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Entrepreneurial Resources for Businesses and Recent Graduates Navigating the COVID-19 Crisis

The global pandemic has turned life and business as we know it upside-down. Within just a few short months, the prosperity of the longest economic recovery was destroyed, leaving a volatile job market and a devastated business landscape. Times of crisis, however, also provide opportunities for big ideas, innovation and entrepreneurship.

The Deming Center for Entrepreneurship is helping provide valuable resources to assist recent graduates, entrepreneurs and businesses during COVID-19, including sharing information, serving as mentors and connecting with communities across Colorado.

Podcast designed for business survival during the pandemic

The is an entrepreneurship podcast co-hosted by the Deming Center鈥檚 Jeff York and Brad Werner. Originally designed to distill business research into applied practice, York and Werner pivoted the podcast content quickly to supporting organizations and recent graduates during these uncertain times.

The latest episode, 鈥�,鈥� was captured at this year鈥檚 Boulder Start-Up Week. York and Werner were joined by Deming鈥檚 Executive Director Erick Mueller and entrepreneur and producer of the Joel Davis. At the center of their discussion: actionable insights for individuals and organizations working to keep their businesses going during the COVID era.

Part of the conversation focused on how industries, ranging from arts and entertainment and fitness ventures to global brands like Nike庐, are adjusting their business model to the current climate and finding new opportunities that arise out of crisis. On a local level, the group shared a story of students pivoting their business plans as the country entered coronavirus lockdown, and their perseverance resulting in seed funding for the launch of new business ventures that help solve problems created by the pandemic. Mueller also discussed Deming鈥檚 COventure Forward program that is supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses across Colorado through mentorship and engagement.

Where can a business or individual start when overwhelmed?

Dialogue and discussion is one approach that may help individuals and organizations successfully navigate their response to COVID-19. Communicating with customers, vendors and internal teams to identify problems that can be turned into opportunities is an important and positive activity businesses can practice.

He advises entrepreneurs to think about who they have connections with and how they can help them. 鈥�,鈥� says York.

Building on the idea of using dialogue to find opportunity, Werner suggests, 鈥淓ntrepreneurship is commonly associated with risk. [Yet] there is no risk in helping someone. Ask the question: Then look to see if you can scale this idea.鈥�

Webinars dedicated to business survival during COVID-19

Since the pandemic began, Werner and York have interviewed multiple entrepreneurship researchers about entrepreneurial approaches to COVID-19, focusing on actionable, research-backed solutions. They recently delivered a webinar entitled 鈥溾�� to the CU Boulder and local business communities, which presents a framework and examples for entrepreneurs to plan, pivot, and persist during, and beyond, the pandemic.

Addition information and resources for entrepreneurs

Visit the COventure Forward page.

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