Earlier this month, 40 local entrepreneurs concluded the first-ever Community Bootcamp for Entrepreneurs as part of the Leon Entrepreneurship and Adversity Program (LEAP).
The program was introduced by Florida State University's Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship and the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship and brought together by close partnerships with local nonprofit groups, government offices, small businesses and other university partners across Leon County.
Run by Susana Santos, Jim Moran Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Marina Lickson, the Northwest Florida Director at the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship, the LEAP program seeks to support those in the Big Bend region (Leon, Wakulla, and Gadsden counties) and other adjacent communities facing economic or other hardships to start and grow businesses of their own.
LEAP is a 10-month program where participants advance through three main stages: training, mentoring and consulting.
The first stage of the program was the Community Bootcamp for Entrepreneurs, where participants attended six Saturdays of training taught by experienced Jim Moran College faculty, subject matter experts and successful entrepreneurs from the community. This training addressed the nature of the entrepreneurial journey and introduced essential tools and concepts that are critical for new venture success.
The Bootcamp concluded on Saturday, Oct. 5, with instructor Michael Morris, Professor of Entrepreneurship from the University of Notre Dame and Program Director of the Urban Poverty and Business Initiative, and keynote speaker Clay Culpepper, Partner and Tree Arborist with Miller's Tree Service.
Topics covered in the Community Bootcamp address all facets of a successful venture, ranging from the development of a viable business concept to understanding the market, designing a profit model, setting up operations properly, marketing the venture and understanding the basic numbers, with the underlying focus is how to think and act in entrepreneurial ways. This includes how to do more with less and how to grow a venture with little in the way of resources. The approach was interactive and driven towards building a sustainable business.
In November, stage two of the LEAP program begins. The participants will be paired with mentors from a pool of successful entrepreneurs from the community.
To learn more, visit https://jimmoraninstitute.fsu.edu/leap.
Testimonials:
"Every week, these entrepreneurs would come to the bootcamp driven by their entrepreneurial dreams, with a contagious energy and desire to learn. LEAP is not just a training program on how to build a sustainable business; it's about building a community, learning how to leverage resources and creating better opportunities for those in difficult circumstances and their families through entrepreneurship".
– Susana Santos, Jim Moran Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship, Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship
"The LEAP Community Bootcamp for Entrepreneurs was a great experience. It really helped change the way I think about my business and how I approach challenges. I learned a lot of useful skills and gained new perspectives that have made a big difference in how I run my business. I'd recommend it to any young entrepreneur looking to grow and improve."
– Jason Tereska, Owner/CEO of It's Your Move
"I recently completed the 6-week LEAP Community Bootcamp led by Susana Santos, and it was packed with positive, actionable information and resources for building a business like my company, There and Back Again Travels. She was incredibly knowledgeable and focused on helping us not only start a company but build one that is sustainable for the long term. I especially appreciated the emphasis on strategies like managing finances, growing a customer base and creating a lasting brand. If you're serious about starting or strengthening your business, I highly recommend this program!"
– Jacob Moreno, Founder of There and Back Again Travels
"The 6-week program at the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship has been a transformative experience for both me and my business. The insights I've gained, the
connections I've made and the strategies I've learned have inspired me to take Collins
Cleaning Company to new heights.
The program challenged me to think differently, helped me refine my business vision and connected me with an invaluable network of fellow entrepreneurs. I'm excited to implement everything I've learned, and I look forward to continuing my growth through mentorship, Peer2Peer Groups and the Small Business Executive program.
This experience has truly been a game-changer, and I'm grateful for the opportunities it has opened for me and my business."
– Sherika Collins, Co-owner of Collins Cleaning Company
