ENTREPRENEUR AND SMALL BUSINESS EDUCATION SERIES
Education Series
The Entrepreneur and Small Business Education Series is a partnership between the Downtown Long Beach Alliance and Long Beach State University’s Institute of Innovation & Entrepreneurship. The education series is focused on providing the tools and skills needed to start and run a successful business. The Entrepreneur and Small Business Education Series is a six-week program. Long Beach State University will provide a certificate of accomplishment to those who complete the entire program.
Sponsors


Curriculum schedule
The series is focused on providing the tools and skills needed to start and run a successful business.
Week 1 (April 15 & 19): The Value of a Business Plan
Module 1: Creating a Business Model Canvas (Isabelle Bart)
- Structure of a BMC
- Defining your Value Proposition
- Who is your customer
- Generating Revenue
- “Producing” your product or service
- Cost projections
Module 2: What is a Business Plan (Isabelle Bart)
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- Elements of a business plan
- Organizational plan
- Marketing plan
- Financial Projections
- Competitive Analysis
- Putting it all together
- Elements of a business plan
Week 2 (April 22 & 26): Digital Marketing 101
Module 1: Writing your Marketing Plan (Darilyn O’Brien)
- Assessing your Business Idea
- Competitive analysis
- Who are my target customers?
- How do I reach them?
- What channels do I use to reach them?
- How do I price my products/services?
- Putting it all together
Module 2: How to do digital marketing (Aleks Lason)
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- Design and construct your website
- Types of social and digital media
- Email marketing
- Putting it all together
Week Three (April 29 & May 3): Financial Aspects of your Business
Module 1: Accounting Basics (Sabrina Landa)
- Financial Literacy
- Basic accounting principles
- Types of accounting platforms
- Financial statements
- Putting it all together
Module 2: Funding Opportunities – Becoming Bankable! (Dean Heiss/Wade Martin)
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- Traditional types of funding opportunities
- Non-traditional types of funding opportunities
- Applying for funding
- How to choose the right bank
- Access to Capital
Week Four (May 6 & May 10): Where to Locate your Business
Module 1: Site selection (Austin Metoyer)
- Appropriately zoned site for your business
- Foot traffic and parking requirements
- Office specific requirements/suggestions
- Retail specific requirements/suggestions
- Restaurant specific requirements/suggestions
- Putting it all together
Module 2: Negotiate a lease (Karie Armstrong)
- Understand lease options
- Do I need a broker?
- Who pays for tenant improvements
- What can I negotiate?
- Research the area prior to lease negotiations
- Putting it all together
Week Five (May 13 & May 17): HR Basics & Putting it All Together
Module 1: Business Plan & Pitch Deck Assembly (Isabelle Bart)
- Putting it all together
Module 2: Human Resource Basics (Kerri Cissna)
- Hiring employees (EEOC and discrimination questions)
- W-2 vs. Independent contractors
- Employee handbook
- Building teams
- Putting it all together
Week 6 (May 20): Pitchfest Competition
Businesses that have completed all modules will be eligible to pitch to a panel of judges to compete for prize money. Prize money from F&M Bank totaling $20,000 will be awarded based on recommendations from the DLBA Economic Advisory Board, F&M Bank, and CSULB IIE. Participants will also be awarded a Certificate of Completion from the CSULB Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
Register for the Education Series
Date: April 15 – May 20, 2023
Time: Saturday Mornings (in-person), 9:00 am to 10:30 am & Wednesday Evenings (remote) 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm; 2 modules/week, 2 hours each.
Location: Studio One Eleven (245 E. 3rd Street, Long Beach CA 90802)
Cost to Attend: FREE to attend for Existing and Potential Downtown Business Owners and CSULB Students (Value of $1,350)