Go Deep Entrepreneurship Teaching and Learning Scholars and Fellows Program More at: http://theinnographer.com/for-‐education/go-‐deep Opening snapshot: June 2015 Your full name: – and name you want to go by if different from your full name William H. Schutters…just call me “Bill” Your degrees and/or designations: BSBA with a concentration in accounting Hold 9 curriculum certifications in community based economic development Serial entrepreneur (Co-‐founder/Operator of six businesses) Your job title and affiliation: Entrepreneurial Support Director Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation Link(s) at which you want people to find you: www.khic.org Anything else at all you want people to know about you? – as in: “The things you’ve asked me to share above don’t define me!” Having been raised in inner city Chicago and then spending my entire entrepreneurial career in small rural settings makes me confortable with both “city folks” and “country folks”. I am fascinated with the human capacity to be both “out of the box” creative and a rigorously disciplined technician. I also move comfortably through the halls of academia and within the trenches of the “ready, fire, aim” entrepreneurial crowd. Favorite quote: What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.
Albert Pine (English author d. 1851) Title of your project? – as in: How should/can we refer to your work succinctly? C-‐EntrE-‐Kubs (centre-‐kubs C.E.E.K-‐ “Ceek and ye shall find”.): A Collaborative Entrepreneurial echo-‐system enhancing effort in Eastern Kentucky that is community based using an “eChampions” methodology based in locally owned coffee shops as educational and networking hubs.
© 2015 and all rights reserved, Bill Schutters
100-‐150 word summary of your change project? – as in: What is the curricular, co-‐curricular, or community-‐based project will you be undertaking? The pilot project scheduled to begin in October features three primary components within a broader regional entrepreneurial echo-‐system. The three components are: 1. Planting the Seeds of Entrepreneurship • Deliver Kauffman Foundation Ice House ™ training in public libraries and unemployment Job Centers • Implementation of a patented digital platform tool to enhance the development of individualized entrepreneurial skills through assessment and capacity building 2. Technical Assistance and Capital Resource Discovery and Linking • Use Technical Assistance to position more businesses for capital infusion • Move more capital (debt and equity) into the region that is affordable and leveraged with multiple funding sources. 3. Manufacturing Development Assistance • Identify and connect local manufacturing engineering and prototyping capability • Develop and implement rural prototype and market validation training (using the Business Canvas model, an iterative business prototyping process which teaches users to fail small, quickly, and often.) • Establish prototype assistance fund • Promote and connect Economic Gardening ® program to accelerate growth potential Brief background about your change project? – as in: In 100-‐200 words, what have you already done? Or what is it that’s brought you to this point in your work? And if it’s new, then what’s motivating you to start it? The question that has challenged me for over 25 years; “Is there a better way to educate and develop entrepreneurs while they’re engaged in starting or growing their businesses?” More specifically are the questions of efficiency and timeliness. A fulfilling entrepreneurial experience combines creativity with hard work and discipline wrapped up with energetic passion. An invigorating challenge of art and science. How do we strategically combine knowledge and passion to accelerate development? I began journaling in 1995 questions and suggestions about what would help me the most at that particular juncture in my career. In 2002, I had sold my last business and turned my attention to using my experience to help others start and grow businesses. This quest led me to the non-‐profit world, the environment in which I continue to operate. I was able to receive a grant to begin to develop a methodology for providing answers efficiently that were raised in my journaling. The grant © 2015 and all rights reserved, Bill Schutters
ended with the conclusion that my suggested solution was not feasible due to its dependence on one-‐on-‐one mentoring. That failure became the crux and the quest for the current project which has evolved into a practical solution using digital technology. Your central question as it stands today? – as in: What do you want to know/learn as a result of doing the accompanying inquiry work? This program aims to help you have an impact. What question, if answered, would help you determine whether it has? CAN A NEW, TECHNOLOGY DRIVEN, ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT MODEL DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE A DEPRESSED, RURAL, BUSINESS CLIMATE SEEKING REVITALIZATION? It seems that one of the explicit opportunities for the Fellows is to “Go Deep” into the mixing of art and science as it pertains to entrepreneurial development. I like the way Steve Jobs put it (paraphrased) “Every musician needs a disciplined set of hands.” I am so excited to become interactive with a set of fellows that are so smart/knowledgeable and passionate and committed to action. An answer to the question "So what?" -‐ as in: Why does this work matter? Why does it inspire you? And why should people care, either now or later if things go well? Many entrepreneurs struggle to find the time to work “on” their business and not just “in” even though countless evidence exists that validates this need as a vital component of success. I truly believe that a creative, inspired, continuous discovery process that delivers knowledge and resources in bite size nuggets in a real-‐time format can overcome this resistance and have a huge impact on building stronger and more successful entrepreneurs. Anything else you want us to know? This project has many tentacles and is evolving continuously. Since that is the model it is trying to impact with entrepreneurs it only seems natural that it experiences a similar environment. There are elements that are set in stone due to grant requirements and there are elements that are wide open to input and modification. The dynamic nature of the design of the “Go Deep” fellowship should be perfect for helping to form what I consider to be ground breaking work in the field of entrepreneurial development.
© 2015 and all rights reserved, Bill Schutters