Operation JumpStart is an award-winning microenterprise development program that partners with organizations seeking to assist aspiring entrepreneurs. Combining nationally-recognized curriculum; coaching and mentoring; and rich online resources; this program can be the foundation you need in building entrepreneurial communities of opportunity.
Operation JumpStart: First Step leads you through determining whether a business idea is a feasible business opportunity. You will examine your idea from every angle and write a feasibility plan, which will help you decide if the business is a “go” or a “no go” before spending too much time or money.
Get help with concept development, market research, competition profiling, pricing, and financial projections.
This 36 hour facilitated learning experience includes:
- a certified facilitator
- a step-by-step handbook
- small group exercises
- weekly take-home assignments
- individual meetings with a business coach
- access to resources and networks to help you launch your business
About OJS
Operation JumpStart was created in 2006 by the Douglas C. Greene Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. The program has gained national recognition for its success in accelerating microenterprise creation. In the last five years over 600 individuals in rural communities in Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee have completed the Operation JumpStart program leading to the immediate creation of nearly 225 new businesses, with an additional 25% of the participants going on to launch a business within 2 years. What’s impressive about these nearly 300 businesses is that they are succeeding at a rate of over 90% after two years. Even more important: 58% were low income; 64% unemployed; 42% have less than a high school education; and 30% were minority.