Entrepreneurs' launchpad
TEAM
Sean Griffin (left) and Tom McKeon: "This is a practical, hands-on, get-yourself-dirty, startup program," said Sean Griffin, founder of Vizalution.
A new TCC program will help people get their startups off the ground.
By LAURIE WINSLOW World Staff Writer
Published: 3/10/2010 2:28 AM
Last Modified: 3/10/2010 7:20 AM
Tulsa Community College is launching an innovative, nontraditional program to give local entrepreneurs the information and resources they need to turn their passion for ideas into thriving businesses.
Fifteen individuals will be selected for the 16 week program — "Launch: Your Entrepreneurial Journey" — that kicks off May 3.
"This program, which in many ways reflects Tulsa's entrepreneurial heritage, has been more than a year in the making," said Carol Messer, provost of TCC Southeast Campus.
"It has been an exciting, invigorating and sometimes daunting process as we have tried to combine the needs and characteristics of an entrepreneur with practical education resources.
"After months of planning, we are here to unveil a new paradigm in instruction."
Small business development is the key to Tulsa's future success and economic growth, said Tom McKeon, TCC's president, during a news conference Tuesday.
"Rather than breaking ground to build a new structure filled with classrooms and laboratories, we're breaking ground with a program to build Tulsa's entrepreneurship base that will exist entirely outside of the walls of traditional classes," he said.
Unlike a traditional course set in a classroom, these entrepreneurial sessions will be held in different locations throughout Tulsa, including the TCC Center for Creativity, SpiritBank, McNellie's Public House, a local law firm and the Collaboratorium, a downtown resource center for entrepreneurs.
The program creates a real-world experience that goes beyond what a classroom can provide, said Sean Griffin, founder of Vizalution, who helped develop the college's entrepreneurial program.
Tulsa entrepreneurs will team up with TCC faculty to guide accepted applicants through the critical steps required to take an idea to the marketplace.
"This is a practical, hands-on, get-yourself-dirty, startup program," Griffin said. "Our vision is to help entrepreneurs with great ideas create great companies."
Jeremy Green, whose business, Real Time Rehab, won the grand prize in last year's Mayor's Entrepreneurial Spirit Award, knows firsthand the advantage of having coaches who can advise and help an entrepreneur avoid pitfalls.
Entrepreneurs think they know everything when they're starting out, even when they don't, Green said.
"And when you realize that you don't, and you realize that other people are smarter than you, that is when your idea and your business model truly has a chance to succeed," he said.
Green added, "Going through this process will be demanding. You will learn a lot, but it will start you on that right path to success."
Griffin hopes that people walk away from the program with an operating startup.
"That is your reward at the end and that is your certificate of graduation — if you can actually go to market, make money and sell a product or service," he said.
Potential candidates for the program will go through an interview process before being selected to participate. Cost for the program is $1,250. Some scholarship support is available.
Anybody who has a great idea for a startup can apply for the program.
"You don't need a business plan, and you can be any age," Griffin said. "You just need to fill out the forms."
Online applications for the program will be accepted through April 12. More information is available at
tulsaworld.com/tcclaunch
.
Launch: Your
Entrepreneurial Journey
The program: Tulsa Community
College is introducing a nontraditional
effort to help entrepreneurs
turn their ideas into startups.
Participants will team with TCC
faculty to lead the 16-week course
of study, which kicks off May 3.
Application deadline: Online applications
will be accepted through
midnight April 1 , and 15 will be
chosen to participate.
Cost: $1, 50. Some scholarship
help is available.
Information: tulsaworld.com/tcclaunch
Laurie Winslow 581-8466
laurie.winslow@tulsaworld.com
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Tulsa Community College begins 'Launch' program," which was published on 3/9/2010.
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