Rural Business Innovators

Rural Business Innovators is a customized start-up program that helps rural tech and innovation entrepreneurs develop their business ideas, while connecting them to resources, partners and mentors in the state-wide entrepreneurial ecosystem. The program offers online group training, one-on-one counseling (online or in-person), next-step guidance, and exposure to a network of mentors, state resources, & entrepreneurial peers.

Apply for Rural Business Innovators

Overview

  • Approximately 9-Weeks, Customized to Your Schedule: 3 Peer-Group Trainings, At Least 6 One-on-One Counseling Sessions, 18 to 20-Hour Time Commitment, Specifically for Rural* Tech/Innovation Entrepreneurs
  • 4 Available Tracks: Value Proposition Track, Customer Discovery and Marketing Track, Prototype/Product Development Track, Financial and Pitch Preparation Track
  • Deliverables: Completed Digital Innovator Profile, Business Model Canvas and Pitch Deck, Next-Step Guidance and Support for Business Development Purposes ā€¢ Exposure to a Network of Mentors, Potential Partners, State Resources, & Entrepreneurial Peers
  • Exposure to a Network of Mentors, Potential Investors, State Resources, & Entrepreneurial Peers

*The U.S. Census Bureau defines “rural” as any population, housing, or territory that exists outside of an urban area

**Customer Discovery is the process of getting to know potential customers, their pain points, and how a proposed solution can help solve these problems

Your Online Profile

Participants receive their own individualized online profile that guides them through the program and serves as a place to display their content.Ā 

What’s on Your Profile?Ā 

  • Your Company Dashboard and Program Modules
  • Online Pitch Deck, Value Proposition Deck, and Business Model Canvas
  • Innovator Peer Group Resources

Your Innovator Network

Connecting individuals to resources in the much larger, Iowa entrepreneurial ecosystem is important. Rural Business Innovators makes this a priority.Ā 

Your Network

  • Interact with Other Peers participating in Rural Business Innovators
  • Present Your Innovation and Receive valuable Feedback
  • Connect with Mentors, Potential Partners, State Resources, & Other Entrepreneurial Programs

Next-Step Support

Innovators who complete the program are given additional support to help execute next steps in their start-up process.Ā 

Examples of Next-Step Support

  • Assistance with Prototype or Software Development
  • Start-up Planning or Feasibility Analysis
  • Help with Marketing Material or Pitch Development

The RBI Podcast

The Iowa SBDC and Rural Business Innovators invite you to join SBDC hosts Mitchell Kearns and Ray Hansen each Thursday to travel around the state of Iowa as they sit down with passionate entrepreneurs from all walks of life who are reshaping their communities and industries by taking risks with bold ideas.Ā 

Listen today!

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