Achieving the Dream Business Incubator Program Handbook

1 Achieving the Dream Business Incubator Program Handbook Spring 2016

TABLE OF CONTENTS Overview.Page 3 Location Page 3 Program Entrance Policy..Page 3 Program Features.Page 4 Program Requirements.Page 4 Developmental Workshop Topics..Page 5 Achieving the Dream Business Incubator Program Evaluation System Page 5 Tallahassee Community College Internship Credit (NOT YET AVAILABLE)..Page 5 Social Networking.Page 9 Security Page 9 Days and Hours of Operation..Page 9 Common Areas.....Page 9 Inspection & Repair..Page 10 2 Parking..Page 10 Downtown Improvement Authority Office Hours Page 10 Tallahassee Community College Retail Career Pathways Coordinator Contact Information..Page 10 Achieving the Dream Business Incubator Disclaimer Form. Page 11 Photo/Video Consent and General Release Form.Page 12

Overview Welcome to the Achieving the Dream Business Incubator Program. You have joined a business support program that accelerates the successful development of start-up companies. The Business Incubator s main goal is to provide assistance to increase growth potential, resulting in a self-sustaining, profitable company, and to support the launch, growth, stabilization and long-term success of business enterprises in Leon and surrounding counties. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration, incubators have an 87% success rate for helping developing businesses prosper outside the incubator environment. What this means to you is that you are less likely to go out of business. The business incubator will be mixed use, which means that you will be in space with other growing businesses; some will be in similar industries, some will not. Participants will have access to management guidance and technical assistance. Additionally, participants will have access to Mentors to assist them throughout the business planning process, shared basic business services and equipment, and technology support services. A basic outline of the services and support available to participants is summarized in this handbook. Keep in mind that some of the most valuable rewards to participation in the Incubator Program come from the community of entrepreneurs who will surround you. The Incubator will also allow participants volunteer and internship opportunities leading to job opportunities. Please take advantage of your peers and of the staff involved with the program. We can all contribute to the success of your company! Location The Incubation Center is located in the Downtown Marketplace at 115 E. Park Avenue, Tallahassee, FL 32301. It is under the supervision of the Downtown Improvement Authority http://www.tallahasseedowntown.com/ and businesses participate in a community market on a weekly basis. The setting is ideal for small start-up businesses. Some retail businesses have grown from the Downtown Marketplace to an established brick and mortar storefront after 1 to 2 years. The Achieving the Dream Business Incubator Program will allow for up to 6 student led businesses to have an established storefront in a high-traffic area, while receiving career training and academic support from Tallahassee Community College, and mentoring from local established employers. 3 Program Entrance Policy Participants in the Achieving the Dream Business Incubator Program must meet the following criteria: 1. Attainment of at least 1 professional certification from the National Retail Federation in either Customer Service and Sales, Advanced Customer Service and Sales, or Retail Management Operations, and successful completion of all class work. 2. Entrepreneurial Characteristics such as desire/passion, initiative, energy, low support needs, thriving on ambiguity, perseverance, self-confidence, responsibility, problemsolving, persuasiveness, self-discipline, market awareness, and execution intelligence. 3. Business engaged in any variety of functions including but not limited to light manufacturing, distribution, technology, accounting, consulting, culinary, and service activities.

4. Business with unique products and services, availability of the service in the community, potential for job creation and retention, and connection to targeted industry clusters within the community. 5. Completion of a Program Application and submission of at least 1 letter of recommendation that speaks to their entrepreneurial spirit and innovation. 6. Application approval by the Downtown Improvement Authority Review Committee. Program Features Up to 6 participants will be selected for the Program during Spring Semester 2016. Each program participant will be required to participate in a series of scheduled workshops in preparation for the launch of his/her idea related to his/her product and/or service. Additionally, the selected participants will have access to mentors to assist them throughout the business planning process. Participants will also have access to tent space at the Downtown Marketplace (Downtown Improvement Authority (DIA)) for a period of 3 months to soft launch and test their products and/or services. Program participants will be required to maintain an accurate accounting of their progress and will work directly with a Mentor provided by the Downtown Improvement Authority. Business support services through the Downtown Improvement Authority will also be available. Upon completion of a 3 month soft launch, participants will graduate from the program by completing a capstone project which involves making a pitch to the Downtown Improvement Authority Review Committee and potential investors. Participants who wish to continue occupying their sponsored space through the following semester may do so for a discount on the space being allowed. In doing so, participants have an increased opportunity to pay rent and test their products and services even further. 4 A single participant with the highest overall program score, will be selected to receive free space at the Tallahassee Community College Capitol Center for a period of 6 months to continue launching his/her business with required performance reporting. Note, the selected participant will also be provided a membership to the following business led groups: Tallahassee/Leon County Entrepreneurial Excellence Program and the Florida Retail Federation. TCC and the Downtown Improvement Authority will continue to monitor and evaluate the participant chosen to secure the Capitol Center space. Program Requirements Participants must agree to comply with the Incubator Program requirements which includes a commitment to: 1. Complete a business plan during the incubation process. 2. Attend all developmental workshops provided by the program. 3. Cooperate with all required program evaluations and submit all required reports. 4. Maintain an accurate accounting of their progress. 5. Meet regularly with a Mentor in preparation for the capstone project/pitch to the Downtown Improvement Authority Review Committee and potential investors.

