Lean for Main Street Training Challenge

Adapting the NSF’s I-Corps Program for More Segments of New and Aspiring Small Business Owners

Submission Dates: January 11, 2016 – February 11, 2016Winners Announced: February 29, 2016

SBA in Partnership with NSF2016

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Introductions

Presenter:• Matt Stevens, Manager of Strategic Initiatives, Office of

Entrepreneurial Development• Andrew Bergmanson, Presidential Management Fellow

If you have questions during today’s webinar:• Submit questions during the webinar; these questions will be

posted to the Discussions section of the challenge.gov site along with answers from the SBA team

• Submit questions directly to the Discussions section of the challenge.gov site

• Submit questions via email to: leanchallenge@sba.gov

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About the Challenge

Lean Startup Methodology• Collection of processes, terms, and concepts • Popular in Silicon Valley and among tech startups generally• Stresses importance of challenging assumptions and reacting

quickly to new information• Proven method to help startups and existing businesses develop

and refine their business models quickly and sustainably

The Lean for Main Street Training Challenge is designed to bring the benefits of Lean Startup Methodology to Main Street businesses across

the US with the help of the SBA’s Resource Partner Network

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About the Challenge

The SBA has partnered with the National Science Foundation (NSF) to leverage its successful I-Corps Program.

• Pioneering Public-Private Partnership• Mix of in-person training and web-based coursework• Based on Lean Startup Principles• Builds entrepreneurial capacity among teams of university

scientists and researchers• Led by expert instructors providing one-on-one guidance

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About the Challenge

The Lean for Main Street Training Challenge

Resource Partners across the US compete for the chance to innovatively

adapt the I-Corps Curriculum to the

communities in which they work, along with

$25,000 in prize money

Up to five winning Resource Partners send

two representatives each to participate in a Train the Trainer Program at

the I-Corps Spring Cohort in Washington, DC

in March/April 2016

Resource Partners work with I-Corps instructors to modify curricula and

deploy them in their communities. The goal is to develop standardized,

yet customizable Lean Startup resources to be

deployed by SBA partners

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Prize Information

Please note: This challenge is limited only to entities that are currently part of SBA’s Resource Partner Network, i.e. entities that receive SBA funding to operate Small Business Development Centers (both lead and service centers are eligible), Women’s Business Centers, Veterans’ Business Outreach Centers, and SCORE Chapters.

Up to five (5) prizes of $25,000 each will be awarded to winning Resource Partners

This prize money is intended to support:• Associated expenses for the I-Corps training• Adaptation of the I-Corps curriculum• Implementation of the adapted curriculum on a pilot basis

Winners also receive two scholarships for the I-Corps training

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Prize Information

Prize money will be disbursed in three payments:• $15,000 (60%) upon selection as a Lean for Main Street Training Challenge Winner,

once initial requirements are met• $5,000 (20%) once an adapted curriculum has been presented to and accepted by

the SBA, no more than 6 months from the first award date• $5,000 (20%) after winning Resource Partners have presented a written

assessment to the SBA, including an assessment of outputs and outcomes, a summary of lessons learned and best practices, and suggestions for future competitions, to be completed no more than 12 months from the first award date

Winners will be required to have an account in System for Award Management (SAM) to receive the award.

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Timeline

January 11, 2016 – February 11, 2016

February 29, 2016

March 29 – April 1, 2016

Lean for Main Street Training Challenge open for submissions on challenge.gov

Winning Representatives begin I-Corps Program in Washington, DC

Winners announced; Initial payment disbursed

May 11 – 14, 2016

April 7, 14, 21, 28 and May 5, 2016 I-Corps Virtual Sessions

Final in-person I-Corps training sessions in Washington, DC

6 months from first award

Deadline for submission of curriculum before disbursement of second payment

12 months from first award

Deadline for submission of assessment before disbursement of final payment

How to Enter

Each submission will consist of two PDF documents: a three-page Application and a Proof of Status as SBDC, WBC, VBOC or SCORE Chapter

Page 1:Resource Partner Capacity

Page 2:Rationale for I-Corps Training

Page 3:Description of Intended Activities

Application:Form 1222ORLetter of Verification

Proof of Status:

