(Q3 2024) - Member Update
Student-Run Business Association
2024 Membership Update and Vision
Dear SRBA Members and Supporters,
As we advance through our fifth year since founding, I'm excited to share with you the incredible progress we've made and our ambitious plans for the future.
Your continued support has been and will always be central to our growth, and I'm thrilled to outline how we're expanding our impact and reach.
(See a detailed product map at bottom; members may view our extended “2024 Strategy and Vision” and “2024 Financial Perspective” anytime)
Our Journey So Far
Since our founding in 2019, SRBA has become a catalyst for change in experiential business education. We've grown from a small group of founding member organizations to a thriving network that's making waves across universities and beyond. Here are some key highlights:
- We've expanded to over 13 member organizations, with more preparing to launch.
- Our impact now reaches thousands of students annually, providing them with unparalleled real-world business experience.
- We've successfully navigated the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, emerging stronger and more focused than ever.
Transforming for the Future
Recognizing the need to adapt and grow, we've made some significant changes:
1. Refined Focus: We're now embracing a narrower purpose that engages a wider variety of organizations - helping students learn through launching and leading. This mission includes incubators, accelerators, and student-run media outlets.
2. New Board Structure: We've revamped our leadership to include both student/program leaders and external contributors, bringing fresh perspectives and expertise.
3. Strategic Vision: We've developed a comprehensive plan to help 10,000 students learn by launching and leading businesses worldwide by 2030.
4. Enhanced Resources: We're overhauling our digital platforms and resources to provide more value to our members and their students.
Introducing SURGE
I'm thrilled to announce the launch of SURGE – our new brand for global SRBA events. SURGE represents our commitment to showcasing student achievements, fostering innovation, and connecting our global community.
The flagship event, SURGE Expo, will bring together student-run businesses for four days of competition, learning, and networking. Hosted this year at Stanford University, it will feature:
- Pitch competitions with real investors
- Workshops led by industry experts and successful student entrepreneurs
- Networking opportunities with peers from top global institutions
- A showcase of innovative student-run businesses
This event is just the beginning of our plans to create a global platform for student entrepreneurship and leadership.
New Initiatives and Opportunities
We're launching several new programs to support our expanded mission:
1. Badge Programs: We're developing the Founders Badge and Builders Badge programs to provide standardized, industry-recognized credentials for student entrepreneurs and leaders.
2. In-A-Box Solutions: To help new organizations get started quickly, we're creating turnkey solutions like SRBO In-A-Box and SOBO In-A-Box.
3. Enhanced Member Benefits: We're expanding our resource library, offering more networking opportunities, and providing customized support for organizations at different stages of growth.
4. Research and Advocacy: We're increasing our efforts to promote the value of student-run businesses through data collection, academic partnerships, and thought leadership.
5. Member Showcases: We're intensifying our efforts to highlight the incredible work of our members. Through documentary-style videos and in-depth interviews, we'll be sharing your achievements more broadly, giving you a platform to inspire others and gain recognition for your innovative approaches to student-run businesses.
How You Can Get Involved
Your continued engagement is crucial to our success. Here are some ways you can contribute:
1. Attend SURGE Expo: Join us at Stanford for this groundbreaking event. Early bird registration is now open!
2. Mentor and Advise: Share your expertise with the next generation of business leaders. We're always looking for mentors and advisors for our member organizations.
3. Sponsor or Partner: Support our initiatives through sponsorship or strategic partnerships. Your involvement can make a significant impact on our programs.
4. Spread the Word: Help us grow our community by referring new member organizations, especially those in underrepresented regions or institutions.
5. Contribute Content: Share your experiences and insights for our resource library or lead a workshop at one of our events.
Looking Ahead
As we move forward, we're committed to sustainable growth that allows us to reach and impact more students than ever before. We're exploring new partnerships, enhancing our technology platforms, and continuously improving our programs based on member feedback.
Your support has been the foundation of our success, and it will be the key to achieving our ambitious goals. Together, we're not just changing education – we're shaping the future of business leadership.
Product Roadmap
To support our ambitious goals and provide increasing value to our members, we've developed a comprehensive product roadmap. This plan outlines our key initiatives and developments over the next year:
Phase 1 (Summer-Fall 2024)
1. Resource Library and AI Assistant: We're organizing our existing insights and resources into an easy-to-access library, complete with an AI-powered chat assistant to help you navigate our wealth of information.
2. Expanded Member Packages: We're launching new packages catering to brand new SRBOs and, over time, large SRBOs. These will include stage-specific training, consultation, discounts, and resources.
3. SRBA Streams - Roundtables, Workshops, and Interviews: We're relaunching these initiatives with supporters, partners, students, researchers, and alumni to promote the power of learning by launching or leading organizations.
4. Corporate Partnerships and SRBA-Certifications: We're expanding our reach with corporate partners who can contribute to or benefit from our new and upcoming products. This includes a new SRBA-Certification that will help our members find businesses they can trust to help students learn.
Phase 2 (Fall-Winter 2024)
1. Founders Badge (FB) Launch: We'll be expanding our free content library for members and providing extensive support for those wanting to implement a full or custom version of FB.
2. Membership Add-On Products: We'll introduce new products such as the Student-Owned Business Organization (SOBO)-In-A-Box to help new organizations launch more effectively.
3. Association Partnerships: We'll be expanding our reach through partnerships with national and global associations that can implement SRBA resources with their members.
4. New Market Introduction: Through SURGE 2024, we'll leverage our new products to introduce SRBA to new markets, such as student-owned business organizations and high schools.
Phase 3 (Spring-Summer 2025)
1. Builders Badge (BB) Launch: Similar to the Founders Badge, we'll expand our free content library and provide support for full or custom BB implementation.
2. Additional Membership Add-On Products: We'll continue to develop and launch new products to support our diverse membership base.
3. Continued Partnership Expansion: We'll further broaden our reach through strategic partnerships, enhancing our ability to serve students and organizations globally.
This roadmap represents our commitment to continuous improvement and expansion of our offerings. We're excited about the value these developments will bring to our members and the broader student entrepreneurship community.
Your feedback and engagement will be crucial as we roll out these new initiatives. We encourage you to stay connected and share your thoughts as we move forward on this exciting journey together. If you're interested in being featured in our upcoming documentary series or interviews, please reach out to us – we're eager to tell your story and showcase the impact you're making.
Thank you once again for your continued support and participation in the SRBA community. Together, we're shaping the future of experiential business education and empowering the next generation of business leaders. Here's to the incredible achievements behind us and the boundless opportunities ahead!
With gratitude and excitement for what we can do together,
Owen Raisch
President, Student-Run Business Association (SRBA)