Developmental Workshop Topics: 1. Market Research and Customer Identification 2. Business Planning 3. Critical Thinking/Problem Solving/Emotional Intelligence 4. Fiscal/Taxes/Legal 5. Marketing Communications-Selling What You Are Doing 6. Panel Discussion Achieving the Dream Business Incubator Program Evaluation System (to be used by the Downtown Improvement Authority Review Committee) The evaluation will take into account performance in the following areas: 1. Update of Marketing Plan 2. Update/Review of Operations Plan 3. Analysis of your industry 4. Completion of a Growth Plan 5. Completion of a Commercialization Strategy (Stand Alone) 6. Development of an Exit Strategy (Stand Alone) 7. Update of Cash Flow Projections to include Grants, Investors, Capital Financing-Banking Assessment and Review 8. Updates of Sales Forecast (Annual Sales) 9. Completion of Annual Budget (Stand Alone) 10. Participation in required developmental workshops 11. A video of your Pitch Tallahassee Community College Internship Credit NOTE: INTERNSHIP CREDIT NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME, BUT UNDER CONSIDERATION 5 Catalog description The Achieving the Dream Business Incubator Program provides students with an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in their chosen area of study. Interns will complete a minimum of 150 hours in their field under the guidance of an instructor and the supervision of a designated professional. Prerequisite: depends on the student s internship place Required Textbook Information: No textbook required Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of this program, students should be able to: Apply academic concepts learned in the classroom in the professional work setting Gain knowledge about a career field Work alongside a professional in a chosen career area Acquire new skills Develop confidence in one s own abilities Cultivate communication, networking and teamwork skills Bridge the academic and professional worlds Enhance their resume Secure a recommendation about advancing a career path

Network with seasoned professionals Computer Access Students should have Internet access and the required software in order to use Canvas. Your TCC eaccount login and password is the same for TCC email, accessing campus, or accessing webbased or web-assisted courses. The web site to obtain information on all student electronic information is Student Electronic Account Information. For additional assistance logging in, please call the Help Desk at (850) 201-8545. Please read the information provided at Web Orientation before accessing the Web course information for the first time. You should also complete the Browser and Media Plug-in check and Horizon Wimba Voice Tools plug-in check to ensure your computer meets all browser and media plug-in requirements. With a valid TCC ID, all students may use the Academic Computing Labs. If you experience technical problems logging in, check TCC s link to Frequently Asked Technical Questions first. For further assistance, or help with your eaccount or TCC email, you may go to TCC s Technical Support page. Course Methodology This course includes completing discussions posts, journal entries, a mandatory final paper submission, professional development assignments (will the workshops offered by the Incubator program suffice for the professional development assignments?) and performance reviews. Therefore, students should have Internet access and the required software in order to use Canvas. Your TCC eaccount login and password is the same for TCC email, accessing campus, or accessing web-based or web-assisted courses. The website to obtain information on all student electronic information is Student Electronic Account Information. For additional assistance logging in, please call the Help Desk at (850) 201-8545. Students will be required to submit all assignments through Canvas. 6 Communication Methods For class-related correspondence, your TCC email is the account that should be checked regularly. Emails are sent with professional development tips, course reminders and announcements. Questions regarding your internship, performance reviews, grades, etc. can be asked by phone, email, office appointment or through Canvas discussion board. For email correspondence, please put IDS in the subject line as well as phone number and name in the body of the email. Your emails will be answered within 24 hours of the next business day, Monday-Friday. Method of Instruction and Performance Evaluation This independent study engages critical thinking as it pertains to the work environment. Through active participation, students can cultivate a better knowledge and understanding of their core subject area in a professional work setting. Each student intern is required to do the following: ALL ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE UPLOADED TO CANVAS. Email the following information to ( ): a) Internship Site b) Supervisor s contact information including: name, email, phone number and address c) Internship schedule This is needed to update your internship information.

