SPARK – Institute for Veterans and Military Families

About The Program

The purpose of EBV-Spark is to help participants begin the process of developing a basic set of skills and competencies focused on entrepreneurial opportunity recognition, innovation, and small business management. Through this 100% virtual program participants will test the feasibility of their early business idea and develop a foundation of skills and abilities in the areas of value creation, marketing, sales, personal branding, value delivery, and finance.

2023 program dates

Spring 2023: May 1 – June 9
Summer 2023: August 7 – September 15
Fall 2023: October 23 – December 1

We are currently accepting new applications for all of the 2023 programs!

*IVMF Enrollment Services team will guide you with program date selection.

Apply now

Lamarr Couser, EBV-Spark Participant

Course Breakdown

Videos	Watch videos each week on different areas of business fundamentals
Activities	Test business idea through a Feasibility Analysis & other activities
Discussion Posts	Web-based discussions on the weekly topic
Weekly Webinars	Live question & answer session with subject matter experts
Ask the Expert	Ask questions in a Blackboard forum to specific subject matter experts
Ask the Class	Ask questions in a Blackboard forum to receive input from fellow classmates

Course Outline

Week #1 – Orientation	Meet your instructor, get oriented to Blackboard, and get to know the class.
Week #2 – Value Creation	Creating what people want or need
Week #3 – Marketing	Attracting attention and building demand for what is created
Week #4 – Sales	Turn prospective customers into paying customers
Week #5 – Value Delivery	Giving customers what was promised and ensuring satisfaction
Week #6 – Finance/What Now?	Bring in enough money to keep going and make effort worthwhile