UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Invent Penn State LaunchBox & Innovation Network has launched a free online self-guided entrepreneurship education resource available to everyone.
Titled “Customer Discovery 101,” this digital curriculum is designed for people with ideas looking to start a business, as well as those with existing small businesses looking to develop new products and services or expand into new markets. Targeted. This program is free and available to the public, and no Pennsylvania affiliation is required to use it.
LaunchBox & Innovation Network regularly provides early-stage entrepreneurial assistance to Pennsylvania entrepreneurs through its statewide network. This resource allows for broader access and reach for founders who cannot access a LaunchBox location due to physical or geographic limitations, or who prefer to work independently online.
“We created Customer Discovery 101 to provide all Pennsylvania entrepreneurs and current business owners with free, accessible content to support the development and growth of their businesses.” , said Annie Hughes, statewide coordinator for the Invent Penn State LaunchBox & Innovation Network. “This program was developed specifically for people living in rural Pennsylvania and those seeking startup help but lack access to resources and assistance.”
The program consists of four learning modules, each containing short educational videos, reading materials, and activities that users can work through at their own pace. The program also directs users to work with a coach of their choice throughout the program. If you need help finding a coach, Invent Penn State can help you identify coaches in your local ecosystem.
“All users have to do to get started is click on the program link,” Hughes says. “If you have even the slightest interest, please give it a try!” If you have any questions about the program, please contact customerdiscovery@psu.edu. ”
Customer Discovery 101 is funded in part by federal funding received by Pennsylvania for the Industry 4.0 initiative to economically strengthen central Pennsylvania's workforce.
“This curriculum guides entrepreneurs through customer discovery, a critical process that helps reduce risk in the creation of new ventures and products,” said Director of Economic Development and Student Programs in the Office of Entrepreneurship and Commercialization. said Brad Zdenek. “Entrepreneurs are challenged to identify and test their core business assumptions so they can adjust their plans before investing money, effort, and time in building a new business or product.”
We encourage all Pennsylvania entrepreneurs to click here to access and experience the Customer Discovery 101 program.
Funding for this program was made available through Congressional Directed Disbursements with support from the PA Congressional Delegation.
About Invent Pennsylvania
Invent Penn State is a Commonwealth-wide effort to promote economic development, job creation, and student career success. Invent Penn State combines academic programs focused on entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial training and incubation, commercialization financing, and university/community/industry collaboration to bring research discoveries to the people of Pennsylvania. and facilitate the difficult process of turning them into valuable products and services that benefit humanity.
This project was funded in part by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.
