New York, New York – May 4, 2009 – Vistas is a blog, the first offering from e-learning website, Ventureneer. It delivers a fresh approach to entrepreneurial learning, blending traditional formal instruction with informal learning derived from peers using Web 2.0 technology. Entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders use Ventureneer to assess a situation, plan a course of action, request resources or information, seek guidance from others. It has a unique focus on “social impact” organizations – those for-profit and nonprofits that look to make a measurable difference in the lives of others.

The World Economic Forum recently released “Educating the Next Wave of Entrepreneurs” highlighting the importance of ongoing education for developing the skills, attitudes and behaviors entrepreneurs need to create jobs, generate economic growth, advance human welfare and stimulate innovation.

To be successful, entrepreneurs need a vast array of know-how including expertise in finance, networking, negotiating, critical thinking, opportunity assessment, selling, communicating and leadership.
The report recommends cross-disciplinary approaches, interactive teaching methods, building an entrepreneurial support system, and leveraging technology as an enabler of entrepreneurial education.

Geri Stengel, president of Ventureneer, harnessed the power of Web 2.0 technology to build an online education and peer support network by utilizing unique features of the medium that advance entrepreneurial education, including:

virtual classes (crash courses on crucial topics such as team building, strategy, nonprofit board development, marketing and financing for for-profit companies, fundraising for nonprofits)
leader profiles, case studies, news stories, trends, analyses, etc. ripped from today’s headlines
how to’s, tips, advice and best practices from small business and nonprofit experts
wiki database of member’s lessons learned and case studies
matched coaching from a peer
discussion areas for set topics or issues of immediate concern. Content is rated by members so the best information bubbles up to a position of prominence

In her blog, serial entrepreneur and consultant, Geri Stengel, combines solid information – with a dose of humor – to the leaders of small businesses, social enterprises and nonprofits. Blogging twice a week, Geri Stengel’s posts will include insights, strategies, techniques and solutions to help leaders make their goals a reality. Upcoming posts include:

A Tale of Two Toddlers or How We Learn What it Takes to Be Successful
Problem Solving: A Little Help From My Friends
Social Enterprise 101: Lessons Learned From a Bunch of Jerks
We Can All Use a Little Support Now and Then
The Money’s Coming…If You Can Hold on

Any leader of a small business, social enterprise or nonprofit will benefit from reading Vistas and becoming a Ventureneer member, but “social impact” organizations may have the most to gain. These organizations are nonprofits and for-profits that make a meaningful difference in the lives of others by taking on the challenges of poverty, education, health, climate change, etc. For some that means growing a nonprofit, a social enterprise, or a profit-making business with a social mission at the core. For others, it is not based on organizational purpose, but in the ways in which they do business such as valuing and fostering employee satisfaction, sourcing ethical suppliers and maintaining sustainability practices.

Quotes Attributable to Geri Stengel, President, Ventureneer

Bio: Geri Stengel is currently an adjunct professor at The New School, has served as a mentor for social enterprises entered in business plan competitions at Columbia Business School and New York University (NYU), Stern School of Business, and has served as a nonprofit board member. She honed her online experience at companies such as Dow Jones and Physicians’ Online. She cofounded Women’s Leadership Exchange, an online and conference resource for women-led businesses, and founded consulting practice Stengel Solutions.

“It’s never a straight line to launching, growing and sustaining a successful and vibrant organization. Realizing your small business, social enterprise or nonprofit’s vision is a journey with many twists and turns. Vistas: Ventureneer’s blog, helps leaders of these organizations find their way with practical insights and advice.”

“Web 2.0 made it possible to merge two of my passions – improving enterprise performance and teaching entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders. I’m delighted to be able to launch an affordable service for small business and nonprofit leaders, especially those making a social impact. Ventureneer: Building Successful Enterprises with Heart will provide a very different online education and peer support experience – definitely not your typical e-learning website.”

“There has never been a time where entrepreneurs were more vital to the American economy or entrepreneurial education and peer support more necessary to ensure those businesses are successful. Web 2.0 makes this the right time to provide entrepreneurs what they need to grow and prosper: education and peer support online. Vistas, Ventureneer’s blog, is the first offering of an all-encompassing, e-learning website for entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders to solve problems, request resources or information, seek guidance from others and, most important, how to have the greatest impact on society.”

Links to Background Resources

About Ventureneer
Ventureneer provides a new approach to learning that blends traditional formal instruction with informal learning derived from peers using Web 2.0 technology to capture and share this knowledge. Ventureneer’s customized Web 2.0 learning environment – blogs, virtual classes, peer-to-peer learning, coaching, web events and articles – provide the necessary support to make faster, better organizational decisions. Vistas, a thought-provoking new blog written by Geri Stengel is the first product released on the Ventureneer website.

Contact

Geri Stengel

President

Ventureneer

Phone: 212-362-3088

Contact: www.ventureneer.com/contact

URL: www.ventureneer.com