How Jeanette Cheah's entrepreneurial journey transformed her and her students

She Lost her business before she begun... "I will launch soon" has robbed so many business owners & professionals off their careers/businesses before they could even begin. Her mistake was that she had not secured the domain. A great number will go ahead to build successful startups even before they register their business legally only for those who are first enough to act. Tough lessons for entrepreneurs

We’re excited to announce a new partnership with Belonging Colorado, housed at The Denver Foundation. Together, we’re launching a Social Entrepreneurship Accelerator in 2026 to support founders with innovative, scalable ideas that bring people together across divides. The year-long pilot will provide intensive mentorship, capital readiness training, and ecosystem connections for 8–10 entrepreneurs. By the end, we’ll publish a playbook for inclusive acceleration to inspire broader adoption across Colorado and beyond. Learn more → https://lnkd.in/geFkt2J6

Look For The Green Smoke! The oxymoron of elite business schools, accelerators, and incubators is they’ll teach you how to pitch investors… but not how to sell. If you’re not talking to customers every day and putting money in the bank, you’re LARPing (live-action role-playing). The same rings true for your category strategy. Until you validate it with paying customers, it’s just theory. Startups fail primarily for two reasons: 1. No market need (aka no one’s buying what you’re selling) 2. They run out of cash The cure for both? Sales. I'm not talking about pitch competitions either. I'm talking about closing the gap to customers fast. Getting that first undeniable signal of validation; green smoke. Stop LARPING, you’ve got one job! Be like the dude looking through the binoculars: (I got green Smoke, I got Green Smoke! CQ1 CQ1 we got green smoke) This and more in this week’s edition of the Slap. (check the comments) P.S. It’s (Always) A Great Day To Be Alive!!!!

If you’re holding off on pitching until your deck is “perfect,” you might be holding your startup back. The most successful founders don’t wait — they pitch early, gather investor feedback, and use it to sharpen their story and business model. Every conversation builds momentum, strengthens relationships, and makes the next pitch stronger. Remember: investors bet on founders, not just slides. Your passion, clarity, and adaptability can be more compelling than a polished deck. In this WBS post, we break down why pitching before perfection can accelerate your fundraising and set you apart from the competition. Read the full discussion at the #WBS: https://lnkd.in/eGM6QBSb #InvestorCommunity #StartupLife #BusinessGrowth #EntrepreneurMindset

Behind every successful startup ecosystem is a network of ecosystem builders: entrepreneurs’ biggest champions. The third cohort of Resource, supported by Truist Foundation, offers countless examples of the vital role Entrepreneur Support Organizations (ESOs) play – mentoring founders, closing critical gaps, and building trust where traditional systems fall short. These leaders aren’t waiting for change – they’re creating it. From helping entrepreneurs understand fundraising to building networks and mentorship pipelines, they’re helping founders navigate challenges and access real opportunities. Our in-person event earlier this year in Durham, NC, brought these ecosystem builders together to collaborate, share knowledge, and grow side by side. Because when those supporting founders learn from one another, entire communities thrive. 🎥 Get to know the stories and faces behind the Resource III program: https://lnkd.in/eYzfAE-h

🎥 Meet Chris George – Growth Hub Manager at the Combined Authority Ever wanted a deeper dive into the Combined Authority Growth Hub? In this video, Chris George breaks it down his role as Growth Hub Manager, from supporting local businesses to driving regional economic growth through the Combined Authority’s Growth Hub. Chris shares insights into:  ✅ The key responsibilities of a Growth Hub Manager ✅ How the Growth Hub helps businesses thrive ✅ What he enjoys most about his role — and why it matters Whether you're a startup, a growing SME, or just curious about how regional business support works, this is a must-watch! 📲 Watch now and discover how the Growth Hub is making a difference. Find out how to contact the Growth Hub here 👉 https://lnkd.in/e7KjBvdR #BusinessSupport #GrowthHub #CombinedAuthority #MeetTheTeam #EconomicDevelopment

50% of founders quit in 3 years. Scary. Here's how Roberto Ortiz broke through. His story is nuts: Inner city of Philly. He taught himself to code. Recruited by Lockheed at 16. Product design lead at Google. Built an app acquired by Yahoo. Then COVID, and a new venture. Welcome to his founder's journey. Every step tested his determination, but he refused to buckle under the pressure. We sat down for a raw discussion about entrepreneurship. He has a message for founders sharp enough to spot the opportunities and sick enough to pursue them. If you’ve ever thought about quitting your founder journey, this episode is for you. Don't miss it. Watch it here: https://lnkd.in/e5gxxFVf

Most founders mess up their pitch to angels in the first 30 seconds. I've sat through 500+ pitches and here are the deadly sins that kill your chances: 1. Starting with the market size ↳ Angels want to know if YOU can execute first 2. Hiding your metrics ↳ No traction? Say it. Lying destroys trust instantly 3. Not knowing your unit economics ↳ "We'll figure it out later" = instant pass 4. Pitching without research ↳ Each angel's portfolio tells you what they like 5. Going in too early ↳ Most founders pitch before they have anything real But the biggest mistake? Treating angels like ATMs instead of partners. The best deals I've seen came from founders who: • Asked for advice first • Built relationships early • Showed genuine progress between meetings Your deck matters less than you think. Your approach matters more than you know. The angels who write checks aren't looking for perfect startups. They're looking for founders they can trust.

UO hosts summer retreat for promising young business owners💡🦆 This summer, 20 young founders of start-up businesses settled in on the UO campus for an intensive, monthlong program called the V10 Builder Residency program. “Coming here was the best decision we've ever made as business owners, both personally and professionally,” business founder and V10 participant Max Sussman said. “During the residency, we saw people double their revenues,” said Jeff Sorensen, director of the Lundquist Center for Entrepreneurship. “One team raised their seed funding round, and somebody fired their co-founder. All of the realities of starting a company were happening here in real time” Read more 🔗 https://bit.ly/4lSE06Z University of Oregon Lundquist College of Business