StartupGrowKC bootcamp: Building smart and intentional teams alongside ECJC

Founders can expect to emerge from the Enterprise Center in Johnson County’s StartupGrowKC bootcamp series with greater knowledge of the skills needed to grow their business, said Kathryn Golden.

“[Founders will see] the fuller life cycle of what they will need to consider [to be successful],” said Golden, programs manager at ECJC, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping entrepreneurs grow. “I do want them to walk away with an actionable, strategic plan, and even if they’re not immediately ready to use the whole thing, they can put it in their file cabinet, or continue filling it out over time. They know what [steps] to think through.”

Kathryn Golden, ECJC

Click here to learn more about the Enterprise Center in Johnson County.

Four courses on essential startup questions are planned throughout 2019, in addition to ECJC’s wide-ranging programming, she said, noting the first iteration of a customer acquisition strategy track wrapped in the fall.

The next course — “Building Smart and Intentional Teams” — is expected to begin Jan. 22, she added, adding that registration for the three-session course is open.

Click here to register for “Building Smart and Intentional Teams” or learn more about the bootcamp curriculum.

“Most entrepreneurs [would say] they’ve never managed people before,” said Golden. “So now, they’re managing small teams and they’re trying to create a culture and grow really quickly. How do you do that when that’s all new to you?”

The class size is expected to be about 10 to 15 founders, she said, adding she hopes for a small group setting.

“The content is very practical and hands on,” she added.

Mentors and experts expected to serve as instructors include: Ryan Thompson, Ad Astra CTO; Doug Burris, Growth Acceleration Services president; and Susie Coultis, executive coach and consultant for Propel Coaching and Consulting, said Golden.

“I certainly don’t have any expertise on these topics that we have that offered, so I went out and found people who did,” she laughed.

The two remaining courses planned for later in 2019 are expected to cover building sales and fostering media attention, she said, noting ECJC’s Growth Mentoring Service and Pitch Perfect programs are expected to continue in 2019 as well.

Click here to get updates and better connected to ECJC.