Services for Students
The Rock Center offers a Student Resource Center to support students who are working on starting their own business. We maintain a collection of business plans and books relevant to the start-up process, as well as a collection focusing on search funds. See Alice Moses in Rock Center 107 to access these resources.
Students can also take advantage of the vast resources of the new Harvard innovation lab. The i-lab is a new and innovative University-wide initiative that will foster team-based and entrepreneurial activities and deepen interactions among students and faculty throughout Harvard, entrepreneurs and members of the Allston and Greater Boston community.
Minimum Viable Product Award (MVP Award)
The MVP Award is designed to help students who are using the lean startup methodology and developing a minimum viable product. To learn more about this set of ideas, visit Eric Ries' blog, Lessons Learned, Eric Ries' response to an Inc Magazine article on Minimum Viable Product and the article, The Minimum Viable Product Dissected. In addition, you may be interested in The Entrepreneur's Guide to Customer Development by Cooper & Vlaskovits. Available for the Kindle for $24. Or as a PDF download for $25.
Visit the MVP Award page for complete details and information on how to apply.
Rock Center Loan Reduction for Entrepreneurs
HBS will offer one-time need-based awards of $10,000 each to this year's graduating MBA students who are committed to pursuing their own for-profit entrepreneurial ventures. Recipients will be selected by the Rock Center in consultation with MBA Financial Aid.
The program is competitive, and if we have more applicants than available awards, awards will be made on the basis of the viability of the venture, as determined by a review of your business plan and a progress report detailing progress towards funding and any other key milestones and your financial need.
When considering application for loan reduction, please keep in mind it is not intended for individuals who are still seeking employment; in volunteer positions or receiving only a nominal salary; or engaged in post-MBA studies of any kind. Ultimate discretion for eligibility lies entirely with HBS. Funds are distributed on an as-available basis. All determinations made by the School are final. HBS reserves the right to restructure or discontinue loan reductions at any time.
Applications are due - in hardcopy form - to Alice Moses in Rock 107 by 12:00 noon on Monday, April 29, 2013. Late applications will not be accepted. Visit myHBS for complete eligibility information and a list of application materials (login required).
Early-Stage Idea Feedback
Back by popular demand for round 2! The Rock Center organizes an Early-Stage Idea Feedback program for current students on an idea you are seriously considering developing, either in conjunction with the HBS Business Plan Contest or as a new venture to be launched in the near-term. This program allows potential participants in the Business Plan Contest to get feedback on their ideas in the fall, prior to undertaking a spring field study and developing a full-fledged business plan. This is a great opportunity to receive feedback on your startup idea from VCs/entrepreneurs in your space.
Applicants should send a pdf file consisting of a cover sheet and a 3-5 page executive summary (in memo form, not powerpoint) to Alice Moses (Alice Moses) no later than Monday, December 17, 2012.
- Name your pdf file with your full name and the word feedback: firstname.lastname.feedback.pdf.
- The cover sheet should include the name and email address of one primary contact.
- For the 3-5 page executive summary (in memo form, not powerpoint), here are some suggestions about some of the points you should hit (in essence, you want to make the strongest argument you can about why the potential venture will be successful):
- Product / Service: What exactly is the product or service you propose to sell, what is its state of development, what hurdles exist to finishing and getting it fully-formed and functional? What problem / need for which set of customers does this address?
- Business Model: What kind of investment will be required to get the doors open, how will you make money?
- Market: How big is the market? What competitors exist? What is your advantage relative to them? If you are successful, what will prevent others from imitating you?
- Financial Plan: How much money will be required to get the venture off the ground? How much capital will likely be required in total?
- Management Team: A brief sense of each person on the team, their relevant background and role.
You should expect to receive feedback from a VC or entrepreneur in the space in January via email (feedback providers reserve the right to remain anonymous). If you have any questions, feel free to contact Alice Moses.
Entrepreneurs-in-Residence
The Rock Center oversees an Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EiR) program in which accomplished entrepreneurs spend a semester or year at the Rock Center. During this time, they try to be available to students to offer counsel on their career or business planning issues.
The EiR typically give a number of informal talks that are sponsored by the Rock Center and advertised via our Events email newsletter for current students (login required) and through the Entrepreneurship Club. Contact Alice Moses (amoses+hbs.edu) for information on how to contact an EiR, providing as much information as you can about what you are trying to do and the kind of counsel you seek.
Ajay Agarwal bio
Gordon Bloom bio
Kent Dauten bio
Chuck Davis bio
Dayna Grayson bio
Steve Halmos bio
David Hornik bio
Terry Kramer bio
Eric Paley bio
Jules Pieri bio
Eric Ries bio
Diego Rodriguez bio
Ray Rothrock bio
Steve Sydness bio
Tony Tjan bio
Lauri Union bio
Russ Wilcox bio
Gwill York bio
Immersion Experiences
The Rock Center organizes a Silicon Valley Immersion Program in January, part of HBS's overall menu of Immersion Programs. The program offers tracks for students interested in working at a start-up, working in venture capital, or starting their own business. HBS also offers an entrepreneurial Immersion Program to Israel as well as several others in locations ranging from New Orleans to India.
Legal Advice
Legal advice for students who are involved in starting a new venture is available through Business Plan Contest or by contacting Alice Moses (amoses+hbs.edu). Through the generosity of several local law firms, including Foley Hoag and Hinckley, Allen & Snyder, the Rock Center is able to offer HBS students who are working on a business plan some legal advice. This counsel is available to help students who are developing business plans for ventures they are seriously considering starting. These half-hour sessions – while no substitute for engaging counsel – can help identify legal issues and hurdles that may arise and point you to specific issues you need to worry about (or not). Interested students should email Alice Moses (amoses+hbs.edu) for more information on scheduling an appointment.
Additional legal resources can be found through the Harvard Innovation Lab. Contact the i-lab for details.
Information Research Support
Baker Library Services provides information research assistance to HBS students.
- Quick reference service: call 617-495-6040 or infoservices+hbs.edu
- Request consultation appointment: infoservices+hbs.edu