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The Business INCubator program offers students an authentic entrepreneurial experience. In this program, students have the opportunity to create and fully develop their own product or service. Real entrepreneurs and business experts serve as volunteer coaches and mentors, guiding student teams through the Lean Startup processes of developing hypotheses about a business concept, testing those hypotheses, adapting, and continually learning and improving. This cycle of experimentation is combined with foundational business concepts such as marketing and finance.
The Business INCubator program offers students an authentic entrepreneurial experience. In this program, students have the opportunity to create and fully develop their own product or service. Real entrepreneurs and business experts serve as volunteer coaches and mentors, guiding student teams through the Lean Startup processes of developing hypotheses about a business concept, testing those hypotheses, adapting, and continually learning and improving. This cycle of experimentation is combined with foundational business concepts such as marketing and finance.
Students are Taught by a Team
Volunteer coaches, mentors, and the classroom teacher. Coaches provide authentic business expertise in a specific area. They come into the classroom for a short period of time (2-5 days) to provide all students with a real-world context for a specific curricular area. The coach and classroom teacher plan and present together. The coach’s focus is on curricular content, not war stories. Mentors are assigned to one team and follow them through the entire process providing students with feedback and encouragement. The classroom teacher is a certified teacher that manages the class and volunteers as well as provides continuity.
Authentic, Real-World Learning and Hands-On Problem Solving
Over the course of the two semesters, students work in teams and learn by doing. They develop a business model canvas, gain market input on a minimum viable product, and iterate all elements to improve their business plan. The program culminates with a pitch to "investors". Student teams pitch their ideas to actual investors for funding to turn their business plans into reality during the summer and following school year.
Blend of Lean Startup Process with Foundational Business Topics
Required reading for the course is The Lean Startup by Eric Ries, which teaches entrepreneurship through innovation and trains students to learn what is working and what is not working in their businesses. Other suggested readings on the Lean Startup process include Running Lean by Ash Maurya, Business Model Generation by Alexander Osterwalder, and Why the Lean Startup Changes Everything by Steve Blank - Harvard Business Review.
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