Bad Girl Ventures Bringing Classes to Lakewood

School is in session for Bad Girl Ventures.

The micro-investment organization is offering classes for hopeful entrepreneurs this fall at the . 

And, women looking to get their business off the ground can compete for a $25,000 low-interest loan.

Attention gentlemen: Even though BGV’s logo is pink and the loan opportunity is for female entrepreneurs only, guys are welcome to attend the classes.

Reka Barabas, BGV’s Cleveland director of operations, shared the story of Bad Girl Ventures. Cincinnati attorney Candace Klein, looking to “enable women in the difficult start-up arena,” founded BGV in 2010.

According to a recent Plain Dealer story, the first three graduating classes in Cincinnati led to the creation or expansion of 26 businesses, $700,000 in investment and almost 150 jobs.

Barabas said she’s hoping to bring some of that success to Northeast Ohio.

“When people ask what it’s about, I say that it’s about micro-finance, with a focus on education,” she said. “We teach them everything that’s on the mind of a small business owner, from small business loans to improving personal credit scores."

The nine-week program is set to begin Sept. 19 with a course covering insurance and credit scores.

Here’s the rest of the schedule:

• Sept. 24: Legal structuring
• Oct. 3: The “3-minute Pitch” and components of a business plan
• Oct. 10: Account, from start-up to cash-flow
• Oct. 17: Understanding your market
• Oct. 24: Pricing
• Oct. 29: Using social media
• Nov. 7: Accounting application
• Nov. 14: Financing your dream
• Dec. 5: Graduation

Barabas said each class will feature an expert on the weekly subject.

“It’s very easy to connect entrepreneurs to resources as they go through the program — otherwise it’s a lot of legwork for them,” said Barabas, adding that it’s not unusual for students to eventually become finalists for the loan.

It's not all about homework and lectures. She said that students will learn how to pitch their business ideas.

"Investors don’t care about what flavors you have," she said. "They care about revenues and expenses. If you’re a business owner, you have to be able to talk to people in a very practical and concise manner.”

Students will be allowed to drop-in for one class (at $25 per session) or buy a pass for all of them, at $150.

For more information email info@badgirlventures.com or call 216-759-4575.