PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Scale Up! Louisiana is a statewide, community-based, entrepreneurial education intensive hosted by Urban League of Louisiana’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. This program provides early stage, women- and minority-owned firms with the education and resources needed for scalability and profitability. In order to participate, entrepreneurs must commit to a business education program that is delivered via 11, 2.5 hour web class sessions. Participants must also commit to utilizing additional resources and services to support their business outside of curriculum, including: counseling sessions, technical assistance, business plan assignments, and meetings with an assigned business advisor.
The Urban League of Louisiana is working to increase access to entrepreneurship training in the communities that it serves – based on the challenges, opportunities, and small business development needs that are unique to selected communities across the state of Louisiana.
FAST FACTS:
WHO: Existing Small Business Owners
WHAT: An 11 week program delivered via 11, 2.5 hour web class sessions.
BONUS: A business advisor for counseling, technical assistance, and other support services as needed.
COST: FREE!
Scale Up! Louisiana provides small business owners with:
- Entrepreneurship Education for Early Stage Businesses
- Localized Programming Within the Community
- One-on-One and Small Group Business Counseling
- Access to Mentors and Business Advisors Relevant to Specific Industry and Business Needs
- Connections to Resources to Support Growth
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:
In order to participate, small businesses must meet the following criteria:
- Have at least $40,000 in documented revenue for the previous tax year
- Have been in business for at least 2 years
- Must have a desire to scale
- Must be certified as a Small and Emerging Business by LED (To get certified, please visit (https://www.opportunitylouisiana.com/sebd).
- Must have access to a laptop for use in classroom sessions
- Must have access to the internet and a computer with a camera at home
*For questions regarding the eligibility criteria, please contact the CEI at wbrc@urbanleaguela.org.
SCALE UP! LOUISIANA BATON ROUGE – COHORT 3
The Urban League of Louisiana, in collaboration with Hancock Whitney, will host its third Scale Up! Louisiana series, online, beginning in September 2020 for eligible small businesses in East Baton Rouge Parish. The series will take place via 11, 2.5 hour web sessions.
In order to participate, small business owners must submit an online application including a narrative of their business goals and long-term aspirations. Phone interviews will also be conducted to determine the candidate’s commitment to the program and to growing his/her business.
The application deadline for the fall 2020 program, Scale Up! Baton Rouge Cohort 3 is Thursday, September 4, 2020.
SERIES SCHEDULE – FALL 2020 – BATON ROUGE
| Date | Session | Time |
| Tuesday, September 15 | Orientation + Meet the Entrepreneurs | 10:00am-12:30pm |
| Thursday, September 17 | Session 1: Creating a Scalable Business Model | 10:00am-12:30pm |
| Thursday, September 24 | Session 2: Innovative Growth and Scalability Strategies | 10:00am-12:30pm |
| Thursday, October 1 | Session 3: The Personal and Business Finances of the Entrepreneur | 10:00am-12:30pm |
| Thursday, October 8 | Session 4: Marketing for Growth | 10:00am-12:30pm |
| Thursday, October 15 | Session 5: Winning and Keeping Customers | 10:00am-12:30pm |
| Thursday, October 22 | Session 6: Scale Up! Plan of Action Review Session | 10:00am-12:30pm |
| Thursday, October 29 | Session 7: How to Hire and Keep Good Employees | 10:00am-12:30pm |
| Thursday, November 5 | Session 8: Pricing Strategy | 10:00am-12:30pm |
| Thursday, November 12 | Session 9: Becoming Bankable: Preparing to Access Capital | 10:00am-12:30pm |
| Thursday, November 19 | Session 10: The Scale Up! Plan of Action | 10:00am-12:30pm |
OUR PARTNERS
Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.