Nacar Design’s Post

Last week I attended a 5-day Technology Entrepreneurship Bootcamp conducted by the Department of Engineering at the University of Exeter Congratulations to the winning team Gelsica Da Glória MSc, Sebastian Pihl Michelleanna Kusi-Boateng and Amanda Sperandio My Team - OptaVis received a special mention - Deepak Jha, RUPESH KUMAR, ABHILASH GOWDA, @Juliet s. I wish I could share the detailed highlights of each day :/ But here is the recap of all 5 days Day 1 - The day started with an overview and introduction by Peter Melville-Shreeve, Lecturer in Engineering and Entrepreneurship, Professor Voicu Ion Sucala, Head of Engineering, Gigi Wang, from UC Berkeley Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (SCET) Gigi Wang talked about her journey from an investor to teaching and mentoring entrepreneurship globally. She discussed the key differences between inventors, innovators, and entrepreneurs. Growth vs. Fixed Mindset, She also introduces us to the Berkeley method of entrepreneurship (BMOE) & the Berkeley Innovation Index, Later Raphael Dennett took the session on "Speaking with Impact" where he shared tips, tricks, & frameworks on how to deliver a great presentation." Before lunch, student pitched their ideas & afterwards, they recruited the team Will Line, Shared an inspirational Journey & Talked about product market fit The day ended with Pizza at the Old Fire House ,a cool aspect of our bootcamp Day 2 - Focused more on learning - Customer-Centric Product Design, Identifying the customer and developing a solution targeting their needs, Go-to market strategy, Innovation in Value Extraction Value Exchange challenge - where we needed to exchange the pencil for something more valuable. Market Validation by Emily Davies Day 3 and Day 4 are filled with activities, talks & insights Now the team are formed and we need to work on Presentation and pitching to investors turn by turn and get feedback. It was dedicated to Investors, mentors and practising the pitch getting feedback Day 5 - The Pitch Day and Guess what we were doing last night? Playing table tennis—after practising for the pitch, of course. After pitching, we presented our reflection slides on team members, the boot camp, and learning; it was one of the best sessions. Everyone was very innovative & creative. Wishing all the best to my new friends, Future Leaders & Entrepreneurs, Innovators Alper Nedimoğlu, Stanislaus Chandra, Ahmed Almehaisen, Leonardo Lima, César Medina, ALI KAISSY, Ahmer Najar, Aarti Ramchand, Janhavi Arora, Jakub Broome, Shrinithy Parthasarathi, Danson Kimathi, Rory Lawless,  Paula Ionita 🍡 , Thank you To all the mentors, speakers, Investors, Judges and Faculties Niki Roach, Ceri Howells, Pratheeba Vimalnath, Andi Stan, Sarah Bunney, Patrick O’Connell. Thank you is not enough to appreciate your time & feedback Special Mention to Adam Davidson for his support and guidance. Amber Strong for the opportunity & organising the Bootcamp.

💥 Hariduskopter is introducing our team members! I must say, this post isn't doing my modesty any favors: 👉 To get a better insight into the everyday workings of Hariduskopter, we'll introduce you to our people and their contributions to Ida-Viru county education in the upcoming posts. 💥 To give you a closer look into the daily work of the Hariduskopter team, we will be introducing you to our members and their contributions to education in the county in our upcoming posts. ✨Let us introduce you to our dynamic team member and world-improver, Iti-Jantra! Iti is a true motivator who helps schools establish and develop student companies. In addition to advising partner schools, this year, under Iti's leadership, we are excited to host cool idea hackathons, student company fairs, and competitions. 💪 Should we receive positive funding decisions, Iti will collaborate with Maarja-Liisa Lepsalu from Toila Youth Centers to execute the project "Entrepreneurial Youth as the Development Engine of Ida/Viru." This initiative will include a youth conference aimed at fostering entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial attitudes among 13-19-year-olds in Ida-Virumaa. The conference will feature an exhibition of youth-led projects and later, a fascinating educational trip to showcase entrepreneurial role models. 👉Last academic year 23/24, a total of 14 student companies were created in Ida-Virumaa, up from just 8 the previous year. The most active creators were at Kohtla-Järve Gymnasium, Kohtla-Järve Järve School, Jõhvi Gymnasium, Narva Children's Creative House, and Narva Soldino Gymnasium. Under Iti's leadership last year, a student company program was initiated at the Ida-Virumaa Vocational Education Center. The program drew inspiration from other vocational centers (such as Kuressaare, Viljandi), allowing students to prepare their student company ideas to launch this academic year. ⭐Ask Iti for advice or invite her to your school to discuss how to initiate student companies at your institution! Iti is ready to share her knowledge and offer support. Don't forget that entrepreneurial activity in Ida-Virumaa is among the lowest in Estonia, which makes it especially important to provide our students with the opportunity to start and experiment with entrepreneurship at school. Let's activate entrepreneurship in the county! 💪✨