How to Enter

Participants will submit their application as attachments through challenge.gov

1. Create log-in for challenge.gov site2. Search for Lean for Main Street Training

Challenge or go to url provided3. Read through Challenge Details & Rules4. Click on “Submit Solution” 5. Create a title for your Submission6. Attach proposal documents as PDFs

How to Enter

1. Organizational Background: Briefly describe your organization, the type of Resource Partner grant it operates, and how the organization has evolved in its tailoring of services to small businesses given changes in economic trends, community demographics, and the availability of new entrepreneurial development resources. If your organization has offered Lean resources or programming in the past, please describe it (such experience is NOT necessary). Please be sure to provide the following information in your description:– Name of Organization– Resource Partner Affiliation (SBDC (Lead or Service Center), WBC, VBOC, or

SCORE Chapter)– Official Contact Person, Including Phone and Email Address

2. Background of Representatives for I-Corps training: Give a brief biography for each of the two representatives you plan to send to the I-Corps training. Be sure to note if they have any experience with or exposure to Lean concepts and methods (such experience is NOT necessary), and, more generally, provide a description of their demonstrated ability to adapt and deliver new resources to small businesses.

Application Page 1: Resource Partner Capacity

How to Enter

1. Interest in I-Corps and Lean Methodology: Describe why your organization is interested in learning more about how to incorporate Lean methodology in your offerings to clients. How will your organization leverage the I-Corps training to enhance service delivery to small businesses in your region?

2. Target Audience for Adapted I-Corps Curriculum: Briefly describe the potential beneficiaries of the adapted I-Corps curriculum in your area. Attributes of potential beneficiaries to take into consideration could be, but are not limited to, are business phase (pre-venture, startup, existing businesses), sector, and socio-economic status.

Application Page 2: Rationale for I-Corps Training

How to Enter

1. Implementation and Assessment Plan: Briefly describe how you will deliver a pilot program with the adapted curriculum you develop through the I-Corps Spring Cohort, and describe the top five (5) metrics relevant to outputs and outcomes you would use to measure the effectiveness of the program.

Application Page 3: Description of Intended Activities

Please note the following guidelines: • All three pages should be attached to the submission as a single PDF

document with the filename [Organization name]_Application.pdf• Each of the three sections of the application document should be no

more than one (1) page in length• Paper Size: 8.5 x 11 with three-quarter (.75) inch margins on all sides• Font: Calibri, Size 11

How to Enter

All applicants will be asked to provide a document which certifies their status as an SBDC, WBC, VBOC, or SCORE Chapter.

Please attach a copy of the following document with your application as a PDF with the filename [Organization Name]_Proof of Status.pdf

Proof of Status

For SBDC Lead Centers: For WBCs and VBOCs:

For SBDC Service Centers: For SCORE Chapters:

Current copy of Form 1222 of SBA Notice of Award

Current copy of Form 1222 of SBA Notice of Award

Letter of verification from SCORE Association indicating chapter number, good standing, and

authorization to apply for challenge

Letter of verification from Lead Center certifying status as an SBDC

Service Center in good standing

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Judging Criteria

Audience

Adaptation

Implementation

• For what specific audience will the Resource Partner’s solution will be developed? • Resource Partners are free to define their audience according to their own

parameters (e.g. Sector, Business Phase, Geography, Socio-Economic Status, Minority Affiliation, etc.)

• What is the demonstrated ability of each representative to adapt and deliver new resources to small businesses?

• How do representatives expect to benefit from the I-Corps Training experience?

• How will the Resource Partner leverage their existing relationships, the curriculum that they will develop, and the funds awarded to bring Lean methods into their communities on a pilot basis?

• What specific metrics that will be used to assess the effectiveness of the program?

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Terms and Conditions

Full terms and conditions for the Lean for Main Street Training Challenge can be found on the challenge.gov website:

https://www.challenge.gov/challenge/lean-for-main-street-training-challenge/

Questions?• Email leanchallenge@sba.gov• Go to “Discussions” on challenge.gov site