inGAGE Entrepreneurial Support Services for Michigan Women

Inforum is one of the few professional organizations in the country – and the only one in Michigan – that combines strategic connections, proven professional development programs, a respected forum for new ideas, and original research to accelerate careers for women and boost talent initiatives for companies. Inforum Center for Leadership (ICL) is the 501(c)3 nonprofit education and research arm of Inforum. ICL programs serve a broad range of professional women in different stages and types of careers – from emerging leaders, to high-potential executives, high-tech entrepreneurs, and for-profit corporate board leaders.

We are conducting a statewide customer discovery survey to inform our programming, and ensure we are delivering entrepreneurial support programs that truly meet the needs of women entrepreneurs and accelerate their ability to scale their businesses, raise capital and create jobs. Whether you are an new women-led start-up or a successful seasoned entrepreneur, we need to hear from you.

Please take a moment to complete this important survey to support Michigan women entrepreneurs.

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* 1. What kind of start-up are you launching, or do you own? (Select the best option)

Information Technology (software/mobile/networking/communications/semi-conductors)

Consumer Products

Healthcare/Life Sciences

Automotive/Manufacturing/Transportation/Defense

Business Services

Energy/Natural resources/Materials

Retail

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* 2. Your role(s) in the company?

Founder

President

CEO

COO

CIO

Other (please specify)

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* 3. How many employees do you currently have?

2-9

10-29

30+

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* 4. Annual Revenue in 2013

under $100,000

$101,000 - $500,000

$500,000 - $1,000,000

$1,000,000 & above

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* 5. How many customers do you have?

None

1-5

6-25

25-500

500+

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* 6. How large (annual Sales) do you see your company becoming in the next 5 years?

less than $1,000,000

$1,000,000 - $5,000,000

$5,000,000 - $10,000,000

$10,000,000 - $20,000,000

$20,000,000 +

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* 7. What do you consider your biggest barriers to growth (Rank 1-5 with 1 being the biggest barrier)

Business Model

Team

Capital

Time

Sales

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* 8. Have you been able to:

	Yes	Somewhat	No
Identify your overall market	Identify your overall market Yes	Identify your overall market Somewhat	Identify your overall market No
Narrow down your initial target market	Narrow down your initial target market Yes	Narrow down your initial target market Somewhat	Narrow down your initial target market No
Finalize your revenue model	Finalize your revenue model Yes	Finalize your revenue model Somewhat	Finalize your revenue model No
Secure supply chain partners	Secure supply chain partners Yes	Secure supply chain partners Somewhat	Secure supply chain partners No
Secure distribution partners	Secure distribution partners Yes	Secure distribution partners Somewhat	Secure distribution partners No
Create detailed competitive landscape	Create detailed competitive landscape Yes	Create detailed competitive landscape Somewhat	Create detailed competitive landscape No

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* 9. Where are you in the product development cycle? (Select all that apply)

Concept

Bench/Prototype

Customer beta (in initial pilots)

Actively selling in market under 1year

Actively selling in market over 1year

Seeking patent/FDA approval

Generating early revenue (under $250,000)

Growing sales and revenue ($500,000 +)

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* 10. What kind of training assistance are you most interested in? (Check all that apply)

Market & Customer Development

Sales Strategy & Execution

Human Resources & Team Building

Capital/Financing Strategy & Investor Relationship Development

Legal (Company Formation/IP/Investment)

Accounting & Finance

Marketing Strategy (Advertising/Social Media/PR)

Other (please specify)

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* 11. What types of programs would you make time for (Check all that apply)

Weekend workshops

2-4 week mini-courses (Evening; Mon - Thurs)

2-4 week mini-courses (Saturday)

6-10 week courses (Evening; Mon - Thurs)

6-10 week courses (Saturday)

1 day seminars

Weekend retreats

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* 12. What is an ideal length for an extended course? (Select one)

4-6 weeks

8-12 weeks

6 months

1 year

Other (please specify)

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* 13. What is the ideal frequency for extended courses? (Select one)

Once a week

Once a month

Twice a month

Other (please specify)

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* 14. Please rank the following factors in priority order that would influence your participation in entrepreneurial training. (1 is your First priority)

Cost

Time commitment

Subject Matter/Topic

Location

Instructor(s)

Networking Opportunities

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* 15. Please rank the following

	Absolutely	Yes	Somewhat	No	Not at all	NA
I am confident when talking to potential investors about my business and my strategy.	I am confident when talking to potential investors about my business and my strategy. Absolutely	I am confident when talking to potential investors about my business and my strategy. Yes	I am confident when talking to potential investors about my business and my strategy. Somewhat	I am confident when talking to potential investors about my business and my strategy. No	I am confident when talking to potential investors about my business and my strategy. Not at all	I am confident when talking to potential investors about my business and my strategy. NA
My customers are demanding my product/service but I am struggling to build my company.	My customers are demanding my product/service but I am struggling to build my company. Absolutely	My customers are demanding my product/service but I am struggling to build my company. Yes	My customers are demanding my product/service but I am struggling to build my company. Somewhat	My customers are demanding my product/service but I am struggling to build my company. No	My customers are demanding my product/service but I am struggling to build my company. Not at all	My customers are demanding my product/service but I am struggling to build my company. NA
My vision for my company includes selling my business (or IPO event) in the next 5-7 years.	My vision for my company includes selling my business (or IPO event) in the next 5-7 years. Absolutely	My vision for my company includes selling my business (or IPO event) in the next 5-7 years. Yes	My vision for my company includes selling my business (or IPO event) in the next 5-7 years. Somewhat	My vision for my company includes selling my business (or IPO event) in the next 5-7 years. No	My vision for my company includes selling my business (or IPO event) in the next 5-7 years. Not at all	My vision for my company includes selling my business (or IPO event) in the next 5-7 years. NA
I need help pitching and presenting my startup.	I need help pitching and presenting my startup. Absolutely	I need help pitching and presenting my startup. Yes	I need help pitching and presenting my startup. Somewhat	I need help pitching and presenting my startup. No	I need help pitching and presenting my startup. Not at all	I need help pitching and presenting my startup. NA

