Springboard Connect

Yesterday Butterfinger was accepted into a mentoring program run by a local university and various business owners/entrepreneurs! (I’m beaming with pride:) He ended up finding out about the opportunity after meeting with one of the program’s affiliates through a Craigslist ad looking for like-minded people. After submitting his application and being invited for an interview, at which I am sure he blew the panel away, he is now ready to get started working on his business plan and preparing a presentation for potential investors.

This is going to be a great opportunity for him to be able to step outside of the back-end applications he has been enthralled with for the past few months and take a look at the bigger picture. There is a lot more involved in creating a successful business than just having a stellar and useful product, and I think he is looking forward to exploring some of those other aspects of a company. As a “computer guy”, Butterfinger has not had too much experience with the legalities and structure of a company, and I know that through this mentoring program he is going to become knowledgeable in those areas.

He is now going to be able to start networking with a larger group of people from which he can solicit feedback and bounce ideas off of. What has lately been a two or three person brainstorming session can now span a larger number of people from very different projects. The program encourages and aids participants in meeting with other entrepreneurs and startup businesses to get feedback and assistance during a business’ infant stages. The program has an extensive arsenal of resources including a course in entrepreneurial development and provides samples and guidance for creating an executive summary, business plan, and ways to accomplish business valuation.

I really think that being surrounded by successful and driven people is going to cause the startup to grow exponentially in content and users; it is also going to give Butterfinger a much-needed second wind. The absolute best part about the mentoring program is that all of the knowledge, guidance, and assistance that these ceo’s, company presidents, etc. offer is given willingly and absolutely free of charge. The people involved in Springboard devote their time and energy because they really believe in the individuals they accept to be a part of their organization. They have a proven track record of success. and I know Butterfinger is looking forward to utilizing this opportunity to its fullest potential.

Today it seems like Butterfinger has finally been on the receiving end of some of the good he gives out so eagerly and unselfishly to others, and I know that this is only the beginning of something larger than us.