Today is the first Advisory meeting of our #socialimpact startup. It is very important to me to have “critical friends.”

We have drawn our #advisors from a range of sectors that we touch, with varied expertise in #venturecapital, #postsecondaryeducation, #workforcedevelopment, #neurodiversity, and #instructionaldesign.

It is my hope that they will offer a constructive critique on our first product, particularly...

🔹The product-market fit --whether our product really meets the pain point for consumers that we intended. What would elevate the product so that it is an essential one for the consumer?

🔹Design—Is the product intuitive, appealing, appropriate for our target audience, and accessible for individuals with disabilities? How can we make the design better in the next version?

🔹Business Model— are our proposed markets within higher education and workforce training compelling? Is our “go-to-market strategy” effective?

🔹Partnerships—Who else should we be working with to amplify our impact?

🔹Funding—who might be a good prospect for #philanthropic and other forms of #startupcapital?

These are just a few of the ways to use #AdvisoryBoards as “critical friends” and also great ambassadors for your work.

Now You: Have you considered using an Advisory Board?

This week #raytheontechnologies announced a 10-year $500 million #socialimpact initiative that will bring significant resources to the #nonprofit field.

Their #corporatesocialresponsibility program called #ConnectUp will fund organizations that advance equitable lifelong learning opportunities in #STEM, #careerdevelopment, #military personnel, and their families, and #communitywellbeing.

#raytheontech brings to the table its long history of engineering and science innovation and its global reach to its work with nonprofits and social impact organizations on our most pressing societal challenges.

Raytheon will also challenge its 180,000 #employees to provide one million #volunteer acts of service.
#coporategiving #nonprofits #stemeducation #fundraising