California Program for Entrepreneurship
The California Program for Entrepreneurship is an initiative of the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University. The CAPE provides education and mentoring to emerging entrepreneurs to help them develop and implement business plans that will contribute to the growth and well-being of the California economy.
California Program for Entrepreneurship
June-November, 2011
3-Phase/6-Month Program
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Pre-Workshop Virtual Exercises & Mentoring
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2 Pre-Workshop On-Site Weekend Sessions
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Week-long On-Site Intensive Workshop
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Post-Workshop Preparation of Professional Pitches
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2 Post-Workshop On-Site Weekend Sessions
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$5,000 Business Plan Competition
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Program Funding/Participant Scholarship Provided*
The Entrepreneurs:
The CAPE's emerging entrepreneurs will be selected from candidates nominated by University affiliates, financial institutions including micro-lenders, and other organizations that support entrepreneurship. Our focus is on entrepreneurs who will start and build businesses that contribute to the economic growth of California. Candidates are selected based on their potential for success, development stage of their business idea, experience and potential contribution to our community and the California economy. Candidates must complete an online application that includes multiple exercises designed to refine the candidate's business idea and reveal the potential for success.
The Curriculum:
The CAPE curriculum is designed to remove the barriers facing emerging entrepreneurs. Faculty use a combination of virtual exercises, classroom instruction, case studies, group work, and experiential learning to develop conceptual skills and build a mutually-supportive community. Participants develop specific functional expertise in marketing, finance, and operations as well as skills in organizational dynamics, strategic management and communication. At the end of the coursework, participants prepare a business plan for a competition to be reviewed by a panel judges including venture capitalists and angel investors with $5,000 awarded to the best plan.
Schedule Overview:
Phase I: Pre-Workshop Preparation
June 15-September
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Virtual Exercises
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Faculty Mentoring
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Two Intensive On-Site Weekend Workshops
Phase II: Intensive Workshop Week
September
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6-Day Intensive On-Site Workshop Thursday Evening through Wednesday afternoon
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Focused and personalized education on all aspects of a professional business plan
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In-residence at beautiful Santa Clara University Campus in the heart of Silicon Valley
Phase III: Post-Workshop Mentoring
September -November
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Preparation of Professional Pitches
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Expert Business Advisors
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$5,000 Business Plan Competition
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Networking Events
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Two Intensive On-Site Weekend Workshops
*Program funding for the 2010 cohort made possible through a generous grant from the
Executive Development Center, Santa Clara University. Funding covers each participant's costs of classes, workshops, seminars, class materials, breakfast and lunch during program sessions and program housing for on-site sessions for those who live outside of driving distance to SCU. Travel to/from Santa Clara University is at the expense of program participants.
