What Should Change?
Something that might confuse new students
The level of freedom this class gives. Students are very used to rigid assignments, so your creative and free-thinking projects are nice but intimidating.
The best skill for an entrepreneur to understand, in Andy's opinion
How to understand the needs/wants of the customer. Entrepreneurship is about more than selling a product, but this is what the end goal is about. Like the Wallet Project, making a product based off of the wants of someone else would be a good idea for another project.
One of Andy's favorite Takeaways
The friends and acquaintances he made from this class :)
In the beginning, Andy mainly felt this emotion
Confusion! The class hits the ground running and that was very offputting for a new entrepreneur.
Andy should have paid more attention to this
The Flex Syllabus! It was a great opportunity for me to increase my entrepreneurial knowledge, but it was unlike anything I'd seen before, which threw me off at first.
3 skills Andy was able to improve
Pitching, "Yes, And"-ing, and Idea Generation. I enjoy coming up with ideas and presenting them, and being able to work on these skills is something I try to do in other classes as well!
3 Most useful things learned by Andy
1) How to pitch 2) How to make business model canvas 3) How to generate ideas from a need/want. I had always thought ideas came from a great, creative mind but in actuality they come from a simple want for something different!
What did Andy expect from this Class?
A class focused on starting and managing our idea, like an active business class. I thought the class would be more rigid, like some type of business class, but the creative projects was serendipitous!
A change in the class Andy would've liked to see
More creative projects (Like the Cow idea, Wallet idea, and BIPC. Maybe have a smaller, in-class BIPC before the real one)
A lesson Andy hopes to remember for his entire life
Act on the opportunities life presents you! YOLO! If an opportunity to learn or better yourself presents itself, act on it! This is what entrepreneurs do!
What was the best characteristic of this class?
How casual it was! A friendly, casual class was great for fostering ideas. Being able to interact with Jan on an equal playing field helped me communicate my ideas, needs, and wants in a good way!
What parts did Andy think were the most fun?
Coming up with creative ideas! Learning about the entrepreneurial process was decent, but the actual project development was the best part!
In Andy's opinion, this is the hardest part of the class
How different it is from traditional classes. This class is creative and free like an art class, but logical like a business class. The creative projects are quite fun and good for exercising my creative muscles, but it takes time to get used to thinking like this. More creative projects would make Andy more used this!
A trait that's important for both the Entrepreneur and their venture
Being able to pivot! Learn how to consider new ideas and change what you're doing
What was the most valuable part of this class?
Actually having to compete against others with our ideas. This made it feel like we were in the real world.
How does finishing the class make Andy feel?
Excited! Hopefully the entrepreneurial minor will make Andy use his creative muscles as much as this class did! I would like the opportunity to continue working on the SplitBell in other entrepreneurial classes as well
Does Andy think this was a good class?
Yes! I learned how to create an idea and begin to turn it into a business venture. This is what I thought the class would be about! This was a good class, and I wouldn't change much about it!
The most applicable skill Andy improved in this class
Confidence and speaking up for myself. I have learned from class, and outside research, that the number one thing an Entrepreneur should do is advocate for themselves and for their idea, and this class has helped me do it
What is Andy most proud of, from this class?
Being a new entrepreneur who could come up with an idea to win a competition! I'm glad this class helped me come up with the Splitbell
What will Andy focus on next, now that he has taken this course?
Turning the Splitbell into a real product! I'm very glad I had the opportunity to come up with an idea in this class, and I'm excited to have the opportunity to work on it with the university.