LaunchU 2025
 
February 8, 2025 | 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
OzSBI-Ozarks Small Business Incubator
408 Washington Ave
West Plains, MO
65775

Dreaming of Starting Your Own Business? Want to Make Your Current Business More Successful?

LaunchU is a nine-week course for aspiring and early-stage business owners. Durig the course, you will learn and execute the following concepts:

  • Set your business goals
  • Craft and pitch your business concept
  • Research your industry and competition
  • Market your services and products
  • Identify and reach your target customers
  • Set pricing, project profitability, break-even point, and cash flow
  • Choose the right business structure
  • Assemble a support team
  • Evaluate the feasibility of your business model so you can adjust course if needed

This training series helps you complete a written feasibility plan to help you determine if your business idea is a GO or a NO GO. Your feasibility plan can then be adapted into your business plan.

Your $225 course fee includes:

  • 9 weeks of training with certified facilitators
  • LaunchU Workbook
  • Subscription to LivePlan business planning software (a $60 value)
  • Handouts
  • Expert guest speakers in market research, marketing, accounting, legal, and more
  • Step-by-step help with your feasibility plan and one-on-one business counseling throughout the course and beyond.

Class Start Date:

Saturday, February 8th
9 A.M. to 4 P.M. (lunch included)

Continuing Dates (all beginning at 5:30 P.M. and ending at 8:30 P.M.):

  • Thursday, February 13th
  • Thursday, February 20th
  • Thursday, February 27th
  • Thursday, March 6th
  • No class Thursday, March 13th
  • Thursday, March 20th
  • Thursday, March 27th
  • Thursday, April 3rd (Graduate & Pitch)

Location:

OzSBI Conference Room, 408 Washington Ave, West Plains, MO 65775

Maximum capacity: 20

  • Payment can be made with a check or via Paypal
  • Mail/Drop off cash or check payment to: OzSBI, 408 Washington Ave., West Plains, MO 65775

If you are in need of financial assistance, partial scholarships are available. Please contact Heather Fisher for more information.

Flexible payment plans are available for those in hardship.

In order to provide an interactive, dynamic group class experience, we require at least ten (10) enrolled students in order to hold the class. If LaunchU is canceled due to low enrollment, the course will be postponed to a different date.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I'm already in business, would I still benefit from LaunchU?

If you are in your first year of business, you would definitely benefit from taking LaunchU. If you have been in business for longer than a year, you might still benefit if you are considering adjusting your business model for greater success.

I can’t afford $225, can I still take the course?

We offer flexible payment plans and partial scholarships for those unable to pay the full $225 tuition upfront. Please contact us directly prior to class to discuss. However, we ask that you pay half of the tuition by the first day of class. You can start making payments toward an upcoming session of LaunchU at any time.

What if I’m not sure about my business idea?

Then LaunchU is definitely for you!  At its core, LaunchU assesses the feasibility of your business idea. If it turns out that your business idea is not feasible, LaunchU benefits you by 1) helping you figure this out BEFORE you make a significant investment; and 2) helping you figure out ways to adjust your business model or create a new business concept that is feasible.  Also, the skills you learn in LaunchU can be applied to ANY business idea you have in the future.

Facilitated by:

Heather Fisher, OzSBI CEO
Ila Sloan, OzSBI CFO
Autumn Shirley, OzSBI Business Dev Specialist
Gene Weinbeck, OzSBI Mentor Coordinator
Melvin Steele, SBDC Regional Business Consultant
Bryan Adcock, SMCHC CEO and OzSBI Board Vice Chair
Cheri Combs, OzSBI Mentor
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