Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Assignments for Class #12

Team Presentations:  Dress Rehearsal

Business description: 

a 3 to 5 page written description of the business, including an executive summary and bios of the key management executives. Risk factors and a description in written form of key elements of the financial projections are also recommended. The style and formatting should be similar to the IPO document assigned reading.  This should be printed out as well as posted on the web with a link in the comments area below.

Financial projections:

spreadsheets detailing the start up budget for the first 12 months and continuing with annual projections for the two years after that. The style and formatting should be similar to the class assignments from previous weeks. Detailed budgets for marketing plan and the capital budget are recommended.  This should be printed out and included as "exhibit" slides in your presentation.

Slides presentation:

no more than 10 slides describing the business, the target market, the marketing plan, organizational chart, and other key elements for the business start up. The content should be similar to the class assignments from previous weeks, however, the formatting should be as professional looking as possible. This presentation will be given in class as practice, then comments on this performance will result in revisions. The presentation will be videotaped in class so that comments can be made on presentation style and the slide presentation itself should be posted on the web with a link in the comments area below.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Class #11: Team Assignments & Business Plan Prep

Results from the voting by the 3 team CEO’s:



Brian Bell: CEO

Team members:

Alex Broadwater

Lance Ophof

Patrick Halter

Alex Witkin

Shane Yap



Natalie Cullers: CEO

Team members:

Amanda Fefel

Caitlyn Merwin

Marquita Taylor

Emily Thompson

Natalie Wilson



Ryan Montgomery: CEO

Team members:

Todd Carter

Matt Diehl

Ksenia Gouliaeva

Jimmy Spamer

Jonathan Teklu



The elements of the final business presentation should include:

Business description: 

a 3 to 5 page written description of the business, including an executive summary and bios of the key management executives. Risk factors and a description in written form of key elements of the financial projections are also recommended. The style and formatting should be similar to the IPO document assigned reading.

Financial projections:

spreadsheets detailing the start up budget for the first 12 months and continuing with annual projections for the two years after that. The style and formatting should be similar to the class assignments from previous weeks. Detailed budgets for marketing plan and the capital budget are recommended.

Slides presentation:

no more than 10 slides describing the business, the target market, the marketing plan, organizational chart, and other key elements for the business start up. The content should be similar to the class assignments from previous weeks, however, the formatting should be as professional looking as possible. This presentation will be given in class as practice, then comments on this performance will result in revisions.  The following week it will be recorded on video for the final decision on the winning team.

Additional recommended elements:

Public relations:  get a story in the press or in any media.

Website: using either your own resources or Google Sites, create a draft website for your business.

“Leave behind”: a promotional item or brochure that you give to potential investors at the end of your presentation that demonstrates your business idea.

Financial sources: a detailed list of potential financial sources similar to the class
assignment or some written “indication of interest".

Advisory board:  an impressive group of experienced business professionals that will assist with your start up.

Information on developing these business plan elements will be discussed at the next class.  The CEOs should begin developing the plan immediately and giving assignments to their team.  The Professor will be available via email for questions.

Please be patient on the grading of revised assignments.

Special Guest for Next Class:  Steven Masur will give a guest lecture on business start ups at the beginning of Class.  More information about Steve can be found at his website.


Thursday, April 9, 2009

Business Pitch Presentations

Below you will find the videos of the business pitches presented in class last week. 

Send me a simple email with your 3 top choices. The 3 presenters who get the most votes will become CEOs:   able to choose the business they wish to pursue for the last assignment, choose the classmates they wish to assist them in completing the assignment, and confer with the Professor on the grades that these classmates receive for this assignment.   Choose wisely and carefully.

Also, remember to revise all your ungraded assignments and your graded assignments that you wish to improve.  Place the links to these revised assignments in the comments area below this post by 12 noon on Monday April 13.