Success In Action: SchoolVenture
SchoolVenture set out to be an innovator in the field of middle and high school education. The founders recognized that the educational system was acting slowly to respond to the wakeup call expounded by Federal studies and guidelines which had concluded that students were inadequately prepared to compete in the American workforce, and that change in institutionalized education was long overdue.In response to this unfulfilled need, our company created a tech-savvy "roll-up-your-sleeves" curriculum, based on a successful business model that engages students in learning by running an actual business. School districts across the country have expressed interest in our concept and curriculum, and its broad appeal to middle and high school students at all levels of academic and social development.
Though several of our partners have successful careers in the corporate business and education world, our experience with entrepreneurial ventures was limited. To help bridge this gap, and to contain our startup costs, we sought guidance from Rockland SCORE. While we hoped to get some well-intentioned advice and perhaps some pearls of wisdom in our first meeting with SCORE advisors, we were unprepared for the incisive questions and depth of knowledge about the educational field that these three advisors put forth. It was clear that SCORE had gone to the trouble to review our profile and provide advisors with spot on credentials.
While not trying to squelch our passion and enthusiasm, the SCORE advisors clearly intended to test our willingness and ability to face the rigors of launching an innovative product to a largely conservative target market. They thoroughly questioned the business model and offered suggestions for alternative approaches. Perhaps most importantly, they encouraged us to validate our ideas, not just with school administrators, but also with teachers, their unions, and of course students through focus groups.
The advice we have to date as well as continue to receive from our SCORE advisors has been instrumental in moving our plans much closer to fruition. SCORE is helping us to effectively address a broad range of political, financial and legal issues that we are facing in our efforts to compete for the attention of school curriculum decision-makers and increasingly limited school district budgets.
SchoolVenture is now preparing for a proof of concept in the form of several school pilots to begin later this year. We sincerely thank our SCORE advisors for their interest, insight, and commitment. This is one free service that boldly defies the adage, "you get what you pay for." We received and will continue to receive top-notch professional advice from a team of advisors who could clearly be charging, and getting, top dollar for their sage advice.
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