Drake University has teamed up with Ascent to expand its successful Startup Boot Camp for Women. The sessions in Des Moines will be held on June 6, 7, 20, and 21 in Aliber Hall on Drake University’s campus.
“The boot camp is designed to get women moving from the thinking stage to the doing stage, which is how our first cohort came up with the catchphrase: Think. Do. Next,” says Tom Swartwood, assistant professor of practice in entrepreneurship at Drake. “We have the mentors with the knowledge to help any woman explore and pursue her entrepreneurial dreams. And we really engage the power of networking through having participants interact with their cohort, previous participants, and mentors.”
By offering the camp in the evening and on weekends, the program is more accessible to women who are working full time or are stay-at-home moms. Organizers say the participants will leave with more practical business knowledge and a larger network of support.
“We are thankful Tom had a vision and became our partner,” says Lydia Brown, CEO of Ascent. “The participants will have their professors and Ascent as resources, but they will also have each other as a support group as they navigate entrepreneurship. More efforts like this are needed to ignite women in business leadership throughout the state and build a more comprehensive, innovative economy.”
The dates and times for the Des Moines session are as follows. All sessions will be held in Aliber Hall, Room 204:
• Friday, June 6, 5:30–9 p.m.
• Saturday, June 7, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Friday, June 20, 5:30–9 p.m.
• Saturday, June 21, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
The cost of the camp is $150, which includes all class material, appetizers/beverages on the Friday sessions, lunch/beverages on the Saturday sessions and a one year Ascent Membership.
Discounts are available to Drake University students, staff, faculty, and alumni. For more information, contact jpec@drake.edu or 515-271-3071.