Our business and writing classes will help you explore options for setting goals and monetizing your ideas.
If you have questions about our business collective, contact Dave Smith at lasers@rocmakers.org.
Upcoming Classes (members only)
***NEW*** Bootstrap Your Business
Maximum Students: 4 Duration: 2 hrs Prerequisites: None
Class description
Do you have a business idea but don’t know how to fund it—or prefer not to seek external financing? Have you already started a business but aren’t sure how to grow it?
This hands-on workshop provides a practical introduction to bootstrapping—the art of building and scaling a business with minimal external funding. The instructor will provided an overview of key strategies for self-funded growth, followed by personalized coaching tailored to your specific business ideas and operational challenges. Some of the key topics covered will be:
- What is bootstrapping, and how does it differ from traditional funding methods?
- Essential steps to start and sustain a business without external financing
- Strategies for generating early revenue and achieving profitability
- Cost-cutting techniques and resource optimization
- Building a brand and customer base on a shoestring budget
- Leveraging free and low-cost tools for business operations
- Real-world examples and success stories of bootstrapped businesses
How to Start a Business
Maximum Students: 5 Duration: 3 hrs Prerequisites: None
Class description
Have a great idea for a new product or service? Think it might bring you fame, glory, admiration…and oh yeah…a ton of money? Starting a new business is not quick or easy, but it is entirely doable. And every year, many thousands of people do just that: follow their dream to start a new business. This class outlines the things you need to think about when you decide to launch your dream. From basic things like choosing the type of legal entity you will be, to marketing, production and quality considerations, this three-hour class will cover the topics you should consider when making this important decision.
How To Write (good Great!) Instructions
Maximum Students: 6 Duration: 3 hrs Prerequisites: None
Class description
Instructions are everywhere, and not just those directions to assemble that piece of furniture. Recipes, garden layouts, party invites, travel checklists, how to get to that Airbnb, and even business plans are all instructions. That new product you are making requires instructions. Unfortunately, many of these instructions are not very good, or could even be dangerous. Writing good instructions is not that hard. There’s a simple, time-tested process for producing readable, usable instructions. This class will take you through that process, one logical step at a time. If you have instructions from products that you’ve bought, bring them to class and we’ll discuss them…particularly instructions that you found confusing.