Menlo College, Silicon Valley's Business School, is taking a new approach to their Senior Capstone class for business students. This year the school is loaning the entire Senior Capstone class $1250 to start a for-profit business. The class of sixteen students is working as a team to come up with a business plan and then proceed to manage their business. The business they have created is called 16 Entertainment. The business entails event planning and they will be putting on events throughout the semester.
Their first event, Mardi Gras, was held on October 13th at the British Bankers Club in Menlo Park. Their next event will be held on November 14th at the British Bankers Club. This event is called A Black and White Affair. All who attend must be dressed in balck or white. There will be V.I.P. Access Upstairs with Wii, Beer Pong, Ice Luge, Table Service, and More.
Erik Schneider, a student in MGT 201 Capstone: Launching the Venture, explains "I am pleased to see the school investing in projects such as this one. This class will allow senior business majors to finally apply the textbook knowledge we've received in our time here at Menlo. After the semester, I hope that all of us gain some quality experience that we can take with us into the job market".
25 % of the profits will go into a fund for Management 201 funding for future students who will be taking this course. The remaining 75% of their profits are going to be donated to charity. The charity the students will be donating to is Doctors Without Borders.
The students decided amongst themselves what roles they are playing in developing their business. The students are very pleased and excited to be in this class.
Kiko Douglas explains "it's a cool class, there is quite a bit of freedom compared to most of the classes I've taken. There isn't a set curriculum per say. We are making the class what it is with the business we choose to run. So if you have an idea of something you would like to do and can turn it into a business then really you have a class centered around something you're interested in and that's fun" he also states to future business students "if you get the chance to take it this class then do it".
This class is giving the business students the opportunity to test their knowledge and truly work as a team. As Leslie Williams, Associate Professor of Business and Director of the Entrepreneurship Center as well as the professor of this class explains "the students are using all the tools they have amassed in the business program and putting them to work"
Williams also comments on the way the students have worked together "what is interesting about the process is that the idea was not what everyone had come up with. The best ideas got discussed further and now the students have chosen one business to pursue. They are now very enthusiastic about each other's ideas and are working to make it happen".
With this semester long project they are able to prove that the last three or so years of hard work and studying can be applied to the real world. The hopes for the future of this class is that it can be held over a two semester period giving the students more time to work with and develop their business.
For more information about 16 entertainment their contact information is entertainment.0016@yahoo.com.
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