Got a great idea? There's never been a better time to turn it into a great company. Here's a 16-step guide to help you do it right. For entrepreneurs, now is the time New technologies are creating new business opportunities, and radically reducing costs for startups. Still, success is as difficult as ever. (more) Phase one: Establish a company In order to get started you’ve got to test your idea, build a founding team, get a business plan together and pick a company name that will take you to the top. Here’s what to keep in mind. (more) Phase two: Prototype the product Finally the rubber meets the road, as you stake out your intellectual property and assemble the demo that will help you sell your idea. (more) Phase three: Develop the beta product Now is the time to start installing your staff -- hire the best you can afford. They’ll help you perfect your company's product and begin the beta testing process. (more) Phase four: Launch the product Now that the testing is done and the product has been refined, you need to find paying customers. So stop fiddling and start selling! (more) Searching for angel investors Here is what every aspiring business-owner should look for in early-stage backers. Remember, it's not just money you want; you also want brainpower, connections, and experience. (more) What a VC wants to see in you You too can woo even the fussiest venture capitalists. Be sure you’re pitching to the right partner -- and expect them to present you with a deal sheet that has some tough terms. (more)

More for entrepreneurs 5 deadly mistakes when starting a business Becoming your own boss can be a dream come true - if you're willing to learn from other people's nightmares. (more) Ditching the daily grind - 5 who did it Former executives say that it was rough at times, but that starting their own business was the ultimate promotion. (more) Can entrepreneurship be taught? Classes for would-be entrepreneurs are a hot trend at America's universities. But can risk taking and originality be learned? (more)

More small business 25 Hot startups A new Web revolution is picking up steam, and the next Google or Microsoft could emerge from the companies that are in the vanguard. (more) The entrepreneur’s guide to the galaxy Prepare for liftoff: The space business may be the most incredible new opportunity of your lifetime. (more) The 2005 FSB 100 FORTUNE Small Business' list of America's fastest-growing small public companies. (more)

University of Arizona
McClelland Hall 202
P.O. Box 210108
Tucson, AZ 85721-0108

Phone: 520.621.2576
Fax: 520.626.5269
Email: entre.net@eller.arizona.edu

Director: Sherry Hoskinson

Center for Entrepreneurial Studies (Room 375)
Stanford Graduate School of Business
Stanford University
518 Memorial Way
Stanford, California 94305-5015

Phone: 650.723.0910
Fax: 650.723.0409

Entrepreneural Tower (eTower):

The e-tower is a community for student entrepreneurs at Babson College who are actively developing business plans and running companies. The purpose of the e-tower is to unite 21 student entrepreneurs and immerse them in an innovative, high-energy environment that promotes the creation, evolution, and implementation of business ideas. By merging the spirit of a community with the centralized office resources of a traditional business hatchery, we hope to create a platform for entrepreneurship that harnesses the pioneering spirit of the business leaders of tomorrow.