Are you aged 50+? Working, unemployed or retired? And do you have an idea for your own business, but don’t know where to start? With the free Silver Starters program, a tailor-made learning path based on your experiences, knowledge and learning goals, you will explore the market and turn your idea into a business. Shape your future!
What is Silver Starters?
Silver Starters is a personal learning program where people aged 50+ learn the basics to turn their idea into their own business in eight modules of online learning and personal coaching by experts. No prior knowledge is required. You learn at your own pace, only what you want to learn and skip what you already know. The time commitment for the course will be approximately sixteen hours per module.
During the course you will have access to the teaching materials, including videos, texts and web links, and the opportunity to interact and exchange with fellow participants and coaches. The eight modules are divided into three parts:
- Idea: you learn to investigate whether your idea is feasible.
- Entrepreneur: you understand the way of thinking and skills required to become an entrepreneur.
- Company: what are the next steps in becoming an entrepreneur?
Topics covered include customer needs and wishes, revenue models, marketing and prototyping.
Currently, Silver Starters is offered in four countries in their local languages: in the Netherlands (Dutch course), Poland (Polish course), Portugal (Portugese course), Italy (Italian course). We expect to add more countries (and languages) in the near future!
Timeframe
The course length of Silver Starters is in every participating country eight modules of online learning and coaching. The timeframe however, varies per country. For example, in the Netherlands the third edition will last twelve weeks and will start on 15 February 2022 and will end on 7 June 2022.
Is this course for you?
- Are you aged 50 or above?
- Do you have an idea for a business?
- Are you interested in starting your own business or do you wish to find out if entrepreneurship is something for you?
- Can you free up sixteen hours per module during eight modules?
- Do you have access to a computer, laptop or tablet?
- Do you understand English? (The curriculum will be in either Dutch/Polish/Portuguese/Italian, but some of the literature will be in English.)
Can you answer these questions with YES? Then the free Silver Starters course is an excellent match for you!
Program
The brochure with a more specific program is currently under revision and will be available shortly. Keep an eye on this website or let us know if you want to receive this brochure by email.
Coaching
An important and highly appreciated role is played during (and after) the course by the guidance of experts. The coaching is completely focused on the wishes and needs of the participants. These vary from business coaching, marketing and market research to financial matters etc.
Learning goals
The tailor-made learning path is designed from the below mentioned learning goals.
Gaining knowledge
- Insight into customer needs and problems
- Knowledge about applying design thinking
- Set up experiments to test assumptions
- Basic knowledge of revenue models
- Basic knowledge of (online) marketing
Applying skills
- Translate the wishes and desires of your target group into a product or service
- Online resources
- Conducting market research and analysing the data
- Pitching your business idea
Insights into the right mind-set
- How entrepreneurial am I and who do I need?
- How do I turn an idea into a successful business?
- What do I have to consider when I want to set up a business?
- What is a good work-life balance for me?