EntreWorld, commissioned by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, is a well-organized resource for entrepreneurs and supporters of entrepreneurship, enabling visitors to search for the Web's best editorial content dealing with starting and running businesses. EntreWorld is oriented around three tracks: "Starting Your Business," "Growing Your Business," and "Supporting Entrepreneurship," in which may be found articles from many different Websites.
Website: www.entreworld.org

An ERIC adjunct clearinghouse, CELCEE identifies sources of information on aspects of entrepreneurship education at every level -- K-12, postsecondary, nonprofit organizations and societies, commercial organizations, and small business development centers. CELCEE collects curriculum guides, training support, reports on programs and projects, analyses and evaluations. The database contains abstracts of materials on entrepreneurship education at all levels. Also included is a directory of upcoming events and educational software tools. CELCEE is a joint project of the University of California and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.
Website: www.celcee.edu/index.html
Babson College Center for Entrepreneurial Studies
The Babson College Center for Entrepreneurial Studies (CES) is best known for its leading role in entrepreneurial education and training. The CES supports instructional, service, and research activities. From the research arm of the mission comes the annual Frontiers of Entrepreneurship collection of academic papers on issues, strategies, and ideas affecting small business and entrepreneurial endeavors. Searching can be accomplished by browsing the subject listing or by clicking on the year or publication. Starting in 1994, the summary abstract and methodology is included for most of these empirical papers.
Babson describes the curriculum and courses for its MBA program and Center for Entrepreneurial Studies (CES). Each year, the CES honors an accomplished entrepreneur by acknowledging his or her efforts during an awards ceremony naming them as a Price-Babson fellow. The celebrant teams with a Babson faculty member to help teach a seminar on the real world in relation to the entrepreneurs.
Website: www.babson.edu/entrep/index.html
 
Fostering Entrepreneurship Through Business Incubation
This academic paper discusses the options to consider in setting up a new incubator: organization, funding, operational rules, financing, consulting services, and networking opportunities. Also discusses education, training, facilitating school-to-work-to-business, ownership transition, and more. It comes from University of Wisconsin and University of California at Berkeley.
Website: vocserve.berkeley.edu/MDS-727/MDS-727.html

 
Entrepreneurial Test
 
You need to think about why you would like to own your own business. What makes you think you will be Successful in business?
 
Some business development materials start out with a dissertation on the characteristics of the business owner in order to help you decide if you should go into business for yourself. These questions deal with the basic personality of potential entrepreneurs.
 
  • Are you "entrepreneurial" enough to build a business?
  • Do you know what the meaning of the word "entrepreneurial"?
  • Are you a risk taker? 
  • Did you get good grades in school? Did you know many successful entrepreneurs did not?
  • You are a cautious person and a good student. Should you forget the whole thing? That's what some entrepreneurial tests would suggest. 
 
However, there are many successful business owners who, as an adolescent, were team players, athletes, school leaders, excellent students, and never seriously questioned the status quo. Often, though, a tendency toward caution is not typical of many successful entrepreneurs. Most entrepreneurs tend to be maverick personalities with risk-taking vision and courage. Many entrepreneurs tend to be just a bit "off beat" and they sometimes need to be in order to creatively grow a successful business.  
 
Obviously there is no set formula for success. However, the following entrepreneurial test may help you in your personal evaluation process. You just need to remember that this is simply a tool. It is fun to take and fun to interpret, but you should keep it in perspective. 
 
For each question,  answer that best describes you. You must answer ALL questions for the test to be accurate.
  
  1.  I'm persistent. I am persistent.  Yes  Maybe  No 
  2.  When I'm interested in a project, I need less sleep.  Yes   Maybe  No 
  3.  When there's something I want, I keep my goal clearly in mind.  Yes  Maybe  No 
  4.  I examine mistakes and I learn from them.  Yes  Maybe  No 
  5.  I keep New Year's resolutions.  Yes  Maybe  No 
  6.  I have a strong personal need to succeed.  Yes  Maybe  No 
  7.  I have new and different ideas.  Yes  Maybe  No 
  8.  I am adaptable.   Yes  Maybe  No 
  9.  I am curious.   Yes  Maybe  No 
  10.  I am intuitive.   Yes  Maybe  No 
  11.  If something can't be done, I find a way.  Yes  Maybe  No 
  12.  I see problems as challenges.  Yes  Maybe  No 
  13.  I take chances.   Yes  Maybe  No 
  14.  I'll gamble on a good idea even if it isn't a sure thing.  Yes   Maybe  No 
  15.  To learn something new, I explore unfamiliar subjects.  Yes   Maybe  No 
  16.  I can recover from emotional setbacks.  Yes  Maybe  No 
  17.  I feel sure of myself.  Yes  Maybe  No 
  18.  I'm a positive person.  Yes  Maybe  No 
  19.  I experiment with new ways to do things.  Yes  Maybe  No 
  20.  I'm willing to undergo sacrifices to gain possible long term rewards.  Yes  Maybe  No 
  21.  I usually do things my own way.  Yes  Maybe  No 
  22.  I tend to rebel against authority.  Yes  Maybe  No 
  23.  I often enjoy being alone.  Yes  Maybe  No 
  24.  I like to be in control.  Yes  Maybe  No 
  25.  I have a reputation for being stubborn.  Yes  Maybe  No 
 
 If you scored between 60 and 75, you can start that business plan. You have the earmarks of an entrepreneur.
 
If you scored between 48 and 59, you have potential but need to push yourself. You may want to improve your skills in your weaker areas. This can be accomplished by either improving yourself in these areas or by hiring someone with these skills.
 
If you scored between 37 and 47, you may not want to start a business alone. Look for a business partner who can compliment you in the areas where you are weak.
 
If you scored below 37, self-employment may not be for you. You will probably be happier and more successful working for someone else. However only you can make that decision. 
 
(American Women's Economic Development Corporation, Stamford, CT, and Women in New Development, Bemidji, MN, 4/97)