A recent study by the Kauffman Foundation reveals that 27 percent of survey respondents plan to start their own business in the next five years. Even more revealing, a staggering 70 percent agreed that the success and health of the U.S. economy depends on the success of entrepreneurs and that is where Prosper Inc comes into play, because we can help.

The lure of having one’s own business is undeniable. While entrepreneurs make great initial sacrifices of time and typically take on added financial risk, the payoffs can be extraordinary. If you provide the right product and attract enough customers, independent wealth could be yours. There’s also the element of being your own boss and being in control of your destiny…not to mention your own schedule. Simply put, as an entrepreneur, you may find it easier to attend Billy’s ballgame or Jessi’s piano recital.

Simply starting a business is not enough. The Small Business Administration reports that “roughly half of small businesses fail within the first five years.” Those aren’t particularly encouraging odds. It would be wise to tilt the scales a little more in your favor.

That’s where personal mentoring in entrepreneurship from Prosper Inc. comes in. With a personal mentor guiding your first steps, you can avoid the pitfalls that new businesses typically face. Your personal mentor knows how to develop and sell products and services based on real-world experience. They can help you develop your business idea and get you on the path to becoming a recognized authority in your field of business.

Entrepreneurship mentoring can assist you in understanding market and business dynamics to leverage your skill sets and resources toward entrepreneurial success. Our entrepreneurship division is anchored with decades of combined experience in starting and managing businesses spanning a huge variety of entrepreneurial pursuits. Our business mentoring core is dedicated to providing practical curriculum delivery in entrepreneurship through a multi-focus program. Our aggressive team combines advanced degree professionals tempered by the refining fire of real world experience.

All mentors have started and currently maintain outside business ventures. These professionals have a huge spectrum of expertise including eCommerce, lead generation, business optimization, direct mail, financial management, life coaching, product development, and publishing.

Students who enroll in Prosper’s entrepreneurship programs work with a mentor once a week for an extended period. Additional resources include:

Access to our entrepreneurship resource line and technical support department.
A complete entrepreneurship curriculum.
Articles, online webinar classes, graduate coaching sessions, blogs, and newsletters.
Additional material and tool recommendations for your program.

We have also partnered with Ken Blanchard to provide customized, one-on-one coaching based on his One Minute Entrepreneur program.

Topics of study may include: Market and competitive analysis, business, risk management, joint ventures, customer profiling, business positioning and branding, eCommerce solutions, SEO, direct mail, unique selling proposition, customer education, price inducements, and testing, measuring, and evaluation.