This organization sucks.
I had an idea for a business, and I looked around to see where I could learn how to write a successful business plan. A friend told me about this place. I wish she hadn't...
The way this organization works is absurd:
You have to go to two preliminary classes to sort of test you to find out if you're really serious -- or prepared -- to go into business.
In these classes they make you do incredibly elementary exercises that they think will make you think about whether or not you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur.
One exercise walks you through the process of costing out stuff: If a widget costs $10, and it takes $10 to bring it to market, then the the price should be more than $20. Something like that. It's like being in a first-grade class. Really idiotic stuff. You just sit there, wondering to yourself, "do they really think that nobody in this room has thought of this yet?"
So let's say you complete the two courses. Then you apply for the business plan class, and they either accept you, or they don't. In the meantime, however, there's like a four-month waiting period till the class actually begins. I talked to the course facilitator about this, stating that, in the ensuing four months, I could just go ahead and write the damn business plan. I looked into this class more than once, and there was always that four-month waiting period. Do they think we're just going to sit around and wait for four months, while our hot business idea is burning in our entrepreneurial minds? I mean, people who are taking the preliminary courses (one per week for two weeks) most likely are super-excited about their business idea, and they want to get started on their business plan NOW. Not put it on hold for four months. What if the business plan course is no good? You just lost four months of time (plus the time spent in the business plan class).
I never did take the business plan class. I work nights, so I had to take time off from work to attend the two preliminary classes (loss of real money). What a waste of time.
Some time later, I came across another organization affiliated with Rocky Mountain Micro Finance Institute, called DRI Goods. Their mission is giving loans to people who intend to start a business, but might not have any money.
After meeting with the guy from DRI Goods, and several emails later, it turns out that the loans he can offer are top out at $25K. So if you want to do something other than sell painted pet rocks, you're on your own.
Best to find another "class" to teach you how to write a business plan (maybe the NOLO book), and find an investor.
I bet the people who graduate from this class go on to start businesses like selling candles made out of melted crayons, or little knit hats for teddy bears. I doubt any real businesses come out of this class... read more
