Booth Global Launchpad in Beijing

Begins July 11 through July 14, 2012

The University of Chicago Center in Beijing
20th floor, Culture Plaza
No. 59A Zhong Guan Cun Street
Haidian District Beijing 100872

The Booth Global Launchpad in Beijing welcomed entrepreneurial Chicago Booth alumni back to school as faculty members Waverly Deutsch, Scott Meadow, Robert Gertner, and Tom Doctoroff taught and mentored participants regarding their business models and ideas. The four-day seminar included not only lectures from these seasoned entrepreneurs and investors, but also individual attention from Beijing-based mentors to refine business models and prepare fast pitches. The focus of the program included classroom instruction grounded in theoretical frameworks with hands-on coaching and development of a local mentor and entrepreneurial network, which includes Chicago Booth alumni as well as local business owners.

Organizers: Robert Gertner (Chicago Booth) and Caroline Karr (Chicago Booth)

Program description:

The Global Launchpad supports the ongoing education of entrepreneurial alumni worldwide through engaging four-day seminars taught by top Chicago Booth entrepreneurship faculty. The inaugural program took place at the University of Chicago Center in Beijing. We look forward to welcoming entrepreneurial Chicago Booth alumni back to school!

Dates:

The Global Launchpad: Beijing ran from Wednesday, July 11 – Saturday, July 14.

Faculty & Mentors

The following faculty members from Chicago Booth are confirmed to teach in the Global Launchpad: Beijing.  In addition, participants will have access to a committed group of mentors—seasoned entrepreneurs and investors who are committed to helping Chicago Booth alumni launch new ventures.

Waverly Deutsch, Clinical Professor of Entrepreneurship, Chicago Booth
Scott Meadow, Clinical Professor of Entrepreneurship, Chicago Booth
Robert Gertner, Joel F. Gemunder Professor of Strategy and Finance; Deputy Dean, Chicago Booth
Tom Doctoroff, J. Walter Thompson North Asia Area Director, Greater China CEO/ JWT Shanghai

Wed, July 11

8:30 a.m. Rob Gertner Introduction to Program (Course overview; participants give brief intro to their businesses) and Business Model Evaluation

12:00 p.m. Lunch Working Session: participants develop their own canvas

2:00 p.m. Waverly Deutsch Business Model Evaluation (Participants present canvases) and Presentation Basics

5:30 p.m. Program Dinner

Thursday, July 12

8:30 a.m. Scott Meadow Entrepreneurial Finance

10:45 a.m. Panel of Alumni Investors

12:00 p.m. Lunch & Keynote: Pieter Kemps Cloud Computing & VC

2:00 p.m. Scott Meadow Commercializing Innovation

5:30 p.m. Tom Doctoroff Marketing to the Chinese Consumer – Workshop/Dinner

Friday, July 13

8:30 a.m. Waverly Deutsch Entrepreneurial Execution

12:00 p.m. Lunch & Keynote

2:00 p.m. Business Model & Fast-Pitch Workshop

(Beijing-based mentors work with companies to refine their business model and prepare their fast pitch)

5:30p.m. Alumni cocktail networking reception

7:30 p.m., Grand Hyatt, CBD

Saturday, July 14

8:30 a.m. Panel of Alumni Entrepreneurs

12:00 p.m. Lunch with alumni entrepreneurs and fast-pitch judges

2:00 p.m. Fast Pitch Session (Participants pitch businesses to faculty, mentors, and judges)

Closing Reception & Awards Ceremony

5:30 p.m. Optional Farewell Dinner

Questions: Please contact Erika Mercer, associate director in the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship at Chicago Booth, with any questions: erika.mercer@chicagobooth.edu.

Platinum Sponsors

Ted Hornbein, ’05

Tandean Rustandy, ’07

Susan Hapak, ’89

The University of Chicago Center in Beijing

Silver Sponsors

Qiming Venture Partners

IDG Accel China