2017 BLAST PROGRAM COHORT OVERVIEW PERFECT YOUR PITCH

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Aug 3, 2017 - Direct Mailing. • Non Traditional Marketing – Social Media (IG,. Twitter, FB, Linkedin, Pinterest, You
2017 BLAST PROGRAM COHORT OVERVIEW PERFECT YOUR PITCH Thursday, June 15, 2017 – Thursday, August 31, 2017 6pm to 8pm

Syllabus PURPOSE OF THE BLAST PROGRAM The Hill Community Development Corporation’s Business Leadership Academy for Social Transformation (BLAST) Program is a 12 week program designed to develop the capacity and leadership capabilities of entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners. This year’s cohort will focus on the importance of having a strong elevator pitch to effectively communicate a vision that will attract stakeholders and investors to advance the growth of the business. Program Outcomes are designed to:  Develop the business leadership skills needed to operate an ethical business driven by social awareness to address the need for change in our communities.  Create compelling pitching narratives to attract investment from lenders, crowdfunders, and change-makers to support businesses that have the potential to create transformative opportunities in the Hill.  Provide entrepreneurs with the technical support, mentorship, and space necessary to operate legally structured businesses with revenue generating marketing strategies to build and maintain a vibrant customer base. Program Facilitator: Vernard Alexander, Owner of the Minority Networking Exchange Course Location: Hill CDC 2015-2017, Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 Other site locations to be announced. Office Hours: One-on-one consultation office hours to be announced when class starts. Attendance Requirement: The BLAST Program is a 12-week course. Full attendance of every class is highly recommended in order to gain the total benefit and achieve overall success of the course. However, administrators of the program understand that within a three-month period, situations can arise that may prohibit students from attending. Students are required to attend a minimum of 10 classes in order to successfully complete the program. Textbooks will be provided courtesy of Wood Forest Bank  Who Owns the Ice House: Eight Life Lessons from Unlikely Entrepreneur By Clifton Talbert  One Perfect Pitch by Marie Perruchet

Required Materials: Laptop/Tablets, or Smartphone, Notebooks, Pens, and Binders.

2017 Course Schedule and Session Overview

Week 1 6/15/2017

CRAFT YOUR PITCH

Week 2 6/22/2017

Week 3 6/29/2017

Week 4 7/6/2017

Session 1 – Program Orientation  Introductions  What’s Your Elevator Pitch?  Presentation of Business Concepts/Business Name  Individual Goal Statements/Individual Goal Plan  Characteristics of a successful entrepreneur  Personal and Professional Sacrifices of Leaders  Time Management Homework: Goal Plan and Vision Board Session 2 – Set a Firm Business Foundation (Guest Speaker –To Be Announced)  Elevator pitch to guest speaker  Business Structure – Sole Prop, LLC, LLP, etc.  How to register with the State of PA  IRS – EIN Number  Business Checking Account  Importance of Liability Insurance Q + A – Ask the Attorney Session 3 – Share Your Vision  Present Vision Boards – What does your Business look like?  State Your Goals  Who’s on your Support/Management Team (Consultant, Mentor, Lawyer and Accountant)  Market Analysis – What makes you different from your completion/Who are your top 3 competitors?  Conduct a Feasibility Study (Survey Monkey)  Beta Testing (Create Launch date)  Revised Elevator Pitch  Session 4 – A Network for Success  Beta Test Your Pitch (Soft Launch)  Meet Your Mentorship Panel Session 5 – Leverage the Power of Your Brand (Guest Speaker)

Week 5 7/13/2017

HONE YOUR PITCH

Week 6 7/20/2017

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Branding 101 Website, Social Media and Blogs Logo Business Cards and Brochures

Session 6 – Know the Power of Your Product  What are you selling? Products/Services  Pricing  Strategic Planning  Ethical Business Dealings  Elevator Pitch revised

Week 7 7/27/2017

Session 7 – Mind on Your Money  Financials for Novices  Start Up Cost  Income Summary  Break Even point Session 8 – Money on Your Mind

(Guest Speaker) – Accountant (To Be Determined)

Week 8 8/3/2017

Week 9 8/10/2017

PERFECT YOUR PITCH

Week 10 8/17/2017

Session 11 8/24/2017

Week 12 8/31/2017

Business documentation Filing and Management Importance of maintaining financial records Bookkeeping Cash Flow Taxes (Sales taxes, Quarterly Taxes, Business and Personal, City County, State and Federal)  Q & A – Ask the Expert Session 9 - Bankability of Your Business  Identify Funding Sources  Bootstrapping  Grants  Crowdfunding  Traditional Lending  Pitch Beta Testing Session 10 – Next Level Marketing Strategies  Traditional Marketing – Print, TV, Cable, Radio and Direct Mailing  Non Traditional Marketing – Social Media (IG, Twitter, FB, Linkedin, Pinterest, Youtube, etc.  Direct mailing vs Mailing list  Which traditional (1) and Non Traditional (2) methods are appropriate for your business? Session 11 – Prep Your Pitch  Presentation of Beta Tested Pitch  Each participant will be given seven minutes max to discuss how the results of their launch/beta testing  Best participant will be receive $100 worth of something in addition (free hour with Accountant, Branding Expert and Lawyer) Session 12 – Perfect Your Pitch  Pitch-a-Bration  Pitch to potential investors and business community stakeholders.    

This program is made possible through funding provided by Neighborhood Allies and Woodforest Bank.