Learn the fundamentals of starting and running a business in this 5-day program. Covering business types, entrepreneurship, marketing, financial planning, and the future of AI in business, students will develop their own startup ideas, create business plans, and pitch their ventures. Hands-on activities include market research, branding, budgeting, and integrating AI for innovation. Perfect for aspiring entrepreneurs!

• Day 1: What is a Business?
  • Objective: Understand the basics of what a business is and the types of businesses that exist.
  • Activity: Create a business idea by identifying a problem and brainstorming solutions. Each student will pitch their idea to the class.
• Day 2: How to Start Your Own Business
  • Objective: Learn the steps required to start a business from scratch.
  • Activity: Students will start outlining a business plan for their own venture and present their target market and mission statement.
• Day 3: Marketing Your Business
  • Objective: Dive into the world of marketing and understand how to attract and retain customers.
  • Activity: Students will design a marketing campaign for their business idea, including a logo, tagline, and social media posts. They'll pitch their campaign to the class.
• Day 4: Fundraising & Financials
  • Objective: Learn the basics of fundraising and managing business finances.
  • Activity: Students will create a basic budget for their business, including projected costs and revenue, and discuss funding options for their startup.
• Day 5: The Future of Business – AI and Innovation
  • Objective: Explore how technology, particularly AI, is changing the business landscape.
  • Activity: Students will discuss how AI could be integrated into their own business ideas and how they could use technology to improve their operations. They'll finalize and pitch their business idea with AI or innovation incorporated.

About the Instructor
Patricia Rossi is an attorney, professional writer and educator. She practiced law for over twenty years and has extensive experience in many facets of the law including entrepreneurial advisement, small business start-ups, joint ventures and non-profit formation, assisting such entities with respect to navigating legal compliance as well as challenges and offering recommendations for sustainable growth. Patricia has also served on several non-profit boards, contributing her expertise to various causes and initiatives.

In addition to her legal career, Patricia has a passion for education and writing. She has taught writing to both teens and adults for many years, creating and implementing the innovative "Writing to Heal" program, which has empowered individuals to express themselves through writing. Patricia brings a wealth of practical and academic knowledge to the classroom.

As a published writer, Patricia has had her academic papers selected for presentations at numerous conferences, with several of those papers being published in academic journals. Most recently, she has been invited to present her research paper at the prestigious American Literature Association in May of 2025.

There is an additional fee for transportation for one-week precollegiate camps.