Are you thinking about launching a small business? Not sure what is involved? Unsure if you have a viable business idea? Join this introductory presentation to break down the nuts and bolts of what is needed to start a business.

Attendees will be able to:
- Recognize steps to starting a business
- Utilize a business concept analysis to understand the viability of their business concept
- Understand differing legal structures
- Learn how to decide if starting a business is right for you!

Target Audience:
- Start-up businesses
- Individuals in the ideation and research stages
- Individuals preparing to launch their business
- Intermediate businesses looking for refreshers

Isabel Krome, a Start-Up Consultant at Temple SBDC, will be presenting this webinar. She brings over eight years of small business development experience. Her work has been wide ranging, including business model planning, market research, business formalization, accessing capital, strategic planning, diversity certifications and more. When she isn’t working with entrepreneurs, Isabel enjoys drinking coffee, rock climbing, and watching her daughter boss around her cats.

Zoom link will be sent upon registration. Please confirm that your email address is correct and check your spam if you do not receive registration confirmation with 24 hours.  

Register Here.

This no-cost, one-hour webinar is designed to answer the frequently asked questions of aspiring entrepreneurs. After introducing you to the Wilkes SBDC and its services, we will cover:

• Types of Business Structures - From sole proprietorships to LLCs and corporations, we’ll help you choose the structure that aligns with your goals and vision.
• Licensing and Registration - Learn the critical steps and legal requirements for licensing and registering your business.
• Types of Financing - Explore the various financing options available, including loans and investors, plus the 5 Cs lenders consider when evaluating financing applications.
• Business Plan Outline - Understand how to craft a comprehensive business plan to guide your start-up journey.
• Financial Projections - Gain insight into forecasting, including start-up expenses, cash flow analysis, and personal financial planning.
  
  Register Here

Overview

This workshop is designed to introduce small business owners to the transformative potential of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools. Participants will gain insight into the wide array of available AI technologies and learn practical techniques to leverage GenAI tools for increased productivity and efficiency. The session will cover GenAI tools, prompting techniques, and real-world applications that can help automate tasks and drive business growth.

Learning Objectives

1. Unleash the Power of AI – Understand the fundamentals of generative AI and identify useful tools available to small business owners.

2. Master the Art of Prompting – Develop effective techniques for communicating with AI models to get optimal results.

3. Drive Productivity – Explore real-world AI use cases to enhance business operations and streamline processes.

Target Audience 

Small business owners, entrepreneurs, and team leaders interested in adopting AI to enhance operational productivity and innovation.

Workshop Content

Key Topics

1. Introduction to Generative AI:

   - Definition and functionality of Generative AI (GenAI)

   - Key business applications of GenAI

   - Industry trends and adoption

2. Popular GenAI Tools for Small Businesses:

   - Overview of tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and other tools with GenAI features (i.e., Canva, Google Docs, Gmail, Outlook, Excel, and Google Sheets)

   - Features and limitations of each tool

   - Selecting the right tool for specific business needs 

3. Effective Prompting Techniques:

   - The importance of prompt structure in AI interaction

   - Crafting precise, effective prompts for various outcomes

   - Different prompt styles (descriptive, instructional, etc.)

4. AI Applications for Productivity:

   - Content creation: blogs, social media posts, marketing copy

   - Customer service automation: chatbots, email management

   - Data analysis: gaining insights and optimizing performance

   - Task automation: reducing manual processes for efficiency

Hands-On Activities

The workshop instructor will select among these hands-on activities, with at least one activity to give participants experience with GenAI tools, depending on the time allotted for this workshop.  

1. Prompt Engineering Practice: Participants will craft and refine prompts using AI tools to generate content or solutions to business tasks.
2. AI Tool Exploration: Attendees will test popular AI tools, experiencing firsthand how to apply these in a business context.
3. Productivity Case Studies: Analyze real-world examples where businesses successfully implemented AI to scale productivity and operations.
4. Group Project: â€‹Teams will collaborate to devise AI-driven solutions to a real-world business challenge, applying lessons from the workshop.