Exemplary Entrepreneurs
Education Entrepreneurs
- Kipp Academy
- Khan Academy
- Quest2Learn School
- Western Governors University. How can a 30-yr old institution be a disruptive innovator? https://www.ecampusnews.com/2018/09/20/innovators-worth-watching-western-governors-university/?all
- Innova Schools in Peru designed by IDEO (1-hr ASU-GSV Talk by founder): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6W2AABE60k
- Minerva University designed by Harvard dean
- Can Nations be Entrepreneurial?
— Finland (6 principles for best national schools): https://www.edsurge.com/news/2018-07-31-6-key-principles-that-make-finnish-education-a-success
— Estonia (Computer-Based Maths): https://www.youtube.com/embed/r9t3StJy9Qo - The academic route to education & business entrepreneurship: Andrew Ng: https://www.edsurge.com/news/2018-11-13-coursera-co-founder-andrew-ng-wants-to-bring-ai-to-everyone-in-latest-course
Social Entrepreneurs
- Community Action of Lehigh Valley: https://caclv.org – Alan Jennings grew this small local non-profit into a $30 million operation that helps feed, house, and support thousands of Lehigh Valley residents to become more self sufficient.
Business Entrepreneurs
- Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, Jack Ma
- Lululemon, every business was once a startup.
- Jennifer Hyman, Founder of Rent the Runway – rethinking daily practice (22 min – Forbes Under 30 Summit): https://www.forbes.com/video/5850962337001
Young Entrepreneurs
Forbes list of Under-30 Entrepreneurs – 2019: https://www.forbes.com/30-under-30/2019
High Impact Entrepreneurs
List of 25 particularly fascinating entrepreneurs (from 2005, but we know their stories and that they have had impact): http://www.kurzweilai.net/in-print-inc-presents-the-26-most-fascinating-entrepreneurs
Brief introduction to Ray Kurzweil, inventor, innovator, entrepreneur and futurist from age 17 – 70 and still going. Currently Director of Engineering at Google: http://www.kurzweilai.net/making-music-synthesizer-genius
Elon Musk may be our most impactful entrepreneur. History will credit him with changing society. Neil DeGrass Tyson evaluates Musk’s contributions: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/19/neil-degrasse-tyson-elon-musk-is-the-most-important-person-in-tech.html
The Startup Process with Business Model Canvas & Ice House Opportunity Canvas
- Good introduction to understanding and using the Business Model Canvas: https://www.slideshare.net/iain.verigin/2a-customer-discovery-canvas-and-story-2013q2
- Business Model Canvas (Steve Blank version) – blank printable PDF: https://canvanizer.com/downloads/business_model_canvas_poster.pdf
- Business Model Canvas with Stanford conceptual guides: https://steveblank.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/business-model-and-cust-dev.jpg
- Ice House Opportunity Discovery Canvas: Online generate pdf or Word, blank or filled: https://www.pdffiller.com/jsfiller-desk15/?projectId=376524209#dd666bcf1dd74fb7a597c63a190d1345
- Sample Questions in Ice House Opportunity Discovery Canvas (use this before you try a blank canvas): http://www.sbventures.org/sites/default/files/inline/images/Opportunity%20Discovery%20Canvas%20Instructions_2.jpg
Entrepreneurial Mindset
ELI: Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative
- “Myths of Entrepreneurship,” 26-min discussion between Kauffman Foundation and Gary Schoeniger of Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative. CRITICAL IDEAS FOR US! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmHjEo9CRoI
Entrepreneurial Opportunity & Disruptive Innovation
- Non-consumers – the low hanging fruit (ANYTHING by Clay Christensen): https://www.christenseninstitute.org/blog/insights-for-innovating-in-emerging-markets-1-there-are-two-types-of-economies/
- Gaps between real performance and what is expected. Example: public school and math education: https://www.computerbasedmath.org
- TechCrunch Startups blog: high-quality news on all aspects of entrepreneurial startups: https://techcrunch.com/startups/
Innovation & Creativity
What is Creativity? How can you foster Creativity?
- Re-thinking creativity to inspire change: Innovating Minds, Wilma Koutstaal & Jonathan Binks, 2015. Kink to discussion and further links. Understand and maximize YOUR creativity! http://www.kurzweilai.net/book-innovating-minds
- Nancy Andreasen, renowned neuroscientist, spent decades studying the human mind & imaging the human brain. In this 2014 Atlantic article, she shares her research on where creativity, curiosity, and genius come from. Links to original article, videos, and MANY insightful observations from her work (like: “If I were to pick one thing that I’d call the “secret” to creativity: I’d say intense curiosity.”). http://www.kurzweilai.net/reading-room-searching-the-secrets-of-the-curious-mind
Innovative Institutions
- Time’s 2018 top 50 “Genius” companies: http://time.com/collection/genius-companies-2018/
- Fostering Innovation: Best Buy’s Teen Tech Centers for underserved youth: Discussion, links, and brief teen interviews: http://www.kurzweilai.net/good-future-helping-hands-innovation-opportunities-for-youth
- 2019 Creative Innovation Conference, April 1-3, Melbourne. Interesting topics in link: http://www.kurzweilai.net/event-creative-innovation
Search: Your Value Proposition – What JOB does it do?
- Competing Against Luck (from Clay Christensen book) 8-min video gives clear example. Is your task to make a BETTER product or service? Or is it to do a BETTER job for specific customer segments? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auedNplxnu8
Search: Customer Discovery – WHO will buy it and why?
- Printable Business Model Canvas (PDF file): https://canvanizer.com/downloads/business_model_canvas_poster.pdf
- Interactive Ice House Opportunity Discovery Canvas (fill in and print): https://www.pdffiller.com/jsfiller-desk15/?projectId=376524209#dd666bcf1dd74fb7a597c63a190d1345
Funding
- VC funding & Pitch
- “Founder and Funder” discussion at Forbes’ Under 30 Summit describes the role of TRUST in the funding of female-run wine company with female-run VC. Enlightening, perceptive video (20-min) of the PROCESS, not the “Do’s and Dont’s:” https://www.forbes.com/video/5850971238001/
- Blockchain ICO for small startup funding (7-min 2018 TED talk)
https://www.ted.com/talks/ashwini_anburajan_how_cryptocurrency_can_help_new_companies_get_investment_capital - Current news about funding for sustainable ventures: ImpactAlpha: https://impactalpha.com/
Risk & Risk of Failure
Kara Swisher: The leading voice in embracing change and why you should ALWAYS take the risk! (Forbes 60 seconds): https://www.forbes.com/video/5861178122001/
Guidance & Training
- Apple Entrepreneur Camp. For ventures founded by and led by women: https://developer.apple.com/entrepreneur-camp