Vision to Venture Description

What is Vision to Venture? We’re glad you asked. Vision to Venture is a 14 week evening class hosted at Mission Community Services in San Luis Obispo. This program is specifically targeted to help people who:

• Have an idea and want to start a new business

• Want to be their own boss, but don’t know what business they want to start and are looking for tools to better understand what’s involved in starting a business

• Have an existing business and want to get better business skills for managing their company

• Want to learn how to write a business plan for raising capital, going to the bank or finding investors for their business

 

What You’ll Learn in the Vision to Venture Program

We like to say the Vision to Venture Program is a business fundamentals course for entrepreneurs of all sorts that helps build the foundation for your role as a business owner.  The 14 week intensive program is divided into three main sections: Marketing, Financials and Operations.  In each module of the program students are introduced to the essential aspects of each primary function in a business.  Our goal is to make sure you understand the basics of what it takes to run your own business and teach you how and where to learn more about the areas of business that you need to understand more in order to thrive, not just survive.

 

Vision to Venture Testimonials

"Vision to Venture" gave me exactly what I need - the ideas, structure and motivation to take my life by the reins!" Camay Arad Chameleon Home

"Mission Community Services provided me the essential tools to launch my business, and the on-going support and education to succeed" Leticia Pérez Milller Tilde Translations

 

Vision to Venture Syllabus – San Luis Obispo Program

Tuesday, March 2, 2010 - Welcome and Business Owner 101
Tuesday, March 9, 2010 – Time Management and Organization
Tuesday, March 16, 2010 – Introduction to Marketing
Tuesday, March 23, 2010 – Marketing Research and Identifying Your Target Market
Tuesday, March 30, 2010 – Competitive Analysis and Sales Forecasting
Tuesday, April 6, 2010 – Promotions and Developing a Marketing Budget
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 – Operations Overview and Legal Forms of Business Ownership
Tuesday, April 20, 2010 – Employees and Employment Law
Tuesday, April 27, 2010 – Risk Management and Insurance
Tuesday, May 4, 2010 – Introduction to Financial Statements
Tuesday, May 11, 2010 – Creating Financial Statements
Tuesday, May 18, 2010 – Decision Making from Financial Statements
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 – Raising Money and Credit
Tuesday, June 1, 2010 – Graduation

 

Vision to Venture Schedule – San Luis Obispo

We’re often asked “how long is the Vision to Venture Program and what kind of a commitment do I need to make?” The program includes 14 evening sessions with three hours each evening from 6:00 – 9:00pm. In addition to the three hours of class time, most students report on average 8 – 10 hours outside of class time for reading and individual/group assignments. While the commitment seems steep, this class is meant to prepare you for being a business owner and most students report they wouldn’t miss a night of class for the world.

 

What You Can Expect from the Vision to Venture Program

• Increase your income

• Support your family, your community and yourself

• Learn what it takes to start and/or grow a successful small business

• Break glass ceilings and be your own boss!

• Improve how you manage your finances and make more money!

 

Vision to Venture Instructor: Polly Mertens

Polly Mertens is a dynamic and motivating trainer, speaker, coach and counselor to start up business owners. She received her MBA from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo after working for over a decade in San Francisco and Silicon Valley prior to moving to San Luis Obispo in 2001. She divides her time between teaching the 14-week entrepreneurship program for Mission Community Services, training and coaching small business owners around the country, and working with companies involved in the solar industry helping to change the face of business and the environment. She has a diverse background of experience spanning many industries including finance, printing, software, hospitality, IT, interior design, advertising, importing, real estate and renewable energy.

 

Vision to Venture Free Orientations

We welcome everyone interested in the Vision to Venture Program to attend one of the free orientations to learn more about the classes, get their specific questions answered, to meet the instructor and to network with like-minded entrepreneurs.

ATTEND ONE OF THESE FREE NO-OBLIGATION INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS

Tuesday, February 2, 2010 – 6:00 – 7:00pm
Friday, February 12, 2010 – 12:00 Noon – 1:00 pm
Tuesday, February 16, 2010 – 6:00 – 7:00pm
Friday, February 26, 2010 – 12:00 Noon – 1:00 pm

Register for one of our free orientations today!

FREE ORIENTATIONS IN SPANISH

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 – 6:00 – 7:00pm
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 – 6:00 – 7:00pm
Wednesday, February 24, 2010 – 6:00 – 7:00pm

Forma de Registro

 

Please contact Mission Community Services for additional information at (805) 545-1357 or by email at info@mcscorp.org.

 

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