UWAA Entrepreneur Program

Questions for focus groups and surveys

UWAA ENTREPRENEURS

How long have you been an entrepreneur?
What motivated you to start a new business?
How did you get started?
How did you decide how to set up and structure your business?
What was your business planning process as you started your business?
- How has the process evolved over time? Why?
What were the major obstacles you encountered in starting your business? How did you overcome them?
What skills/expertise did you wish you had as you started the business?
What areas did you seek outside help for as you started your business? How did you find that help?
What are the factors that might limit the success of your business? What are you doing or do you plan to do to address those factors?
What experiences have you had in starting and running your business that would be good to share with someone just starting out?
What kinds of legal issues have you encountered as an entrepreneur?
How have you approached recordkeeping and taxes for your business?
What was your marketing strategy as you started your business?
- How has the strategy evolved over time? Why?
For years,Puget Sound has had a strong entrepreneurial identity. But a recent SBA study indicates that it now is not in the top 20 regions inU.S. in any measure for innovation or entrepreneurial activity.
- Why do you think that is?
- What is needed to improve the situation?
If UWAA offers packages of entrepreneur startup services to students and recent grads, would you be interested in participating?
- How would you like to participate? For how long?
Why do you want to become an entrepreneur?
How do you know you have what it takes to become an entrepreneur?
- Are you a self starter?
- How well do you get along with a variety of personalities and working styles?
- How good are you at making decisions?
- Do you have the physical and emotional stamina to run a business?
- How well do you plan and organize?
- Are your attitudes and drive strong enough to maintain motivation?
- How will the business affect your family?
What strengths to you have to start a business?
What areas are you weaker in?
In what areas do you think you will need to find outside expertise as you get started?
- Why do you think you’ll need outside expertise?
- How will you find outside expertise?
What other kinds of support/mentoring would be helpful as you start your business?
With a plethora of online services available, what is the benefit of offering local expertise with a package price?
Here’s what UWAA is considering offering…
- Do you think it is the right mix of services? Why or why not?
- What other services do you think you might need to get started?
- Does the pricing seem like a good value? Why or why not?