WBC Virtual Launch Program

WBC Virtual Launch Nine-Week Program
Weekly classroom sessions will be set for Mondays at 10 am-12 pm

Felena Hanson, consultant, will utilize her proprietary Launch Academy platform as a basis to host a nine-week virtual business accelerator. The platform is tested, with over 1,500 people registered over the last four years. While anyone would benefit from this business fundamentals program, it was designed with a small business owner in mind (versus someone who is building a highly scalable, venture-backed business).

Ms. Hanson will lead WBC participants through the 17 foundational steps of launching a business during a nine-week program. In addition to going through the eCourse material, the cohort will meet with Felena, via Zoom, for two hours of classroom time each week. This time will be used to brainstorm ideas, receive feedback, and build a community among the participants.

Each week participants will complete two to three steps of the launch process and will be required to submit check-point questions before moving to the next step. These will be collected in a document for reference. The capstone will require each participant to create a one-page business plan and a polished elevator pitch.

Ms. Hanson is a pioneering entrepreneur with 20 years of small business growth experience. She taught entrepreneurship and marketing at several colleges and universities for more than eight years, prior to launching her current business, Hera Hub, a co-working space and business accelerator for female entrepreneurs. Over the last nine years, her business has supported more than 13,000 women in the launch or growth of their businesses.

Learn more using the following videos:
Overview video: https://youtu.be/_slse1cLO9I
Testimonial video: https://youtu.be/bRyoQk81ZVw

If you’re still not sure this is the right program for you, attend an info session! Email our director, Katty Ibarra, at kibarra@swccd.edu to get a Zoom link.

Week 1 Monday, September 16, 2024
Class Kick-Off
•    Introductions
•    Academy Structure
•    Access
1.    Customer discovery
2.    Business model canvas

Week 2 Monday, September 23, 2024
Review – 1. Customer Discovery / 2. Business Model Canvas
3.    Naming
4.    Licensing & permits
5.    Banking & credit card set-up

Week 3 Monday, September 30, 2024
Review – 3. Naming / 4. Licensing & Permits / 5. Banking & Credit card set-up
6.    Recordkeeping
7.    Entity set-up
8.    Tax planning

Week 4 Monday, October 7, 2024
Review – 6. Record Keeping / 7. Entity Set-up / 8. Tax Planning
9.    Pricing Strategy
10.    Branding
11.    Marketing Planning

Week 5 Monday, October 14, 2024
Review – 9. Pricing Strategy / 10. Branding / 11. Marketing Planning
12.    Online Presence
13.    Contracts
14.    Insurance

Week 6 Monday, October 21, 2024
Review – 12. Online Presence / 13. Contracts / 14. Insurance
15.    Team
16.    Systems & Organization

Week 7 Monday, October 28, 2024
Review – 15. Team / 16. System & Organization
17.    Start-up Capital & Financial Projections

Week 8 Monday, November 4, 2024
Review – 17. Start-up Capital & Financial Projections
18.    Elevator pitch and one-page business plan

Holiday-  Monday, November 11, 2024

Week 9 Monday, November 18, 2024
Final wrap-up: Each participant delivers an elevator pitch and has their one-page business plan complete

The course is valued at $2,000 but is currently available for $40 thanks to a grant from the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development funding.