Entrepreneurship Certificate: The University of West Florida College of Business, in cooperation with successful Emerald Coast business leaders, launched a Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship in the Fall of 2006. The program serves as a vehicle for the development of entrepreneurial ideas under the mentorship of successful entrepreneurs.
Venture Formation is taught through a three-course certificate program series. A key course is New Ventures which focuses on developing an elevator pitch and business plan to target investors. Venture Development builds upon that planning process and focuses on reaching revenue targets; constructing a board of directors; protecting intellectual property and other business growth matters.
The classes are taught through a case method with successful local entrepreneurs sharing their startup experience and use of angel and venture capital funding. Featured entrepreneurs include Rus Howard, Quint Studer, Ray Russenberger, Buzz Ritchie and Steve Riggs.
For more information, contact Dr. Richard Hawkins at (850) 474-2656 or e-mail: rhawkins@uwf.edu.
The NW Florida Venture Forum provides area entrepreneurs with the opportunity to demonstrate their growth potential to an audience interested in investment opportunities.
Area entrepreneurs who are interested in presenting project summaries should contact Larry Strain, executive director for the University of West Florida Small Business Development Center, located at 401 Chase Street, Suite 100, Pensacola, Fla., 32501.
The forum’s new application is available at http://www.uwf.edu/rhawkins/pvf/vf-app.doc and the organizers note that while preference is generally given to existing businesses with significant annual revenue growth potential, outstanding start-up plans are also considered by the committee.
Admission is open to the public with an advance registration and potential investors are encouraged to contact Richard Hawkins for a spot on the guest list. For more information on the application process, contact Strain at (850) 473-7830 or lstrain@uwf.edu.
. For general information, contact Hawkins at (850) 474-2656 or rhawkins@uwf.edu.