Embracing Neuro-Inclusivity: Transforming Entrepreneurial Approaches for Universal Accessibility In a diverse world, embracing inclusivity is essential, particularly for entrepreneurs. As entrepreneurs, we understand how diversity enriches our personal and professional lives. We must extend this understanding to neurodiverse individuals by adopting neuro-inclusive practices. These adjustments aid a specific community segment and enhance everyone's experience, epitomising universal design. Why Neuro-Inclusivity? Neurodiversity includes conditions like autism, ADHD, and dyslexia, reflecting different ways the brain processes information. Traditionally, designs cater to the 'neurotypical' brain, often neglecting those who operate differently. By creating neuro-inclusive environments, we can cater to a broader audience, making our offerings accessible and expanding our market reach. Sales Pages and Websites: Clarity is Key For sales pages and websites, prioritise clarity. Use simple language and intuitive layouts with clear navigation aids. Consider multimedia explanations and tools like text-to-speech to enhance accessibility. These features make it easier for everyone to engage with your content, increasing customer satisfaction. Courses and Resources: Flexibility for Learning Adopting Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles in your courses means providing materials in various formats—videos, podcasts, slides, transcripts—catering to different learning styles and neurological preferences. Flexible assessment methods allow users to demonstrate their understanding in the format that suits them best, levelling the playing field for all learners. Social Media: Inclusive Engagement Social media should be straightforward and accessible. Use clear, concise language, provide image descriptions, and avoid sensory overload. These adjustments make your platforms more inclusive, improving the engagement of all followers. Events: Consideration Beyond the Norm For events, inclusivity starts with clear, detailed pre-event information. Offer quiet spaces, ensure material accessibility, and consider live transcription or sign language services to make your events welcoming to all participants. Conclusion: A Call to Action As seasoned entrepreneurs, we are uniquely positioned to champion neuro-inclusivity. This approach doesn't just improve business for the neurodiverse; it creates respectful, universally engaging environments that drive innovation. By designing inclusively, we don't just meet standards—we set new ones, proving that universally accessible designs elevate the experience for everyone. Let's lead by example, showing that inclusivity is a potent model for growth and sustainability in business. If you would like an audit for an area of your business, send me a message, and I will contact you. Remember, if it improves for neurodiverse, it improves for EVERYONE. Happy clients are your returning clients.

Young innovators are facing the challenge of idea overload. It’s leading to decision paralysis, wasted potential, and missed opportunities. Here are 4 ways to streamline your creative process with A.I. 🧠 : Ever felt like your brainstorming sessions are just missing that spark, that creative spark that separates the mundane from the extraordinary? I know I have, more times than I can count. You rack your brain, jot down ideas, but something still feels...incomplete. Like you're just scratching the surface of your true potential for innovative thinking. 👉🏾 Automate Idea Generation: Use A.I. tools to generate a variety of ideas based on keywords, helping you overcome initial creative blocks. 👉🏾 Enhance Research Efficiency: Deploy A.I. to quickly gather and summarize relevant information, cutting down research time and surfacing new angles. 👉🏾Refine and Edit Content: Apply A.I.-powered editing software to enhance readability, grammar, and style, making your content polished and engaging. 👉🏾Predict Trends with A.I.: Leverage predictive analytics to identify emerging trends, allowing you to create forward-thinking, innovative content that resonates. BUT WAIT 🛑 THERE'S MORE My friends, I've discovered a way to not just reignite that creative spark, but to transform it into a blazing inferno of imagination and possibility. The secret? Harnessing the mind-bending power of artificial intelligence as your ultimate brainstorming partner. Interactive A.I. Challenge: A.I., Be My Creative Mastermind Partner Prompt for A.I.: — I need a creative brainstorming session. A.I., help me refine my wild idea into a viable, groundbreaking concept that [insert your field] and [insert your value proposition/idea]. Ensure your plan includes: A mix of imaginative prompts to spark new ideas, such as exploring the potential for an innovative [product or service] for this. Then, I need you to create a chart and prioritize the ideas based on impact, feasibility, and innovation, with a focus on how these solutions can improve my idea. Give me 3 4-sentence paragraphs after this that detail potential integrations of A.I. tools and resources that can aid in the research, development, and execution of these ideas, such as data analytics platforms for a better understanding. A schedule for ideation, research, and development phases, considering the time required to validate concepts through validated marketing. Recommendations for collaboration with professionals in my industry to ensure ideas are both business & technologically sound and beneficial. A feedback loop with potential users and experts to refine the concept, ensuring it meets the real-world needs of my target. We need to work in a conversational format. — With AI's vast potential and our human ingenuity, there's no telling what mind-bending concepts we'll conceive. But one thing's for certain: the future won't be boring. Blessings, Jeremiah A. Pouncy #ai #artificialntelligence #prompting #students

