Business Insight Center at Rochester Public Library Partners with OZworks to Launch Venture Capital Prep Program

The Rochester Public Library’s Business Insight Center seeks entrepreneurs to take part in a self-paced online educational program designed to teach participants how to create a successful business pitch.   

The Venture Capital Prep Program—VC Prep @ RPL—provides startup and mid-stage business owners interested in investing in Opportunity Zones with access to valuable and practical information to help their business ideas shine. The program is ideal for entrepreneurs with ambitious goals and a desire to positively impact the Rochester community while scaling their businesses.   

“This program offers participants the chance to build meaningful relationships, refine their proposals, and prove to investors that they understand the language of deal flow,” said Library Director Patty Uttaro “This meaningful program connects participants with investors who provide expert feedback. We are excited to partner with OZworks, LLC to provide residents with this valuable opportunity.”   

Participants will engage with a series of 12 video modules, each designed to build understanding and refine deal-making skills. Course sessions include, Ask the Expert, Best Practices, Resources and Tools, Compliance, and Real Estate. The modules are tracked, and users are required to revise their deal content based on the information they learn. Progress is monitored, and those who complete the requirements will have multiple opportunities to present and pitch to a network of investors and peers within the OZworks Group community and beyond.   

“Our goal has always been to provide real information on how investors think,” said Chris Cooley, CEO of OZworks Group. “We give people content directly from experts who are 'on-the-ground' making deals happen. Although we focus on Opportunity Zone deals, we created a training that dives into the nuts and bolts of how deals are made. This has helped our past cohorts make quick decisions about implementing complex strategies.”  

VC Prep @ RPL is designed to increase capital flow to low-income communities by connecting participants with investors and providing expert feedback on their business deals. The comprehensive educational platform offers a unique opportunity for participants to gain valuable insights and practical knowledge on how to execute successful Opportunity Zone deals.  

The partnership includes the provision of ten free licenses (available on a first-come, first-served basis) to the VC Prep platform, as well as supported activities over a one-year period. This initiative aims to empower local entrepreneurs and business owners with the tools and resources needed to attract investment and scale their projects.  

For more information or to sign up, email business.insight@libraryweb.org or contact Jennifer Byrnes, Division Head of the Business Insight Center, at 585-428-8102 or jennifer.byrnes@libraryweb.org.