Wharton Small Business Development Center Consulting and EntrepreneurshipInformation Session

August 22, 2017

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Our mission is to provide high impact/high value solutions to

challenges faced by real entrepreneurs/small businesses

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Be a part of helping a wide range of Philly area start-ups/small businesses grow/thrive.

Get hands-on experience in helping to address the multitude of challenges/hurdles that these entrepreneurs face in their daily operations.

Why Join the SBDC?

Leadership Team

Erin McGowan, Senior Associate Director,

MS, Non-Profit Leadership, Penn

Plus our instructors, senior consultants,

and Wharton undergraduate and MBA consultants

John Ondik, Business Building

Program Executive, Wharton MBA

Celeste Corrado, Director

UCLA Anderson MBA; MS, Information Systems,

Drexel University

Jon Potter, Growth Program

DirectorMIT Sloan MBA 4

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Core programs:

• Growth Consulting Projects

• Business Building Advisory Services

Example opportunities for SBDC consultants:

• Special Project – Dept. of Energy’s Top Technology Ventures Pitch Deck development and coaching

• New Pilot Programs – leading edge capabilities and tools

Our Programs and Opportunities

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3819 Chestnut StreetPhiladelphia, PA

215-898-1219Idea/ Concept Stage Start-up & Development Sustainment / Exit StrategyGrowth & Expansion

3. Philly Area Incubator & Accelerator Pilots – Key Phases of Venture Life Cycle

1. Cross Disciplinary/Integrated Pilot 1a. New InfoViz Tools: Technology Landscape Analysis

Business Law-IP

Tech Venture

New - Leading Edge WSBDC PilotsExample opportunities periodically available to SBDC consultants

2. Dept of Energy Top Tech Ventures

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• 42 MBA/42 UGs

• Helped 400+ client companies this past year - from a wide range of industries at varying stages of their growth cycle

• Assisted 21 business startups

• Increased clients’ sales by over $20 million; helped clients achieve over $32 million in investment

• Worked with Philly Area Tech Accelerators to assist in venture success and obtaining funding

• Worked with Dept. of Energy and their top Clean Tech ventures preparing for commercialization

2016 Achievements

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Benefits

• Make a positive impact on Philadelphia area start-ups and ventures

• Be a part of helping startups and small businesses grow and thrive

• Acquire first-hand experience helping entrepreneurs face a multitude of business challenges and hurdles

• Coaching and training from professional consultants to help real small businesses and entrepreneurs solve a range of complex and challenging business problems

Growth Consulting Program

Midpoint Check-in

Client ConsultantIntroduction

Engagement Kickoff

Data Analytics

Feedback Loop

Final Presentation

Ongoing Communication

“This project helped us to identify the white space in our industry, and provided an important input to our strategic planning process, positioning us for future growth. At the end of the day, the analytics were great, but the relationship was really what made it work.”

Lucinda Holt, WG ‘91, CEO, Destiny Software, ClickEquations, Real Food Works

Projects support clients in making key strategic decisions. Teams have undertaken research and analysis to help CEOs understand market trends, opportunities, competitive landscape, and opportunities for more successful business models.

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Business Building Consulting Program

• A program where your critical insights can transform businesses

- Coaching/advising small & early stage companies

- Analysis/basic blocking and tackling

- Generally financials and marketing challenges

- Teaching/knowledge transfer

- Tools, frameworks for decision-making, etc

Leverage your experience and classroom work with real-world clients

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What Can You Expect?

• Fast-paced entrepreneurial environment

• A supportive and collaborative team, including ongoing training and structured support plus experienced professional leadership

• Working directly with CEOs and managing client relationships

• Application of classroom learning/business expertise to active “real-life” clients

• The hallmark of experiential education --learning by doing

What is Expected of You?

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• Commitment for academic year

• Contribute 6-10 hours per week, including team meetings and trainings

• Attend scheduled meetings and trainings

• Commitment to excellence in quality of the analytic work and professionalism in client relationships

• Complete consulting work and documentation on time

• Contribute to building a high-performing team and program advancement

• Accountability for recording work hours and submitting timesheets to be paid weekly

What Do You Expect of Yourself?“The SBDC forces you to deal with undefined challenges and imperfect information. This was a critical contrast to the sanitized case studies we use in class and forced me to really think about how to apply course theory to real life.”

– SBDC Consultant

“I actually shared a marketing model I learned in class with the client, walked her through what it meant, and taught her how to use it to frame her business issue. SBDC allows the insulated classroom experience to extend to the real world.” – SBDC Consultant

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Where are they now?

Former SBDC consultants are all

over the world working their own

ventures, in entrepreneurial businesses, at

consulting firms, and as investors.

Next Steps: Application & Interviews

• Applications − Include: resume & one-page cover letters; non-Wharton format OK; your resume

must include your email address− Indicate your goals and interests in SBDC consulting, or if you are considering

both; highlight any consulting or small business experience in your cover letter − Please submit your application on-line; we will email you the link− Applications accepted Wednesday, August 23 - Thursday, August 31

• Interviews– Wednesday - Friday, September 6-8

• Offers by September 12 EOD

• Kickoff Meetings: Scheduled by program

Note: If you are an international student, in order to be employed at the SBDC, you need to have a valid F-1 visa. Any questions, please email wsbdc@wharton.upenn.edu

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We are Looking for YOU

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• To meet and exceed the needs of a client base operating in a wide range of industries, we recruit students with a wide range of previous backgrounds and functional strengths:

• Consulting• Marketing • Operations• Military • Bio & Health Sciences

• Public Service/Non-Profit• Venture Capital & Private Equity • Engineering • Entrepreneurial Start-Up• Information Technology

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Q&A

• What is the interview process like?

• How many positions are there?

• How many generally apply?

• What is the schedule? What if I have conflicts?

• What are you looking for?

• Do I need consulting experience?

• What is the commitment?

• What type of work will I do?

• What type of clients does SBDC work with?

• Can I choose my clients?

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How will you make the most of your time at Wharton?