Discussion boards: Students are expected to post to the discussion board area in Canvas at least one time during the class. You must start with the introduction thread. Time sheet and weekly journal (need templates): Students record days and dates worked during their internship and document a) work projects and assignments; b) start and end times; and c) notes regarding the activities and experiences of the internship. The journal should begin the first day of the internship and provide quality detail about your experiences and your work performance. Journal entries will assist you in developing the final term paper. Journal entries will contain a brief narrative regarding your experience. Be sure to include participation in professional development workshops and other required Incubator Program activities. Journals will be typed and electronically submitted. 1 st submission due: at your 75 hour mark 2 nd submission due: or at your 150 hour mark. In many cases, this will be considered your final submission in many cases. 3 rd submission due: at the end of your internship. Final term paper: *Mandatory submission. This assignment specifically provides the following: cover sheet; a description of the individual goals for the work experience; a description of the skills you used during the internship; an assessment of the role of your supervisor (on the job); overall evaluation of the internship experience and suggestions for improvement. What were some of your greatest surprises or challenges? A concluding commentary on the value of the internship toward meeting your future goals should also be included in the paper. *Details for the paper are provided separately. Updated Resume. Provide the instructor with an updated copy of your resume including your internship experience/last position. Thank you letter for your supervisor. Draft a thank you letter to your internship supervisor. 150 work hours* - required and will be verified by your supervisor. Must complete in order to receive final grade. *exceptions may apply 7 Your supervisor Performance evaluation: Supervisors submit evaluations of the interns at the midterm point and at the end of the semester. Students must submit the midterm and final time sheet and journal in order for the instructor to send midterm and final evaluations to internship supervisor. Evaluation criterion includes work ethic, attitude, punctuality, communication skills and reliability. You will be responsible for making sure that your supervisor completes the evaluations. Methods of Internship Evaluation Your semester grade is determined from the items listed below. Discussion boards 5% 50 Performance evaluation (2 @ 200 points each) 40% 400

Time sheet and Journal entries (midpoint and 12.50% 62.5 x2=125 final) Assignment#1,Thank you letter and Updated 10% 100+100+100=300 Resume Work hours (150 required) 20% 150 Final Term Paper 12.50% 125 Total 100% 1000 Grading Scale A = 90% - 100% B = 80% - 89% C = 70% - 79% D = 60% - 69% F = 0% - 59% Incomplete I grades: A grade of Incomplete is recognized by the College and under special circumstance can be assigned by an instructor. The I grade may only be used when a student is passing a course and has completed a majority (at least 75%) of the required coursework. This permission is granted only for exceptional reasons. The details of the I grade can be found in the TCC catalog. It is in very rare situations that TCC will consider the use of the I grade. Such a situation will be handled on an individual basis. Detailed documentation and an agreement between the student and the instructor will be solidified before an I will be assigned. Withdrawal Policy: Students who need to withdraw from this course should fill out the appropriate paperwork and submit it to Enrollment Services by the semester withdrawal date. See the schedule of classes or college catalog for this semester's date. 8 College Policies All college policies listed in the TCC Student Handbook and TCC Catalog concerning academic honor code, withdrawal deadlines, incompletes, audits, academic dishonesty, student conduct code, controlled substances/alcohol, discrimination, the disabilities act, sexual harassment and other policies are in effect for this course. Please be aware of all college policies as described in the current TCC catalog. Disabilities Act Any student, needing special accommodations should register with Disabilities Support Services (DSS) and notify the instructor immediately. After providing appropriate documentation from DSS, the instructor will work with you to provide reasonable accommodations to ensure that you have a fair opportunity to perform in this course. If you are working with the Disability Support Services office, you must provide a copy of your letter before any tests will be sent to the DSS Testing center. If you are terminated from your internship, you will automatically earn an F in the internship course. NOTE: This internship information is subject to change at any time by the instructor. Instructor Contact Information: Supervisor Contact Information:

