Manufacturing Talks

Dave Goerlich with The Refinery on educating young entrepreneurs

Jim Vinoski

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One thing that's critical in reindustrializing America is teaching our youth about building their own companies.

But according to Dave Goerlich, we aren't always doing the greatest job at that.

Dave is co-founder and CEO of The Refinery, a software development firm specializing in manufacturing. He joined us to discuss the importance of entrepreneurship education. He criticized current programs for focusing too much on business plans and competitions, advocating instead for hands-on experience. Dave emphasized the need for mentorship and real-world learning, citing the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program as a model. He highlighted the shift in The Refinery's focus from software development to advisory services. Dave also stressed the importance of execution over ideas and the value of building in public to gather feedback and refine solutions.

Highlights:
- Dave's Journey to Entrepreneurship
- The Refinery's Niche and Market Focus
- Market Segments and Clientele
- Entrepreneurship Education and Challenges
- The Role of Competition and Market Testing
- Mentorship and Real-World Experience
- The Importance of Execution Over Ideas

This is really vital and really practical stuff. Check out the whole show!

The Refinery: https://the-refinery.io/