Program Overview

About This Program:

The Southeast Minnesota Software Studio program is a series of four workshops over three months, along with prototype or minimum viable product (MVP) development services.

Selected applicants will participate in a series of hands-on workshops that demystify the software development process and equip them with practical tools to collaborate effectively with design and development teams, before engaging with these teams to build a prototype or MVP.
Definitions:

Prototype: A clickable demonstration of what your app or site is intended to look like. Limited functionality, if any. Used to experiment with layout, design, and usage with potential customers.

Minimum Viable Product (MVP): The most basic functional version of your app or site that can be actually used by customers to validate assumptions and start generating revenue.
During the workshops, participants will be expected to:
  • Share authentic challenges or opportunity areas from their own business.
  • Practice applying the language, skills, and techniques that are taught alongside and with others in their cohort.
By the end of the engagement, participants will be able to:
  • Speak to how software development works, in everyday language and with their business context in mind.
  • Communicate their business goals, challenges, and current state in a variety of visual ways that are common to design teams.
  • Engage with a development or design team to make progress on their business goal(s).
This workshop series will consist of four hands-on, synchronous sessions that will help to increase participant comfort and literacy in software development terminology and processes. This experience is designed to equip entrepreneurs with the language, tools, and practice they need to more effectively collaborate with design and development teams in the future, while actively working on their product or business. Some of the workshops will be held in-person at Saint Mary's University-Rochester Campus; all will have virtual/remote options available.

Participants can expect to:
  • Apply learnings immediately to their business: Your current business problem(s) or opportunities will play an integral role in these workshops and how you learn about software development. You’ll be able to immediately apply what you’re learning to your work, helping you make progress in a meaningful and visible way.
  • Collaborate with peers: You’ll learn alongside others tackling similar challenges or reaching for similar milestones as you. Peer-to-peer work during sessions will instill empathy, encourage sharing, innovate additional solutions to your problems, and help you to naturally build your network and support system while increasing your technological literacy.
  • Experiment with new tools: Using your business problems as the starting point, you’ll practice using realistic, flexible, and scalable tools for defining your problems, identifying your desired solutions, and communicating these to designers and/or developers. These exercises will increase your confidence and clarity when collaborating in the future!
Session 1: Intro & Fundamentals
Learn the basics of terminology, tools, and frameworks used by software and design teams while establishing rapport with your cohort; Begin to apply your learnings to your business or product.

Session 2: Connect & Progress
Check in on how you’re applying your learnings to your business or product and lay out framework for the future.

Session 3: Real-time Coaching & Preparation
Receive individual consulting and feedback to advance to the next steps in your business or product.

Session 4: Wrap-Up & Next Steps
Share and celebrate your learnings with your cohort and the southeast Minnesota entrepreneurial community.
Following the workshops, participants will engage in prototype and MVP development, with up to 200-400 hours of design and/or development services provided, depending on the project.

Alumni of the program will gain access to a network of support for their continued career and business development.
Prioritization:
The program will prioritize businesses with an address in Southeast Minnesota, as well as entrepreneurs who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC); women; veterans; have disabilities; and/or qualify as low-income.

Cost:
Participation in the program is $1,999, to be invoiced upon acceptance. Scholarships are available.
Future Cohort Dates (apply now!):
Cohort 2: February - April 2025 (days and times TBD)
Cohort 3: April - June 2025 (days and times TBD)
Funding Sources:
This program is supported, in part, by State of Minnesota through a grant from The Office of Small Business and Innovation, Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). DEED is the state’s principal economic development agency. DEED programs promote business recruitment; expansion and retention; international trade; workforce development; and community development. DEED’s Mission: To empower the growth of the Minnesota economy, for everyone.

Additional funding will be provided by participants and by other non-state and non-federal sources.

About the Owatonna Area Business Development Center:
As a private 501(c)3 non-profit corporation, the Owatonna Area Business Development Center offers the resources and support needed to start or grow a business, as it has for over thirty years. It is committed to supporting the entrepreneurial spirit that thrives in the Owatonna business community.
This application should take approximately 11 minutes to complete.
Click NEXT below to start the application!

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