CHAPTER 1: ENTREPRENEURING

Chapter 1
Read & Listen

A: Focus on READING, sharing and presentation

Reading tasks for sharing and presentation

PROFILES OF ENTREPRENEURS

1.
Innovation policy in Denmark: Denmark – Land of solutions **
On 20 December 2012 Denmark initiated a paradigm shift for future innovation policy by launching the national innovation strategy, 'Denmark – a nation of solutions'.
The innovation strategy will ensure that more of Denmark's knowledge and business positions of strength are translated to new jobs and growth. It will support a more goal-oriented Danish approach to creating innovative solutions to global societal challenges. The innovation strategy contains 27 policy initiatives regarding research, innovation and education. It focuses on a better knowledge exchange between companies and knowledge institutions, across borders and between the public and the private sector. This initiative has been called the official Danish innovation strategy.
Choose task A. or task B.

A.) Study the material on the official Danish innovation strategy e.g. on innovation-strategy and policy document, and present your findings.

B.) Study one or more of the following websites that are all in one way or another related to innovation, entrepreneurship – business as well as social - and creativity in Denmark. Present your findings.

Innovationsfonden
Danmarks Innovationsnetværk
Innovationsnetværk
Startvækst
Iværksætterselskaber(IVS)
Fonden For Entreprenørskab - Young Enterprise
Mødestedet for mere end 100.000 iværksættere og selvstændige erhvervsdrivende
Dansk Iværksætterforening
Business angel netværk
konsulentvirksomhed, der bygger på stærke idealer om gennemskuelighed, CSR og ansvarlig produktion
det førende udviklings- og vækstmiljø for grønne iværksættere i Danmark
the world's largest funding platform for creative projects. A home for film, music, art, theatre, games, comics, design, photography, and more
A Program of the Danish Ministry of Business and Growth to Attract World Class Entrepreneurs to Grow Their Businesses in Denmark
Den Sociale Kapitalfond er Danmarks første sociale venturefond
Center for socialøkonomi
Frontløberne: kreative projektmagere og iværksættere
Danmarks vækst- og iværksætteruge: Uge47 (søg sidst nye)
Global Entrepreneurship Week (søg sidst nye)
We will make your idea happen
Danmark er Europa-mester i innovation (10. februar 2014)
Danmark spilder gode ideer på gulvet (17. Februar 2014)
Starting point for anyone interested in building anything for or with the Facebook platform
Mange bække små…

2.
Do you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur? **
Clearly, entrepreneurship is not for everyone. But how do you know whether it's for you? Read the article here, for example, and present your findings. Include results from the quiz below.
712 words

Quiz: Are you tough enough? Curious if you have what it takes to start your own business? Why not take a short quiz just to get an idea. Go to this link.

3.
Richard Branson's tips for growing your small business *
The celebrated entrepreneur Richard Branson shares advice on how to grow your business and gain a competitive edge.
Read the article here, for example, and present your findings.
877 words

4.
Richard Branson on the business of sustainability *
Billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson has become an icon in the eyes of many aspiring business owners. His inspirational advice has helped steer many start-ups, simply by learning from his vast experience building the Virgin empire of businesses. The celebrated entrepreneur urges start-ups to consider developing green solutions for the future. Read the article on Richard Branson on the Business of Sustainability or here, and present your findings.
764 words

5.
The Versalette by {r} evolution apparel *
The {r}evolution apparel is a sustainable and versatile clothing line for women with the goal of raising over $64,000 by selling their signature piece the Versalette. Read the article here, and present your findings. Watch related video below.
638 words

USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

6.
The 10 essentials of Facebook etiquette *
Being on Facebook won't be good for your brand if you offend the very clientele you wish to attract, but if your presence on social media hasn't delivered the returns you expected, you might be violating one of these ten essential etiquette points laid out by Entrepreneur's Kevin Allen. Read the article here, for example, and present your findings.
623 words

7.
Employers warned about snooping on staff via social networks **
A new social media guide for the workplace finally urges bosses to be transparent and reasonable when snooping on their staff. This is how it should be, writes Emma Barnett. Read the article here, for example, and present your findings.
594 words

8.
Richard Branson on 'social' relations *
The celebrated entrepreneur explores how the use of social media can define a company's future success. Read the article here, for example, and present your findings.
776 words

B: Focus on LISTENING, summarising and commentary

Listening tasks for comprehension, summaries and discussion in writing or verbally

A.
"What are the qualities needed to become a successful entrepreneur?"
by Even Carmichael 05:34
Go here, for example. Listen, and account for the 4 characteristics given in reply to the question asked here. Add your personal opinion.

B.
Career advice on becoming an entrepreneur by Sir Richard Branson
by icouldstories 03:35
Sir Richard Branson founded Virgin in 1970 - it started off as a mail order record retailer. Today the Virgin Group is made up of around 200 companies spanning 30 countries with involvements in leisure, travel, tourism, mobile, broadband, TV, radio, music festivals, finance, health and more. Not bad for someone who left school with 'pretty well no qualifications'!
Go here, for example. Listen, and account for the two ways of becoming an entrepreneur mentioned and the career advice given. Add your personal opinion.

C.
Make meaning in your company
by Stanford University 02:23
Guy Kawasaki, founder and Managing Director of Garage Technology Ventures, speaks to Stanford University students on the core of entrepreneurship. He believes that those companies who set out to make a positive change in the world are the companies that will ultimately be the most successful.
Go here, for example. Listen, and account for the ways of making meaning in your company. Add your personal opinion.

D.
What is social entrepreneurship?
by Sens Mreza 02:03
Animation is made to explain the concept of social entrepreneurship to the general public and raise awareness of the importance of this type of business.
Go here, for example. Listen, and account for the concept of social entrepreneurship presented here. Add your personal opinion.

E.
The Versalette by {r} evolution apparel
by {r} evolution apparel 02:08
The Versalette is one piece of clothing that can be worn over 15 different ways - made in the USA with 100% recycled fabric in an attempt to bridge the gaps between smart design, over-consumption and the environment. Go to this link, for example. Watch, and account for the ideas behind the Versalette. Add your personal opinion.

F.
Value: The one essential element of every successful social media plan
by Inc.com 05:02
Gary Vaynerchuk, the wine and social media entrepreneur talks about the most important secret behind a social media strategy that works. Go to this link or this link.
Listen, and account for Gary's views on value and the different social platforms. Add your personal opinion.

G.
Know thyself and niche thyself
by Stanford University 03:35
Guy Kawasaki talks about marketing and product design simplified. Kawasaki explains why this theory is all an entrepreneur will need to know about marketing. A simple chart illustrates his point - how to be the creator of a unique product or service and be valuable to a customer.
Go to this link or this link. Listen, and account for the chart. Add your personal opinion.