Social Networking The Achieving the Dream Business Incubator Program is very supportive of social networking tools as a method to enhance and broaden our community. We encourage all program participants to participate in social networking. LinkedIn: To help enrich this aspect of the program, we would like to suggest that if you are not already a user of the social networking on LinkedIn, please consider joining! The Achieving the Dream Business Incubator Program now has a group on LinkedIn, and we would like to invite you to join us. The more people we have in the group, the more valuable a resource it will become to the Incubator community. As the community grows, you will be able to find colleagues who may be in similar industries or facing similar growth issues, and it will serve as just one of more ways that the community can help businesses grow and prosper. To join our Group on LinkedIn go to: http://bit.ly/1kkd2ek The Achieving the Dream Business Incubator Program also has a Facebook page. Login to become a fan and receive Incubator news, events, and videos posted to your personal Facebook page. To follow and contribute to the conversation on Facebook go to: http://on.fb.me/1myf7k4 Security The Program assumes no responsibility for the security of the property or the personal property of the Participant/Participant Company, its employees, nor invitees. Each Program Participant shall see to it that all of the Participant/Participant Company s, its employees and invitees property/personal property is secured. 9 Days and Hours of Operation The Downtown Marketplace operates once per week on Saturdays, beginning at 9 a.m. Common Areas In addition to the Premises, the Program Participant/Participant Company, shall have a nonexclusive right to access to such common areas as the Program determines to be necessary to the use of the Premises, including break rooms, restrooms, loading areas, and copier and fax locations. Any Program Participant/Participating Company may, at no charge, have access to Conference Rooms and Training Areas as available. The sidewalks, passages, exits, entrances and stairways to the premises shall not be obstructed by any Program Participant/Participant Company, or used for any purpose other than for ingress to and egress from their respective Premises.

Inspection and Repairs The Program staff, or its agents, may enter a Program Participant/Participant Company s space at any reasonable time in order to inspect it. If the Program deems any repair necessary for which the Program Participant/Participant Company is responsible, the Program may demand that the Participant/Participant Company perform the repair. If the Participant/Participating Company refuses or neglects to make the repair in a reasonable time, the Program may make the repair and charge the Participant/Participant Company. The Program may enter the premises at reasonable times to install or make repairs to equipment or infrastructure items the Program deems essential to the use and occupancy of the other parts of the premises. The Program will give reasonable advance notice to a Participant/Participant Company of its intention to make non-emergency repairs. Parking Parking is available for serviceable business-related passenger vehicles with current state registrations that are moved at least once during each 7-day period. The Program may, from time to time, assign parking spaces to a Participant/Participant Company, and may require specific areas to be designated for Participant/Participant Company customers, invitees and employees. Downtown Improvement Authority Office Hours Hours Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Contact Alan at (850)224-3252 Tallahassee Community College Retail Career Pathways Program Coordinator Contact Information 10 Coordinator: Jynelle Sneed Email: sneedj@tcc.fl.edu Phone: (850)201-9644 Fax: (850)201-8617 Hours Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Achieving the Dream Business Incubator DISCLAIMER THIS AGREEMENT of understanding is prepared for the benefit of the Achieving the Dream Business Incubator Program, hereinafter referred to as Program, and hereinafter referred to as Business, both parties which desire to clearly understand the relationship for the benefit of promoting and assisting business in this limited arrangement. Program and Business are neither a partnership nor a venture of any description, in fact or law, but rather are independent entities forming a voluntary arrangement wherein Program is a general business advisor of Business. Business is under no compulsion or constraint to accept or implement the suggestions and advisement of the Program. 11 Business specifically acknowledges and agrees that Program has no liability, past, present or future, as to the final and ultimate decision of Business, nor is Business compelled in any fashion to accept the advisement or suggestions of Program. Program neither assumes nor authorized Business to assume any liability on behalf of Program or suggest to third parties, either expressly or implied, that program is in any way a principal, agent or associated entity of Business, and Business specifically acknowledges its responsibility for all decisions and business matters related to its operation and control. Program and Business agree herein to represent accurately the relationship between program and Business and to abide by these provisions. Executed this, 2016, in Tallahassee, FL. Program Print Name Below Business Print Name Below

PHOTO/VIDEO CONSENT AND GENERAL RELEASE FORM I hereby authorize the Downtown Improvement Authority, Tallahassee Community College, and Achieving the Dream (hereinafter referred to as the Program ) to use pictures of me taken in a photograph, digital image, videotape, motion picture, and/or testimonial (spoken or written words). The undersigned hereby releases the Program, its agents or employees, as well as any and all users and exhibitors of said pictures, from any and all claims, demands, accountings, and causes for which the aforesaid videotape, testimonial, motion picute, digital image, or photograph likeness may be used pursuant to this Consent and General Release. It is also my understanding that I will receive no compensation for my likeness or testimonial. 12 Executed this, 2016, in Tallahassee, FL. Program Participant Signature Print Name Below