Interview Paper

Requirements:

• Choose an entrepreneur in an industry you are interested in. (Interview just ONE entrepreneur). 
• The person should be anyone that started a business or was part of a founding team.
• Do not choose anyone that is part of your immediate family (brother/sister/parent). Extended family is OK (cousins, uncles, aunts). 
• It does not matter if the business succeeded or failed.
• Avoid lifestyle businesses such yoga instructors, personal trainers, web designers. The company must have more than just one employee. 
• Extensions will not be granted due to entrepreneur scheduling issues.
• Include a cover page with name, date, email and your unique LinkedIn URL.
• Keep in mind that this is a formal essay essay and not a collection of bullet points. 
• Please note - I am VERY picky on grammar. Make sure to PROOFREAD your paper! 
• 1,000 word minimum, single spaced, and 12 point Times New Roman font.
• The paper must include the thank you letter that was sent to the entrepreneur after the interview with the entrepreneur's contact information. If I get the impression you didn't actually conduct the interview, I will be reaching out to the entrepreneur. 

Topics to Cover:

•  Background:
  • What is/was the business? Describe it in detail. 
  • Did the entrepreneur start the business with any co-founders? Did they stay onboard?
  • Was the business successful?
  • Did the entrepreneur write a business plan? If so, did it help in building the business?
  • If the company broke even, how long did it take?
  • What was the entrepreneur’s previous work history?
  • Were any of his/her parents, relatives or close friends entrepreneurs?
  • Does the entrepreneur have any role models or mentors?
  • What was their educational background? Was it helpful? How?
  • Critique the entrepreneur’s process. Was there something the entrepreneur should/could have done differently?
  • Include a funny scenario that will potentially make the reader laugh OR one that will make the reader sad.
  • Make sure to include direct quotes from the entrepreneur.
• Outside Help
  • Did the entrepreneur team raise any outside capital? If so, where did it come from? (friends, family, angels, banks, bootstrapping)
  • Did the entrepreneur receive any help from mentors or outside organizations?
• Personal Life:
  • Did the entrepreneur have a “triggering event” that was the reason why the venture got started?
  • How did starting the business change the entrepreneur’s personal life?
  • How many hours a day/week did/does the entrepreneur work on the venture?
  • What was the entrepreneur’s most triumphant or exciting moment? Their worst moment?
• Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs:
  • Does the entrepreneur have any advice to give to aspiring entrepreneurs?
  • Which one personality trait helped them the most in developing their business?
  • Is there a book/article/movie that the entrepreneur recommends other aspiring entrepreneurs to read/watch?
  • If the entrepreneur was able to do it over again, would they?
  • What is the most important thing you learned from interviewing the entrepreneur?