The HUB of Minority Entrepreneurship
As the HUB of Minority Entrepreneurship iNvictus was launched to foster the entrepreneurial talent already growing in the community. We differentiate ourselves from all other coworking spaces by focusing predominantly on the issues minority entrepreneurs face in business and we address them through our iNvictus EMERGE (Entrepreneurship, Mentorship, Economic evelopment, Research, Growth & Education) program.
Challenges Faced by Minority Entrepreneurs
Not to go unnoticed, a large number of minority owned businesses do not survive past the first couple of years or enjoy the level of success their counterparts may experience in the same industry.
This is not due to lack of drive or passion. The relative lack of success among minority owned businesses could be credited in part to owners who have less startup capital, disadvantaged family support, and less education.
In short you can have the perfect product or best service but do not have the support, resource, or knowledge necessary to prosper. Our research has proven that the solutions to inequality in entrepreneurship across demographics has to be handled with a three pronged approach:
- Access to capital (minority-owned businesses are three times as likely to be denied loans)
- Access to business networks (expand access to business networks for minority entrepreneurs)
- Access to skill development (more industry specific continuing education.)
As members of iNvictus Office Center & through the curriculum provided by iNvictus Forward Outreach, our entrepreneurs are mentored to gain the knowledge and strategic development to help them grow and be successful. Our leadership is comprised of minority entrepreneurs who have built strong, sustainable businesses and have strong ties in their respective communities. This country and minority communities throughout is full of talented freelancers, entrepreneurs, and visionaries like yourself, iNvictus business mentorship programs in Durham is your launching pad to success.
Entrepreneurial Curriculum
We’ve combined vibrant entrepreneurial community, and added a unique sense of purpose, and developed a proprietary eight step-mentoring curriculum that helps to meet the specific challenges that minority entrepreneurs face.
These comprehensive module based guides are for entrepreneurs and start-ups. By utilizing the eight-stage format, entrepreneurs or start up
business owners engage themselves in a self-paced business actualization process. The curriculum incorporates readings, guest lectures, videos, case studies, and field experiences. Each member of the program is assigned a mentor to assist through the curriculum give real world insight. The eight stages of the curriculum are:
ENVISAGE
ENVISAGE
- Identify Passion And Hobbies
- Small Business Readiness Assessment
- Risk Assessment
- Peer Feedback
OPPORTUNITY RECOGNITION
OPPORTUNITY RECOGNITION
- Idea Viability
- Opportunity Feasibility Assessment
- Market and Competitive Factors
- Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Challenges
ASSESSMENT
ASSESSMENT
- Writing a Business Plan
- Business Models
- Technology Integration
NEW VENTURES
NEW VENTURES
- Vision, Mission, and Mandates
- Goals, Objectives, and Values
- Team Building
- Leadership Roles
FORMATION
FORMATION
- Marketing Plan
- Financing (crowd funding vs. investors)
- Maximize Resources (People, Infrastructure, Funding)
- Launch Plan
COMMERCIALIZATION
COMMERCIALIZATION
- Grand Opening
- Accounting
- Operations
- Ethics and Legal Aspects
MINORITY BUSINESS 101
MINORITY BUSINESS 101
- Minority Based Entrepreneur Initiatives
- Minority Based Funding (Loan and Grant Programs)
- Minority Business Professional Organizations
- Formal Business Certifications
- Certified Minority Owned Business
- Small Business Administration 8A Business Development Program
- Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)
- Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE)
MINORITY BUSINESS 201
MINORITY BUSINESS 201
- Scaling
- Branding
- Managing a Growing Business
- Acquisitions, Mergers, Alliances
Mentor Businesses and Entrepreneurs
Through this program iNvictus counters any challenges faced by minority entrepreneurs and business owners. We provide direct access to our partner networks, which puts you in touch with: access to capital, access to business networks, and access to skill development. Providing the formula for business success and allowing minorities to compete on a global scale! Learn more about our: Small business assistance program in Durham NC
Since we’ve opened our doors, through our iNvictus EMERGE program, we have mentored and assisted over 500 companies and venture leaders. We continue to work with some of the brightest entrepreneurs across the globe, including but not limited to the United States, Canada, Belgium and Rwanda. We want to work with you as well. Learn more about the iNvictus Coworking spaces in Durham!