Work on Your Startup with Fellow Founders.

The New Founder's Dilemma

How do you communicate your game-changing vision in just one sentence?

1:30 video

Welcome to a

FREE

startup program for founders.

About the Cohort Program

Sponsored by the Carlsen Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Sac State.

August 29th to October 13th, 2022

7 Weeks, 2 x Sessions / wk

  • Mondays 11:30 am to 1:00 pm
  • Thursdays 11:30 am to 1:00 pm

Additional Support

  • In-person & Virtual Office hours with facilitators
  • Support from mentors & advisors

A Cohort Based Course

Peer Support

  • Start up with 8 new friends
  • Practice with each other

Accountability

  • Help each other stay accountable
  • Checklists & worksheets

We're accepting applications now

June 27th

Application Opens

August 1st

Applications Due

August 29th

Cohort Begins

Program Details

Cohort Based Course

Your cohort mates are in this with you, and they want you to succeed. You’ll meet with them, learn with them, work with them, and create relationships with them.

This is a cohort-based course, designed for transformation, not just knowledge transfer. There are online courses and videos for that.

We’ve baked in community best practices that will create a safe yet effective space for you to grow with others. What’s more, we’ll show you how to do the same thing so you can stay together with your cohort-mates after it’s over.

Lean Startup Curriculum

The curriculum is designed to help you test out your business idea with live customers while you build it. 

Each module will include instruction time plus worksheets that will guide you step-by-step through the process.

Expected Results

At the end of this course, you’ll be able to articulate:

  • What your startup is
  • Who it’s for
  • What it does

We’ll show you how to condense ALL the things into different formats such as a product statement, a one-minute pitch, and a pitch deck.  You’ll have the opportunity to pitch to your peers and get feedback.

But the best thing of all? You’ll have a core group of new friends that have your back and who you can lean on for support way after the cohort’s over.

YOU

+

PROGRAM & HARD WORK

=

STARTUP FOUNDER

Testimonials

Mehdi G.

founder, TraShip

“The course is quite suitable for the early entrepreneurs and startups, no matter what field.” 

“…focusing on traction and finding the right customers for the business were the two topics that were highlighted [for me] in the course. . ”

Kaleen C.

founder, Flexia

“I think you over-delivered (in the best way) on getting clear on messaging, story, and collecting evidence.” 

“…worksheets and step-by-step was awesome.  I’ve heard all this advice many times before, but having guided worksheets and getting peer feedback (and office hours opportunity) really, really helps.  It’s one thing to know something and another to use it to craft your own specific message. ”

Mercy H.

founder, Bubbl

“Everything was on point!” 

“…this course is for those that are in the idea stage, just starting to work on their business whether full time or part time, and those that are still in the beginning stages. I think it would be beneficial for those that have already gotten customers but also need to grow. . ”

…plus, you’ve got a whole community and resources at your back:

  • Office Hours with Lean Innovator Facilitators and Subject Matter Experts
  • Community of Support through Cohort Model
  • Access to Carlsen Center Mentor Network
  • Learn from successful entrepreneurs

Powered by the Carlsen Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship
at Sacramento State