Women entrepreneurs sought for business program

Women entrepreneurs hoping to take their businesses to a higher level are invited to apply for a program at the School of Business that provides customized advice and mentoring.

The program – called LEAP, for Launching Entrepreneurial Advisory Panels – is enrolling a new class of entrepreneurs in early 2004. The program sets up and supports volunteer advisory panels made up of experts who can advise women business owners in specific areas. LEAP advisers come from accounting, marketing, consulting, finance and other backgrounds.

People interested in participating in LEAP as entrepreneurs or advisers are invited to a reception on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 4-6 p.m., at the Villager Mall atrium, 2300 S. Park St., Madison. The featured speaker will be Larry Cox, director of the Weinert Center for Entrepreneurship at UW–Madison. Current and past LEAP participants also will be available to help explain the program to potential business participants and advisers.

Started four years ago at the business school, LEAP has created advisory panels for 23 women-owned businesses in the Madison area. More than 100 business professionals have served as LEAP advisers. To participate, a business must be owned or co-owned by a woman, be at least two years old, have employees or plans to add employees, have under $2 million in gross revenues, and a potential for growth, improved profits and positive changes. Some of the businesses in the program are owned by man-woman teams, with the woman playing a principal role.

LEAP is supported by the Weinert Center for Entrepreneurship and the Women in Business Council. The program’s chief corporate sponsor is the law firm of Cullen, Weston, Pines and Bach, L.L.P., with additional support from the QTI Group and CUNA Mutual.

For more information about the LEAP program, visit www.bus.wisc.edu/leap or call (608) 262-3828.