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.

Rock Center Venture Creation Program

The Student Resource Center also features a conference room, copier and fax machine. The conference room, copier and fax machine are available for use by students who are part of the Venture Creation Program (VCP).

Students must apply for the VCP by submitting an executive summary of their proposed business, along with their resume (or the resumes of the team). Other benefits of participation include the availability of mentoring and legal advice.

- Apply for the Venture Creation Program

Early-Stage Idea Feedback

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 to Alice Moses (Alice Moses) no later than November 15.

  • 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, 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 by mid-December via email (feedback providers reserve the right to remain anonymous). If you have any questions, feel free to contact Alice Moses.

Mentoring

The Venture Creation Program (VCP) includes a mentor network to help current students who are developing business plans for ventures they are seriously considering starting.

- Apply for Venture Creation Program

  • Name your pdf file with your full name and the word mentor: firstname.lastname.mentor.pdf.
  • The cover sheet should include the name and email address of the primary contact, as well as a list of bullet points outlining the kind of help and advice that would be most helpful to you.

Entrepreneur-in-Residence

The Rock Center oversees an Entrepreneur-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. Read the HBS Press Release on the 2009-2010 Entrepreneurs-in-Residence.

The EiR typically gives a number of informal talks that are sponsored by the Rock Center and advertised via our Events email newsletter (login required) and through the Entrepreneurship Club. Contact Alice Moses: 617-495-6218, (amoses+hbs.edu) for information on how to contact the EiR, providing as much information as you can about what you are trying to do and the kind of counsel you seek.

Meet the 2009-2010 Entrepreneurs-in-Residence:
Jeffrey Bussgang
Susan Decker
James (Jim) M. Sharpe
Jeffrey C. Walker

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 for 2009 as well as several others in locations ranging from New Orleans to India.

Legal Advice

Venture Creation Program (VCP) provides legal advice to students who are involved in starting a new venture. 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).

Students should send a pdf file consisting of a cover sheet and a 3-5 page executive summary to Alice Moses (amoses+hbs.edu).

  • Name your pdf file with your full name and the word legal: firstname.lastname.legal.pdf.
  • The cover sheet should include the name and email address of the primary contact, as well as a list of bullet points outlining the kind of legal issues you believe you are confronting and would like counsel on.

Information Research Support

Baker Library Services provides information research assistance to HBS students.