Feeling energetic and very happy after I met Mr. Dilnawaz khan at EDP session in JECRC university. It was a very wonderful experience. Sir shared his thoughts about entrepreneurship and design thinking,and explained how it was a very important aspect to b-tech students. Given below are some points that I learned from him in his session:- 1. Start early- fail fast : In entrepreneurship , it 's very important to start early for youngsters as by which they would learn more and get so much work experience in their early lives. they are experienced enough to find mistakes in business and can lead a company to better position. Companies prefer to hire failed entrepreneurs because they have good number of skills. 2. Opportunities in college : It is not mandatory to come up with a idea but atleast we can learn skills and trade our skills for money making and can also teach other students about entrepreneurship and business making. We can find a problem in our area try to come up with a solution in the form of a product or a new innovation. 3. Startup Mindset : The startup Mindset is all about "solving problems" and 'getting things done" Startup Mindset is based upon 3 principles:- a. Build b. Measure c. Learn 4. Design thinking : Design thinking is not about design, but it's how a designer thinks! . design thinking is a human centric problem solving framework like jump into the shoes of the user/consumer & thinking what he wants! . Design thinking covers the following aspects:- a. What people desire? b. What is technically possible? yeah! it was a great session . I am very thankful to him that he gave us his precious time to the students teaching about business and entrepreneurship to new students and shaping their career.

Creating a robust entrepreneurship ecosystem within a higher education in ecosystem: 1. Institutional Support and Leadership Vision and Mission: Establish a clear vision and mission for entrepreneurship within the institution. Administrative Support: Ensure buy-in from university leadership and key stakeholders. Dedicated Office: Create a dedicated office or center for entrepreneurship and innovation. 2. Curriculum and Education Entrepreneurship Courses focused on entrepreneurship, innovation, and related skills. Interdisciplinary Approach: In Workshops and Seminars: Provide regular 3. Mentorship and Networking Mentorship Programs: Connect students with experienced entrepreneurs and Alumni Networinvestment opportunities. Industry Partnerships: 4. Funding and Resources Seed Funding: Establish seed funding programs to support student startups. Incubators and Accelerators: Create incubators and accelerators to provide resources, workspace, and mentorship. Competitions and Grants: Organize business plan competitions, pitch events, and offer grants to incentivize entrepreneurial activities. 5. Research and Development Innovation Labs: Set up innovation labs and makerspaces to foster creativity and experimentation. Research Commercialization: Support the commercialization of research and intellectual property developed within the institution. Collaboration with Faculty: 6. Community and Culture Entrepreneurial Culture: Promote an entrepreneurial culture across the campus through events, clubs, and societies. Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Encourage collaboration between different departments and faculties. Success Stories: Highlight and celebrate successful startups and entrepreneurs from the institution. 7. Infrastructure and Technology Digital Platforms: Develop digital platforms for networking, resources, and information sharing. Access to Technology: P Workspace: Offer co-working spaces and facilities for student entrepreneurs. 8. Measurement and Evaluation Performance Metrics: Develop metrics to measure the success and impact of the entrepreneurship ecosystem. Feedback Mechanisms: Implement feedback mechanisms to continuously improve programs and initiatives. Benchmarking: Example Initiatives Stanford University: Known for its strong connection to Silicon Valley, Stanford offers numerous entrepreneurship courses, a dedicated center (Stanford Technology Ventures Program), and extensive networking opportunities. MIT: The MIT Innovation Initiative supports students and faculty through programs like the MIT $100K Entrepreneurship Babson College: Babson is renowned for its entrepreneurship education, providing a comprehensive ecosystem that includes mentoring, funding, and a strong focus on practical experience. By implementing these strategies and fostering a supportive environment, higher education institutions can create a thriving entrepreneurship ecosystem that encourages innovation and startup success. 4o

