structure and Accounting

In this session, students will learn about the different methods of accounting for their businesses including best practices for record keeping and projecting income and expenses. The various financial statements will be reviewed. Experts will be available to help participants know what tax requirements exist in their industries and how to know which business structure fits with their model.

Session Seven: Legal Issues and Protecting a Business

This session is packed full of important information for all business stakeholders. Students will learn about licensing and regulatory practices required in their business sectors and how to be sure they are using the best legal strategies. Participants will learn how to file their business with the secretary of state, how to protect intellectual property, the importance of contracts and how to protect a business with proper insurance coverage.

Session Eight: Customer Service & Business Relationships

Participants will discover how to build valuable business relationships in this session. With a focus on customer service, the students will identify key areas where they can create unique value for their patrons and learn how to deal with customer issues. The topic of community involvement and philanthropy will be discussed. Students will put together a customer service plan including how to measure satisfaction and utilize customer relationship management systems as a good business practice.

Final Session: Business Showcase

The workshop comes to a close with a celebration of each participant presenting their business idea and plan for moving forward. This culminating event brings together all stakeholders, partners, mentors, and students.

Pedagogical Description

The proven curriculum model of IGNITE© brings together practical and applicable lessons introducing basic business concepts and strategies for developing ideas into profit-producing endeavors. Students will learn these concepts through experiential practices, real-world examples and mentorship from local guest entrepreneurs and professional service providers. 

Innovate – Learn how to take an idea and discover feasible business solutions to design for consumer problems that result in profit opportunity.

Growth – Make plans to launch a new business or develop and expand an existing venture. Whether your ambition is to scale or sustain, create strategy to help achieve goals.

Network – Connect with professional service providers, industry experts, and mentors to help you build your sphere of influence and develop professional relationships leading to success.

Instruction – Get the guidance and learn business basics from qualified business coaches with entrepreneurial experience and proven curriculum to build your business know-how. 

Tools – Gain access to a variety of resources to help you navigate the journey of business ownership with ease and efficiency including relevant learning materials and strategies.

Entrepreneur – Find your own identity as a business leader with the power and confidence to build positive products, services, and solutions to bring value to customers.

For questions, please contact:

Lisa Tschauner - Workshop Instructor and Assistant Professor of Practice in Entrepreneurship
[email protected]
402-984-4260

Chris Brady – Strategic Partnerships
[email protected]
402-763-2991

Sponsor Information

If you are a business and would like to sponsor the Go For Launch Entrepreneurship Workshop, please email Chris Brady.

Register as a Participant

I am a:


Please contact your academic advisor or Lisa Tschauner for registration information. You do not need to complete this form.


Cost of attending: The workshop fee for professional participants is $500 for the eight-week program. Payment in full is due by 10/01/2024. No payment plans or deferment options will be accepted. 

Doane University accepts checks, PayPal, and credit card payments. Credit cards are subject to a 3% service charge. American Express is not accepted. Checks do not have a service charge. Refunds will not be issued under any circumstances. 

If you are in need of financial assistance and interested in a $500 professional participant scholarship, please complete this online form.

 
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