MaryBeth Matzek: Entrepreneurial education program spreads its wings

This is an excerpt from a column posted at BizOpinion.

A program that started out 14 years ago at Fox Valley Technical College as a way to prepare would-be entrepreneurs has gone nationwide.

E-Seed, an intensive 10-week course that makes entrepreneurs think deeply about their ideas and ends with them writing a viable business plan, is now available to other community and technical colleges across the country. Since the Venture Center, which is housed at FVTC and runs the E-Seed program, began licensing the program less than two years ago, schools ranging from Nicolet Area Technical College in Rhinelander to Bismarck State College in North Dakota have signed up to offer the course to local residents looking to start their own businesses.

The schools receive the E-Seed curriculum, access to an online portal and advice from Amy Pietsch, director of the Venture Center, and her staff, on how to start and sustain the program.

“E-Seed is really about creating new businesses – and new jobs — in the community. It’s a proven economic development program,” she says. “Our key selling point is that E-Seed has helped create more than 300 businesses since it started. This strategy works.”

During E-Seed, each week is focused on a different business aspect and the goal is for students to walk away knowing whether or not they have a viable business model. Students are taught not only by college staff, but also hear firsthand from local business professionals, such as accountants, marketers and attorneys, on what they need to know about launching and running a successful business.

Read the full column for more