Nurturing Creative & Socially Responsible Entrepreneurs Connecting entrepreneurs with the resources, strategies and business counsel necessary to dramatically increase their early chances of success and societal impact. The business incubator unites the strength of Omaha’s entrepreneurial heritage, successful local mentors, advancements in technology and the creative energy of the next generation of entrepreneurs.
About Halo Institute The Halo Institute, a joint venture between Creighton University College of Business and Halo Creative Capital, LLC, provides entrepreneurs with the resources, strategies and business counsel necessary to dramatically increase their early chances of success. Our goal is to launch up to 20 viable high impact businesses a year and in the process, further establish Omaha as a national center for entrepreneurial activity and excellence. The Halo Institute is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering and nurturing social and creative enterprise. The Institute is located at 1022 Leavenworth Street in Omaha’s historic Old Market - the heart of Omaha’s creative community. Housed in a 9,500 square foot warehouse once home to Butternut Coffee, Halo is ideal for coworking and inspiring creativity, collaboration, innovation & growth.
“Further establish Omaha as a national center for entrepreneurial activity and excellence”
Halo Institute Facilitates: • For profit businesses that will create local jobs • Socially responsible businesses that will have positive impact on society & the environment • Early-stage businesses seeking funding • Entrepreneurs who demonstrate the right discipline, talent and contagious passion to succeed
We seek businesses that not only have the potential to be high growth, but also will ultimately impact our society in a positive and meaningful way. We measure “societal impact” as a culmination of high growth potential, likelihood to be financially sustainable and positive impact on society.
Positive impact on society
Inspired by Omaha’s Successful Heritage Halo seeks the best & brightest entrepreneurs who have the ability, discipline, determination & passion to see their business idea to the end. This standard of excellence was inspired by the successful entrepreneurial heritage of John, James and Edward Creighton. The Creighton brothers were Nebraska’s first millionaire entrepreneurs. They developed Nebraska’s first bank and laid the telegraph wires connecting the western half of the country, which in turn established Omaha as the telecommunications center of the United States. Their successes were grand and the legacies left behind continue to make a positive impact for generations to come.
Not only were they pioneers in Midwest innovation, the Creighton’s were also pioneers in local philanthropy – they strongly believed in the concept that a strong community helps others and in the end the community is the winner. They founded Nebraska’s first education center – Creighton College and the first hospital. These have subsequently become Creighton University and Creighton Medical Center.
We believe the most critical ingredient to any successful enterprise are people.
The Halo Process Quarterly, up to five entrepreneurs are accepted into the Halo program. Each entrepreneur is provided creative work environment, a network of mentors and other dynamic resources to accelerate their business model development. Halo then matches each start-up with business experts, interns and professionals to guide, mentor and advise the entrepreneurs through a rigorous 7-step process. Up to $15,000 worth of services and resources are provided to each enterprise free of charge.
IDEA
Societal Responsibility Feasibility Scalability Competitive Differential Management Quality
HALO PROCESS
SUCCESS
Expertise Mentors Interns Discipline Encouragement Resources
Financial Stability Seed Funding Distribution Sales Revenue Angel Investment Social Impact
Halo takes pride in maintaining an entrepreneur centric model with the participating companies remaining in complete control of their business. The advice and services provided come with no conditions attached.
Halo
Seven Step Process Halo Institute uses a 7-step process to fill the gap that currently exists between people with great ideas and investors who are looking for solid opportunities. Different from other local entrepreneurial ecosystems, Halo focuses on developing holistic and sustainable learning experiences for entrepreneurs by injecting mentors, interns, professional guidance, personal coaching and other customized resources into their business model development.
The Halo Process delves into:
1. Leadership / Passion 2. Competitive Differential / Consumer Insight 3. Intellectual Property / Processes 4. Finance / Valuation 5. Human Capital / Collaboration 6. Law / Contracts 7. Strategic Marketing / Communication
Our Purpose Halo Institute focuses on human capital by keeping the entrepreneur in charge of his or her experience within the 3-6 month Halo Process and by supporting the entrepreneur with approximately $15,000 of in-kind support and services - no strings attached. This is made possible by partnering with exceptional, proven experts and business professionals. Halo negotiates with these business experts to contract their services at pro bono or discounted rates. Each business will be assigned a key lead to coach them through the process and steps beyond. Many businesses will need early stage capital investment and Halo enables them to prepare an expert-validated business case or prototype model for soliciting investment. Halo Institute also empowers businesses on an entrylevel basis that are not yet ready to enter the Halo Process. These businesses receive some resources, based on demonstrated need. Typically these may include mini courses, meeting space, office space, unpaid or self-paid internships and mentoring.
