Independent Platform, LLC — Department of Agriculture SBIR Phase I: 8.6

Description

This proposal is a response to the Rural and Community Development needs outlined in the RFP to focus on efforts needed to enhance human capital development, build earnings capacity, increase labor force participation and/or promote job creation to the most vulnerable populations in rural communities. The Navajo community drastically underperforms the nation in creation of businesses and jobs for their local economy. The proposed approach to entrepreneurial education has the potential to help rural communities - with different values and cultural drivers - understand entrepreneurship in the context of their culture. The potential is to accelerate the development of businesses and innovation in rural communities that are often lagging in the opportunities afforded urban residents.To accomplish this goal a beta version of a culturally aware entrepreneurial education platform will be created and reviewed with focus group members. The benefit of the effort will allow better understanding of how to automatically adjust interactions and content based on cultural preferences of the students and mentors. The resulting product will be widely applicable to relationships between mentors and mentees, supervisors and employees, and students and teachers.