“Free” Stanford Startup BootCamp ???
from SJ Mercury News 16 Apr 14 enhanced by Peter/CXO Wiz4.biz
As part of its deal to build a 35-acre satellite campus in Redwood City, Stanford University will offer up a special “Entrepreneurship Boot Camp” through its Graduate School of Business — for “free”.
Catch. But there are a couple of catches. Redwood City will select the 40 people who can participate in the program, and it intends to charge each of them $1,250 for the privilege. City spokeswoman Sheri Costa-Batis said attaching a price tag to the six-day program “encourages participants to value the unique opportunity being offered.” Besides, $1,250 is only about 1/10th of the fee Stanford usually charges for this executive-level education program. All funds collected will be spent to expand Redwood City’s collaboration with Stanford, perhaps by adding programs, accommodating more participants or extending some benefits beyond the five-year agreement, Costa-Batis wrote in an email Tuesday.
Deadline 15 May. The Startup Boot Camp will be offered at Stanford on two full weekdays in August, two in October and two in January 2015. The deadline to apply at www.gsb.stanford.edu/exed/rwc/bootcamp.html is May 15.
Participants will be Selected by the Redwood City manager’s office based on such criteria as “previous executive level experience in an entrepreneurial organization; connection to high potential business that could create growth opportunities in Redwood City, specifically, growth that offers more job opportunities; ability to add value to the overall community in terms of being a good long-term community partner; and whether the business is based in Redwood City,” Costa-Batis wrote.
In September, the City Council approved Stanford’s plan to expand into Redwood City on property west of Highway 101 bordered by Douglas Avenue, Bay Road & Second Avenue. Over a projected 30-year time period, eight buildings will be demolished and 13 constructed in their place for administrative offices, medical clinics and research & development, according to the university.
Why? To secure Development Rights, Stanford agreed to give Redwood City about $15.1 million worth of public benefits, including $5 million for Business Training programs. Lucy Wicks, associate Director of Community Relations for Stanford, said the university will provide 1 Boot Camp & 2 Speaker events each year for at least 5 years. There’s also “another chunk of funds” that will enable Redwood City residents to attend executive education courses through the Graduate School of Business, although that program has not yet been launched, she said.
Speakers Event on Thursday 8 May – by Stanford – will be its first free. It features Stanford women’s Basketball coach Tara VanDerveer, Tesla co-founder JB Straubel & Khan [Education] Academy official James Tynan. The event will take place at the 1,300-seat Fox Theatre, 2215 Broadway, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tickets are free and can be obtained through online reservations at www.gsb.stanford.edu/exed/rwc/speakers.html. Stanford “is bringing some exiting speakers to the community who are well known, not just local,” Redwood City Mayor Jeffrey Gee said. “Stanford has such a wonderful reputation. It’s that presence of the name in Redwood City.”
Comments: What do you think of this Boot Camp?