Halo Institute Founders Guided by its Jesuit heritage, the Creighton University College of Business forms leaders who promote justice and use their business knowledge to improve the world. Since 1920, the college has awarded almost 10,000 degrees to students from across the nation and around the world. Dual accreditation in business and accounting education by the AACSB places the college within the top 2% of business schools in the world. Undergraduate and graduate degrees focusing on traditional business disciplines, along with special programs in bioscience management, social entrepreneurship and leadership are taught by 42 full-time faculty members. Within six months of graduation, nearly 100% of our students are placed in jobs or go on to start their graduate education.
Nick Hudson had the idea for The Halo Institute after he was approached by dozens of Omaha people with strong business ideas that needed help turning their idea into reality. He had founded his group of small brands and businesses in the last 5 years after leaving 13 years of corporate life working for The Boots Group, a $20bn global health & beauty company. He is one of the nation’s leading experts in beauty product consumer marketing and has a strong passion for assisting people achieve their true potential.
Halo Institute Board of Directors Our Board of Advisors is comprised of business and community leaders who believe in creative and social enterprise and strive to make Omaha a national leader in entrepreneurship. The Board of Advisors meets bimonthly to review the progress of our businesses and select the next group of aspiring entrepreneurs to enter the Institute. Roger Fransecky is Chairman of The Halo Institute. Dr. Fransecky’s work with leaders of many organizations evolved from more than four decades as a corporate executive, organizational consultant, clinical psychologist, and university professor. He is regarded as one of the nation’s leading executive coaches and CEO advisors.
• Dr Roger Fransecky, Apogee Group, Inc. (Chairman) • Dr Anthony Hendrickson, Creighton University • Dr James Linder, UNeMed Corporation/UNMC • Mr Ron Quinn, Tenaska, Inc. • Mr Roger Wells, McGrath North, LLP • Dr Cheryl Beamer, ex Gallup Inc. • Mr Nick Hudson, Hudson1869 Group, LLC • Dr Anne York, Creighton University
Businesses Helped by Halo Institute Since July 2009
Wiki Cities – A new media / local news review site for 22,000 smaller US cities. Was acquired by The Omaha World Herald Group in late 2009. Guru Instruments – Smart medical innovations to make doctors’ lives easier, improve patient care and reduce hospital budgets. Significant monthly sales. Verdis Group – Consulting group helping organizations make true green decisions. Impacting triple bottom line and presenting solutions for long term sustainability. Habitwise – Simple tools to improve personal behavior that lead to enhanced consumer health. Covering diet, diabetes, weight control was a technology discovered at UNMC. Fluff Your Stuff – The Avon of interior design, provides high value part time employment for stay-at-home Moms. Launching first franchise in Tulsa, OK & received Angel funding in February 2010. HempRev – Producing the machinery that will mechanized fiber production from hemp stalks. Potential to revolutionize textile product & its environment impact. Fitminded – Book club fitness focused on training your brain. Improving attitudes and behaviors towards nutrition & exercise. Supported by group sessions and online interaction.
Sometimes experts get it wrong about new ventures! “Everything that can be invented has already been invented” Charles Duell, US Patent Commissioner 1899 “Who the hell wants to hear actors talk” HM Warner, Warner Brothers1927 “There is a world market for maybe 5 computers” Thomas Watson, Chairman IBM 1943 “People will soon tire of looking at a plywood box every night” Darryl Zanuck, 20th Century Fox 1946 “The world potential for copying machines is 5,000 at most” IBM Executives to Eventual Founders of Xerox 1959 “There is no reason why anyone would want a computer in their home” Founder of Mainframe Computer 1977 “No one will ever want more than 637k of memory for a PC” Bill Gates, Microsoft 1981
Please Join Our Efforts The Halo Institute is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose purpose is to help entrepreneurs start businesses focused on bioscience, green technology or social network businesses that make society a better place. The Halo Institute is a grassroots movement for entrepreneurial development. Rather that simply disseminating information, the Institute creates a melting pot of resources for each entrepreneurall in which are delivered in an engaging manner. We support the founding of about 15 businesses a year and help many others in more minor ways such as education, networking & creative co- working space. It costs on average $10,000 in hard costs (rent, utilities, telecoms, printing, management) and up to $10,000 in donated in-kind (advice, expertise, legal, interns, marketing) costs to put each of the businesses through the 3-6 month program. Total yearly budgeted costs for the Institute are about $150,000.
Halo Institute aims to be largely self funding by 2012 its third year of operation - through voluntary donations from past graduate companies and the renting of space and services to graduate companies or affiliated third parties. 2010 is expected to need $130,000 (86% of budget) in donations. 2011 is expected to need $75,000 (50% of budget) in donations. If you would like to help we would be very grateful - please contact Sara Dreamer, Halo Institute Director
Thank You Halo Institute 1022 Leavenworth Street Omaha, NE 68102 402.884.7624 www.haloinstitute.org Sara Dreamer - Director 402.429.7449 sara.dreamer@haloinstitute.org