By SARA GIBONEY, UNK Communications
KEARNEY – 3 Day Startup at UNK, a learning-by-doing workshop, will teach entrepreneurial skills to University of Nebraska at Kearney students and area entrepreneurs.
With a focus on business development, the Jan. 27-29 event at the Nebraskan Student Union rooms 310-311 is free and open to high school and college students, business professionals, budding entrepreneurs, inventors and technology experts.
Participants progress through a series of modules that include ideation, team formation, customer discovery, rapid prototyping and a pitching workshop.
“Participants involved with the first-ever 3 Day Startup at UNK will be introduced to so many resources and mentors. They will receive professional feedback they can use as they create and grow their businesses,” said Lisa Tschauner, assistant director of the Center for Rural Research and Development. “This will be a comfortable place where everyone can share in the great ideas. The learning, networking and innovation that is available is of incredible value to anyone who has their mind on business development.”
Andrew Zimbroff, assistant professor and extension specialist for textiles and apparel entrepreneurship at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, will teach the workshop sessions. He is a certified 3 Day Startup facilitator.
His extension work focuses on early state entrepreneurship and business development. Zimbroff’s areas of expertise include market identification and research, identification of key customer segments, and analysis of legal and regulatory barriers.
During the first day of the workshop, participants will brainstorm, pitch preliminary ideas and get feedback. Participants don’t have to have a startup idea when they arrive.
On the second day, attendees will find potential customers, receive mentorship, give intermediate pitches and get feedback. Area business experts will serve as mentors and judges throughout the event.
On the last day, participants will attend pitch workshops, which will lead to final pitches in front of business mentors and investors.
“This is a type of business boot camp that would typically cost hundreds of dollars for participants. We are so delighted to have the support to offer it to central Nebraska for free,” Tschauner said. “These opportunities are what will help us grow our local economy because of the energy and potential that comes from small business creation.”
This is the first 3DS event at UNK. The event has taken place at 150 schools across six continents, including UNL and University of Nebraska at Omaha. Ninety companies have launched following the workshop.
Participants must apply by Jan. 13 to attend of the workshop. Apply online at www.unk.edu/3DS
The event is sponsored by Enactus and UNK’s College of Business and Technology.
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