South Dakota FAST Launch: CUSTOMER DISCOVERY

South Dakota FAST Launch will conduct a virtual boot camp training program on starting and growing businesses as well as developing and commercializing innovations. A great FAST Launch will assist entrepreneurs and small businesses beginning and expanding their business through the possible funding opportunities with the South Dakota Governor’s Giant Vision Competition and SBIR/STTR funding.

FAST Launch (In-person or On-line)

FAST Launch is a joint program of SD BioTech, EPSCoR, and Dakota State University. The purpose of FAST Launch is to help people develop their business ideas through the lean launch methodology by engaging in customer discovery and business model validation. FAST Launch is also designed to prepare people for the Governor’s Giant Vision Competition which will be held Thursday, April 11, 2024, other business competitions, and SBIR grants.

Bootcamp is the first workshop in the series and is then followed by customer discovery and business planning. Bootcamp is an intensive seven-hour workshop that combines eight weeks of material on lean methodology, business model canvas, and other business processes to introduce the concepts to anyone interested in starting a business, non-profit, or internal organizational project. This is the outline version of Launch Lab. For those interested in more instruction and mentoring in the concepts of Bootcamp, please sign-up for Launch Lab.

Customer Discovery teaches people communication techniques and question development for effective primary research on the business concept’s viability and eventually potential features. Customer discovery focuses on listening to the voice of the customer.

Business Planning teaches people the basics of a summary business plan and financial information. The format for the Governor’s Giant Vision Competition will be used.

Each session of Bootcamp, Customer Discovery, or Business Planning presents the same material, so only one session of each is needed. Please select a preference for in-person, on-line, or recorded instruction. In-person sessions are held at the Entrepreneurial Building at Dakota State University, 1400 N. Washington Avenue, Madison, SD 57042. Online participants will be provided a Zoom (or other) link for the session. We have recorded these workshops (Bootcamp, Customer Discovery, and Business Planning) so an on-demand option is available. Please inquire if you are interested in a recorded workshop. Instructor: Katherine Cota M.A., M.B.A., Director of Economic Development EMAIL: DSU-PaulsonCenter@dsu.edu