I often reflect on the power of a growth strategy mindset. It’s not just a workplace concept—it’s a way of approaching life. But what does it take to be a great growth strategist? To me, it boils down to two essential components: planning and execution. I'll primarily focus on the planning part here. In 2017, I launched the Gallaudet Innovation & Entrepreneurship Institute, a donor-funded initiative to foster entrepreneurship across campus. We began with faculty buy-in and introductory courses for students. I led a Faculty Fellows program to embed entrepreneurial thinking into curricula and invited local business owners—including Deaf entrepreneurs—to mentor students and hosted talks. Beyond campus, I collaborated with directors of entrepreneurship programs at consortium universities like Georgetown and George Washington. By sharing best practices and lessons learned, I gained insights into university commercialization efforts, helping students and faculty monetize research and capabilities. These relationships unlocked public and private funding opportunities and deepened my understanding of scalable strategies. We also ran summer youth bootcamps emphasizing design thinking approaches to solve problems and develop innovative ideas. As CEO at Mozzeria—a Deaf-run Neapolitan wood-fired pizzeria—we were poised for expansion. Our vision included opening in Austin and partnering with colleges with large Deaf student populations. We planned student-run trailers as part of hospitality programs and collaborated with Deaf schools offering culinary CTE pathways. My team engaged superintendents, school boards, and program directors, creating detailed proposals to bring this vision to life. And then COVID hit. We had to pivot focusing on sustaining current operations. Did that mean failure? Not at all. Growth strategists know that intent, planning, and groundwork are as important as execution. The playbook I created at Mozzeria remains a working foundation for future innovation there. Today, as I step into the CEO role at DawnSignPress, I’m excited to bring fresh growth strategies to a 45-year-old brand deeply influential in ASL and Deaf Education. More on that soon! So, what defines a great growth strategist? * Understand constraints. Sustainable growth isn’t just about financials—it’s about systems, processes, and culture. * Avoid quick fixes. The “grow fast, fix later” mindset often backfires. Measured, sustained growth beats fleeting success. * Focus on future resources. Invest in training, technology, and culture to unlock long-term potential. * Invest in people. Talent, mindset, and quality of human capital are the most critical resources for growth. * Encourage collaboration. Engage employees at all levels to share solutions that improve organizational efficiency. * Never stop learning. Growth is a lifelong journey. Growth strategists don’t just build strategies—they build possibilities. 🚀 #growthstrategy #growthmindset #strategy #success

Every entrepreneurship support practitioner needs to read this book. We all know that not everyone is well-suited to a startup environment. But when you have someone who has recently watched Shark Tank sitting in front of you with cash signs blinking in their eyeballs, what alternative can you give them? Erin Scott, Scott Stern and Josh Gans have put together a brilliant framework for understanding the different paths that an entrepreneur with an idea or a piece of intellectual property can take to create and capture value. This is targeted towards IP-driven companies, but I believe the ideas it presents can be broadly applicable in the deep tech, tech, and small business worlds. Buy the dang book.

During the first unit of the INCubator course at Naperville Central High School, our group identified a significant demand for efficient task completion services across the United States, particularly in Illinois. To understand the scope of this opportunity, we thoroughly analyzed our Total Addressable Market (TAM) and Serviceable Addressable Market (SAM), assessing the potential reach of our business idea. At the start of the course, each team member brainstormed a variety of problems and solutions individually, prioritizing the issues we were most passionate about solving. From there, groups formed based on shared interests, collaboration potential, and dedication to turning ideas into actionable solutions. By the end of Unit 1, I joined a team comprising two juniors and one senior, all of whom bring diverse skill sets and experiences that complement each other. Once our team was established, our focus shifted to preparing for the mentor-matching process. This was a pivotal moment in the course, as mentors play a vital role in guiding company development. We meticulously researched the available mentors, aligning their expertise with our business goals. This preparation ensured we found the best fit. For future students, I highly recommend dedicating time to this process to secure a mentor who can truly support your vision. As we entered Unit 2, our group finalized our business concept: The Village, a platform designed to connect local homeowners with individuals willing to complete tasks in their area. This two-sided market model caters to both task requesters and task completers, primarily targeting homeowners and local teenagers in Naperville District 203. We refined our approach to ensure a seamless match between these two customer segments. To validate our idea, we conducted comprehensive research, including surveys and interviews, receiving nearly 250 responses. This research underscored the strong demand for our platform, with over 80 individuals expressing immediate interest in using our service upon its launch. We also revisited our TAM and SAM calculations, confirming that our solution could potentially impact over 5 million people in Illinois alone. As part of our development process, we prioritized market testing and customer feedback to ensure our service addresses real needs. These early successes have created and added to our confidence and excitement for bringing our product to market. Looking ahead, our team is committed to leveraging our mentor’s guidance, our research insights, and our collective skills to create a user-friendly, effective solution that meets the needs of our community while building a scalable, sustainable business.

Developing an innovation mindset is crucial for entrepreneurial students as it equips them with the ability to identify opportunities, solve problems creatively, and adapt to changing circumstances. Here are some key steps to foster an innovation mindset: 1. Curiosity and Exploration 2. Embrace Failure as Learning 3. Creative problem solving 4. Continuous Learning and Adaptation: 5. Collaboration and Networking 6. Resilience and Perseverance 7. Ethical Considerations 8. Action-Oriented Mindset https://lnkd.in/dcPf3a7S