Lab 1: Unearthing Opportunities - What's the Problem?

Embark on your entrepreneurial journey with Lab 1, where you will unravel the art of identifying real-world problems and transforming them into opportunities. This lab sets the foundation for your path in entrepreneurship.

Durable Skills Covered:

Objectives:

Exploring Entrepreneurship:

• Lab 1 Intro from Sylvester Chisom: Get an overview of the lab and the importance of identifying problems as the first step in entrepreneurship.
• Engage with Inspirational Stories: Learn from a guest speaker or through an informative video to understand the essence of entrepreneurship. Hear real-life stories that illustrate the journey from concept to creation, such as Kevin Systrom, Cofounder of Instagram, discussing problem-solving.
• Understand the Entrepreneurial Mindset: Grasp the key qualities of successful entrepreneurs and how they view the world differently.

Problem Identification:

• Discovering the Entrepreneur in You: Recognize the traits and skills that make an entrepreneur successful.
• What are the 4 Major Economic Systems: Understand different economic systems and their impact on business opportunities.
• Master the Art of Problem-Solving: Develop skills to identify everyday problems that need solutions, using techniques that entrepreneurs employ to spot opportunities.
• Finding a Problem to Solve: Engage in activities that enhance your ability to think critically about the problems around you, guided by insights from Kevin Systrom.

Building Your Personal Brand:

• Create Your Unique Identity: Engage in a personal brand activity that helps you understand how to present yourself and your ideas in a compelling way.
• Personal Brand Workshop: Craft a personal brand statement that reflects your entrepreneurial vision and values.

Design Thinking:

• Understand the five stages of the design thinking process: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test.
• Apply design thinking to identify and solve real-world problems.

Idea Development:

• From Problems to Solutions: Learn to transform identified problems into viable business ideas.
• Idea Generation Techniques: Use creative thinking exercises to brainstorm and refine your business ideas.
• Idea Development Activity: Participate in hands-on activities to develop your business ideas further.

Teamwork:

• Teamwork Insights from Steve Jobs: Understand the importance of teamwork in entrepreneurship through lessons from Steve Jobs.

Outcome:

By the end of Lab 1, you will have a solid understanding of the entrepreneurial mindset, skills in identifying problems worth solving through design thinking, and the beginnings of a personal brand and business idea. You will set the foundation to pitch your idea with confidence, setting the stage for your entrepreneurial journey.