Existing and Future Entrepreneurs Panel Discussion
Curriculum developed in part with funding from
USDA/RCDI Building Entrepreneurial Community Capacity Project
Slide Narrative Comments
This is a narrative to supplement the slides used during the presentation. The numbered items
below correspond with the power point slides used, with the title slide being number 1.
1. Title slide: Existing and Future Entrepreneur Panel Discussion
2. Session Goals slide: the entrepreneur panel was created so participants could apply the
information they gained in previous sessions and even to help them with applications in
the following sessions. Hearing from respected local entrepreneurs will help the
participants relate the information gained in previous sessions to their local situation.
This helps to move participants learning into experiential experiences that will help them
prioritize supporting entrepreneurs as an economic development initiative.
3. Question One slide: the purpose of this slide is to help class participants discover there
is no set level of academic training to be an entrepreneur. With that said it is interesting to
note if entrepreneurs working in the high growth industries have some level of postsecondary education rather it is a graduate degree or some formal academic classes
completed.
4. Question Two slide: the purpose of this slide is to begin to identify common challenges
that successful entrepreneurs had to overcome within the community. This information
can be used in the strategic planning sessions to help prioritize key and immediate issues
the community wishes to address. The probing question regarding how they overcame the
obstacle helps to create action steps the community can take to assist entrepreneurs.
5. Question Three slide: this question is targeted at the class participants, especially
potential entrepreneurs. It is hoped that the questions they raise will be used by the panel
to frame their answers to future questions. The moderator should take good notes at this
time so they can interject these specific questions into the remaining structured questions
to help frame the panel’s responses to providing greater insight to the participants. The
moderator may also wish to ask the panel to address a few of the class participant’s
questions at this time.
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6. Question Four slide: this question helps class participants learn that traditional financial
resources are usually not available to entrepreneurs at start-up. It will also help the class
think through potential financial methods they could create to support capitalizing
emerging entrepreneurs. Having the local financial institutions participate as one time
class participants may help start a latter conversation on designing financial assistance
strategies.
7. Question Five slide: most start-up ventures lack funding for advertising yet these
business ventures face a critical need to connect with potential customers. It is anticipated
that the panel will identify the value of networking as a primary method for promoting an
emerging venture is key. Examples may include how panel members connected with
other local entrepreneurs to provide services and products to other entrepreneurs to build
their business. In addition the panel may identify the importance of one entrepreneur
recommending the services of an emerging entrepreneur to their own existing customer to
meet that customer’s need.
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8. Question Six slide: this question tries to bring to focus the importance of a social
network among entrepreneurs and the community to create and build businesses. The
intent is to clarify and build upon the information identified in the previous two questions
so class participants truly carry away the value of networks.
9. Question Seven slide: the purpose of this question is to identify the most critical support
the community could provide from the entrepreneurs perspective. It is important that the
panel understand the question is focused specifically on ways the community could
support entrepreneurs. If the panel talks instead about a more general need it will not be
identified as a possible strategy the community could address and instead be identified as
something someone else is responsible to accomplish.
10. Thank You slide: this slide clearly ends the session by thanking everyone for their
participation and identifies how the information gained tonight will be used by the class.
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