Executive program in Venture Creation and Growth
Program duration – Six months.
Batch size – 1 to 5.
Application fee – US $ 15 non refundable processing fee.
Program Information and Outline:
This program is available only to entrepreneurs who are already running business or those who have some ideas and are in process of starting business. Our hands on approach includes mentorship and help to create successful new venture or drive growth in existing venture. Each course has theoretical as well as practical component where concepts will be applied to your venture and we will help you in execution as well. We are extremely cautious in our selection process and only enroll 5 companies in a given batch. Program is delivered on rolling basis. We provide 1 year follow up support from the date entrepreneur finishes the program. This support includes one monthly online meeting followed up with written action plan and reasonable communication throughout month using other modes (email, Whats App, Skype, phone, Google Hangouts etc.).
- Opportunity Identification & Feasibility Studies
- Competitive landscape analysis
- Understanding growth challenges and dealing with them
- Business Model development and Refinement
- Understanding technology paradigm and application of technology
- Patent search and unique selling proposition validation
- Tying Business functions
- Team development and hiring
- Legal concepts and frameworks
- Business plan refinement
- Strategy development and execution
- Understanding fund raising
- Validation and testing
- Go to market
- Feedback analysis and iterations
- Partners and Alliances
- Measurement tools and techniques
- Follow up support for 1 year from end date of program.
- Self-reflection and management techniques
Frequently asked questions (FAQs):
1. Are your programs formally accredited?
No, we are not formally accredited and don’t plan to seek any type of formal accreditation. Our enrollment and teaching standards are extremely rigorous to an extent where our programs may not be suited for most of the people. We urge individuals to explore and read all information and think carefully about time commitments and required course work load before spending time in additional activities.
2. Are you affiliated with any university?
No, our programs are not affiliated with any university.
3. How competitive is the selection criteria?
We are highly selective in our selection process. Producing results and delivering outstanding program requires substantial commitment in terms of time, efforts and money from our team as well as entrepreneurs. We want to work with only those entrepreneurs and teams where we feel we can really make difference and it will be win-win proposition for both sides.
4. What happens if there is no open vacancy in a particular program?
Due to personalized attention and cohort nature of our program, if we think that we can’t do justice with a student due to unavailability of open slots or our team of researchers and instructors are too busy with existing students, we will politely inform you about our decision. This is why we charge only nominal application processing fee and are so descriptive about our program offerings. Our program format and delivery is not suited for everyone and we understand that.
5. Do I need to work in specific sector or industry to apply for this program? Should my idea be in a specific sector?
We encourage all types of entrepreneurs provided current or future business is legal and ethical. Also business idea or model should make some sense in at least opinion of entrepreneur.
6. Do you guarantee anything in terms of fund raising or anything else?
No, we only guarantee that we will try to provide you a great experiential learning and help you in every way we can to realize your dream but we don’t offer any implicit or explicit guarantees or warranties or any other outrageous claims.
7. Any other advice for startups and ventures who want to scale up?
Try to solve compelling problem. Build real products and not only features. Look at your business model many times. For those who want to scale up first ask, why and how? Get your ground as well as air game right. Execution and judgment is really important and all entrepreneurs must remember that. Develop an ability to see things as they really are without biases and skepticism.
8. What kind of time commitment is required for this program?
We ask for 100 percent commitment from entrepreneurs in terms of efforts, you should be ready to put hard work to make your venture successful. From our side, we usually invest 20 hrs. per week with entrepreneurs in various activities like teaching, mentor ship, helping in creating minimum viable product (MVP), market traction etc. Idea is to help you create a sustainable and growing business in 18 months and there is no set rule in place. Some entrepreneurs may need help in one area whereas others may require help in another area.
9. What will be format of certificate and can it be cross checked?
An entrepreneur who successfully finishes all requirements of program will be awarded completion certificate. All certificates will have identification number and will be delivered in PDF format. Prospective employers or other interested parties can email at given contact information to cross check about certificate validity. A student needs to sign waiver form permitting us to release pertinent information to employers or other interested parties.
10. What is your admission cycle? Do you encourage networking among cohort of students?
We offer rolling admissions and make decisions on ongoing basis.
Yes, we encourage networking among cohort of students. At start of program, email addresses of entrepreneurs in cohort will be shared. We will use group communication tools, online networking groups and discussion boards as well.
11. I still have additional queries, whom should I contact?
For additional queries, please email inquiries@gracexinstitute.org with “Executive program in Venture Creation and Growth” in subject line.