A lot of people have ideas. But only some know how to find that great idea, and even fewer know how to turn that great idea into a profit-generating business.

You can be one of them. 

This course will help you turn your big idea into a business and make an impact. In just 12 lessons, you’ll know how to turn that lightbulb moment into a venture with potential for profit and impact.  The Big Idea: Discover Your Passion and Make it Your Business will offer a pragmatic approach to launching a business, from your initial concept to securing investors.

The biggest detriment to entrepreneurs is often focus, lack of resources, and not knowing where to start. We’ve brought in top experts to help you with all of that. You’ll learn how to identify and leverage your resources, develop a compelling story and a clear business message, and learn how to pitch your idea to potential investors.  

WHAT YOU GET IN THE COURSE:

  • Over 10 hours of recorded lessons featuring successful entrepreneurs, investors, and innovative business experts
  • Personalized feedback on your business plan and pitch
  • A private networking forum with your fellow participants to build your network
  • Challenge exercises with review to help you progress your plan
  • Curated reading recommendations
  • Access to all course materials for one year
  • And more!

This is THE course for all entrepreneurs or for anyone who wants to turn their passion into a revenue generating venture and make an impact.

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Meet your Hosts!

Featured Speakers

Gina Jorasch
Director of Public Management and Social Innovation at the Stanford Graduate School of Business

Ron Cordes
Co-Chairman, Genworth Financial Wealth Management

Amy Cosper
Editor-in-Chief, Entrepreneur Magazine

Winston Ibrahim
Co-Founder and Chairman
Executive Director, Operation Hydros

Kyle Westaway
Founding Partner, Westaway Law

Mark Hanis
Co-Founder, Genocide Intervention Network, United to End Genocide and Save Darfur Coalition

Bill Murphy
Author, The Intelligent Entrepreneur and Breakthrough Entrepreneurship

Scott Gerber
Founder, Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC)

Ed Barrientos
CEO of Brazen Careerist and Angel Investor

Kevin Menard
Owner, Transition Bikes

Ryan Healy
COO and Co-Founder, Brazen Careerist

Saul Garlick
CEO and Founder, ThinkImpact

Charles Tsai
Executive Director, Social Creatives

Patrice Martin
Co-Lead and Creative Director, IDEO.org

Daniel Epstein
Founding President of The Unreasonable Institute and Founder/CEO of Unreasonable Adventures

Steve Atamian
Co-founder and Executive Director, Global Brigades and Empowered.org
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Your Hosts

You’ll have seasoned guides to help you at every step of the way:

Whitney Parker
Vice President of User Experience at Brazen Careerist

Ashley Hoffman
Director of Communications and Marketing at Brazen Careerist
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How it Works

The Big Idea: Discover your Passion and Make it Your Business is offered 100 percent online, so you can enroll from anywhere around the world, and participate from the convenience of your office, home, favorite coffee shop, or any location you choose.

The 12-lesson course is divided into 4 modules. Each module includes a reading assignment, at least two recorded lectures and an activity or homework challenge, and the chance to hear directly from seasoned experts in this field. Each guest speaker will bring to life the main theme of each week with his or her personal experience and expertise. In addition to the recorded video sessions, participants will have access to private networking groups, an online library of articles, guides, web-talks, and additional practical activities.

Once you enroll, you’ll receive a daily email walking you through that day’s lesson. It will be like a college course — you’ll have access to many of the resources you need up front but you’ll hear from us daily as we keep you on schedule.
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Agenda and Syllabus

Your key takeaways:

  • Learn from and engage directly with successful entrepreneurs
  • Build an inspirational mission statement and persuasive narrative
  • Receive investor feedback on your idea and business pitch
  • Network with your peers who can help you along the way.

Module 1: Discovering Your Business Idea

Lesson
1

Expert Perspective and Module 1 Challenge

  • Featured Speaker: Gina Jorasch, Director of Public Management and Social Innovation at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, ”Tackling Big Ideas”
  • Additional Required Reading
Lesson
2

Video: Turning Passion into Business

  • Featured Speaker: Amy Cosper, Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur Magazine
Lesson
3

Video: The Power of Relationships in Leveraging Your Assets

  • Featured Speaker: Daniel Epstein, Founding President of The Unreasonable Institute and Founder / CEO of Unreasonable Adventures
Lesson
4

Module 1 Challenge Assignment Due

  • Our experienced teaching assistants are standing by to review your assignments.

Module 2: Designing Your Business

Lesson
1

Expert Perspective and Module 2 Challenge

  • Featured Speaker: Mark Hanis, Founder of Genocide Intervention Network, ”Asking the Right Questions”
  • Additional Required Reading
Lesson
3

Video Interview: Building the Best Business: The Transition Bikes Story

Lesson
4

Designing Your Big Idea

Lesson
5

Scaling for Social Change

  • Featured Speaker: Steve Atamian, Co-founder and Executive Director, Global Brigades and Empowered.org
Lesson
6

Module 2 Challenge Due

  • Our experienced teaching assistants are standing by to review your assignments.

Module 3: Launching Your Business

Lesson
1

Expert Perspective and Module 3 Challenge

  • Featured Speaker: Charles Tsai, Executive Director, Social Creatives
  • Additional Required Reading
Lesson
2

Video: The Seven Components of Breakthrough Entrepreneurship

  • Featured Speaker: Bill Murphy, Business Author and Journalist
Lesson
3

Video: Rapid Prototyping and Pitfalls

Lesson
4

Module 3 Challenge Assignment Due

  • Our experienced teaching assistants are standing by to offer direct feedback on your assignments.

Module 4: Funding Your Business

Lesson
1

Videos: The Do’s and Don’ts of Investor Pitching

  • Featured Speakers: Ed Barrientos, CEO of Brazen Careerist; Scott Gerber, Founder of Young Entrepreneurs Council; Ron Cordes, Co-Chairman of GenWorth Financial Wealth Management
  • Additional Required Reading
Lesson
2

Video: The Law and Funding Your Passion

  • Featured Speaker: Kyle Westaway, Founding Partner at Westaway Law and Director of Operations & Business Development at The Blind Project
Lesson
3

Pitch Review Panel

  • We’ll ask each student to record a video of their pitch and upload it to our program website for review by our panelists. We’ll give you a personalized summary of their feedback within a week.
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What it Costs

Whether you’ve already got a business idea or if you haven’t identified it yet, we have tried to make this class affordable for every level and provide resources for all types of aspiring entrepreneurs.

Enrollment Cost:
Only $97! (originally $275!)

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