A regional Entrepreneurship Pop-Up Workshop is being hosted at the Troy University IDEA Bank for aspiring entrepreneurs including students, and existing small business owners. 

Troy University has partnered with Auburn University’s Government and Economic Development Institute to provide this opportunity for entrepreneurs to improve their odds of success. The workshop will be led by Dr. LaKami Baker, Russell Foundation Associate Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies at Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business. Dr. Baker has experience as the Managing Director of the Lowder Center for Family Business and Entrepreneurship and was most recently the Interim Director of the Government and Economic Development Institute. 

She helps drive and support economic development and entrepreneurship growth initiatives across the state of Alabama, providing training to civic and elected officials and economic developers. During her four-year tenure with the Lowder Center for Family Business and Entrepreneurship, the student teams she worked with won or raised over $1M in external sources and earned over $930,000 in revenue. She is certified to provide training, coaching and mentoring on the lean startup methodologies, value proposition design, and creating and developing sustainable business models by the International Business Innovation Association (InBIA). She also earned her Entrepreneurship Center Management (ECM) Certificate from InBIA. 

“The IDEA Bank is a great addition to Alabama’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and is uniquely positioned to help drive economic and entrepreneurial growth in the Wiregrass region,” Baker said. “I am excited to share with TROY students and community entrepreneurs the importance of understanding their customers and the value they create for them when starting and growing a business.”

The Government and Economic Development Institute (GEDI) regularly develops entrepreneurial and economic development programs for the region, thanks to a grant from the Economic Development Association. 

“Partnering with the well-established GEDI was a no-brainer for the newly-launched IDEA Bank. We can help them fulfill their mission of providing resources to Alabama’s communities while fulfilling our own mission of becoming a hub for entrepreneurship for our region,” said Lynne George, the IDEA Bank’s Director.

“It is a great opportunity to bring a well-established program and an entrepreneurial expert with a history of mentorship success to our community and to our students. Small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs will benefit tremendously from Dr. Baker’s expertise and will also have the opportunity to meet other like-minded individuals in their community,” she said.

Dr. Baker’s presentation will address developing and fine-tuning value propositions, determining market potential, assessing risks, networking, funding and more.

“This workshop is designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs and existing business owners map their business model and communicate their value proposition,” added Baker. 

The workshop will take place on August 26 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is open to anyone in the community. The cost to attend is $25 for individuals or free to current students and will include a meal. The event will be held at the Troy University IDEA Bank, located on the downtown square in Troy, AL. There is limited capacity, so pre-registration is required. Interested participants can sign up here: https://troyuniversity.formstack.com/forms/entrepreneurship_pop_up_workshop

Visit www.troy.edu/ideabank or email lfirmin@troy.edu for more information about the Entrepreneurship Pop-Up Workshop and other IDEA Bank programs.