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* 16. I feel the most frustrated about:

	Absolutely	Yes	Somewhat	No	Not at all	NA
Finding talent/resources to build/develop my product	Finding talent/resources to build/develop my product Absolutely	Finding talent/resources to build/develop my product Yes	Finding talent/resources to build/develop my product Somewhat	Finding talent/resources to build/develop my product No	Finding talent/resources to build/develop my product Not at all	Finding talent/resources to build/develop my product NA
Developing a sales and/or support team	Developing a sales and/or support team Absolutely	Developing a sales and/or support team Yes	Developing a sales and/or support team Somewhat	Developing a sales and/or support team No	Developing a sales and/or support team Not at all	Developing a sales and/or support team NA
Securing financing to grow my business	Securing financing to grow my business Absolutely	Securing financing to grow my business Yes	Securing financing to grow my business Somewhat	Securing financing to grow my business No	Securing financing to grow my business Not at all	Securing financing to grow my business NA
Growing my customer base fast enough	Growing my customer base fast enough Absolutely	Growing my customer base fast enough Yes	Growing my customer base fast enough Somewhat	Growing my customer base fast enough No	Growing my customer base fast enough Not at all	Growing my customer base fast enough NA
Managing my resources (cash/time/people) most effectively	Managing my resources (cash/time/people) most effectively Absolutely	Managing my resources (cash/time/people) most effectively Yes	Managing my resources (cash/time/people) most effectively Somewhat	Managing my resources (cash/time/people) most effectively No	Managing my resources (cash/time/people) most effectively Not at all	Managing my resources (cash/time/people) most effectively NA
Developing and/or keeping on top of my financials	Developing and/or keeping on top of my financials Absolutely	Developing and/or keeping on top of my financials Yes	Developing and/or keeping on top of my financials Somewhat	Developing and/or keeping on top of my financials No	Developing and/or keeping on top of my financials Not at all	Developing and/or keeping on top of my financials NA
Building a strong board of advisors	Building a strong board of advisors Absolutely	Building a strong board of advisors Yes	Building a strong board of advisors Somewhat	Building a strong board of advisors No	Building a strong board of advisors Not at all	Building a strong board of advisors NA
Knowing who to lean on for strategy assistance	Knowing who to lean on for strategy assistance Absolutely	Knowing who to lean on for strategy assistance Yes	Knowing who to lean on for strategy assistance Somewhat	Knowing who to lean on for strategy assistance No	Knowing who to lean on for strategy assistance Not at all	Knowing who to lean on for strategy assistance NA
Creating a high-growth business model	Creating a high-growth business model Absolutely	Creating a high-growth business model Yes	Creating a high-growth business model Somewhat	Creating a high-growth business model No	Creating a high-growth business model Not at all	Creating a high-growth business model NA
Having more complete knowledge of the start-up resources available	Having more complete knowledge of the start-up resources available Absolutely	Having more complete knowledge of the start-up resources available Yes	Having more complete knowledge of the start-up resources available Somewhat	Having more complete knowledge of the start-up resources available No	Having more complete knowledge of the start-up resources available Not at all	Having more complete knowledge of the start-up resources available NA
Creating my investor materials (slide deck/business plan/Ex. Summary)	Creating my investor materials (slide deck/business plan/Ex. Summary) Absolutely	Creating my investor materials (slide deck/business plan/Ex. Summary) Yes	Creating my investor materials (slide deck/business plan/Ex. Summary) Somewhat	Creating my investor materials (slide deck/business plan/Ex. Summary) No	Creating my investor materials (slide deck/business plan/Ex. Summary) Not at all	Creating my investor materials (slide deck/business plan/Ex. Summary) NA

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* 17. Do you have confidence as an entrepreneur

Yes

Sometimes

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* 18. What is your greatest entrepreneurial strength?

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* 19. What is your greatest entrepreneurial challenge?

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* 20. Do you find the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Michigan encouraging and easy to navigate?

Yes

Not Sure

Provide a reason for your response

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* 21. Do you feel that female entrepreneurs in Michigan are supported?

Yes

Sometimes

Please specify

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* 22. Do you feel that female entrepreneurs face any specific obstacles?

Yes

Sometimes

please state what the obstacles might be

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* 23. What types of entrepreneurial programs and activities would most support female entrepreneurs?

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* 24. Would you be interested in serving on the board of directors for a Michigan start-up company?

Yes

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* 25. Are you interested in becoming an Angel Investor?

Yes

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* 26. Any additional comments:

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* 27. I would like to be contacted about future entrepreneur programs and opportunities or answered YES to questions 24 & 25, please enter your contact information.

Name

Phone