Partners in Entrepreneurial Pathways 2.0: Beyond the Business Plan
February 25-May 6, 2025
Accredited start-up accelerator course
Learn the practical application of business acumen and gain insight into what makes our markets and ecosystem tick during this 11-week virtual asynchronous course. The sessions are led by a variety of guest lecturers who are subject matter experts in their fields.
Enroll for college credit or join individual sessions – at no cost to you
Completion of the entire series and a final portfolio project results in 3 college credits and Entrepreneurship Digital Badges – and is available to you for FREE!
Each individual session, across Pathways programs, is open to current or aspiring entrepreneurs, also at no cost. Individuals can choose any one session, or multiple sessions, to attend. This creates a rich learning environment—joining students with the local community.
Select the learning experience that is right for you:
Option 1
EARN 3 COLLEGE CREDITS (no cost to you)
Completion of the 11-week course, homework assignments, and a final project assignment results in 3 college credits! Complete two brief, secure forms to get started:
Option 2
SELECT UP TO 21 WORKSHOPS (no cost to you)
Individuals can choose any one session, or multiple sessions, to attend. This creates a rich learning environment—joining students with the local community.
WEEKLY WORKSHOPS
Week 01: 02/25/2025
Brand Power: Define, Build, Thrive
Design Like a Pro: Graphic Basics for Business
Ready to take the first step to be an entrepreneur?
Sign up here for individual (or all) sessions! Want college credit? Complete this additional form from WCCC. See you on February 25!
Upon completion of the 11-week course, learners receiving college credit will be able to…
- Demonstrate an understanding of what branding a business entails and utilize that information to develop a consistent brand for their business venture.
- Examine graphic design and website develop tools, strategies, and best practices and demonstrate learning through crafting graphics and narrative website content.
- Effectively identify, and create an action plan around, avenues to stay attuned to their target market(s).
- Demonstrate an understanding business certifications and listings and utilize that information to develop a market visibility action plan.
- Determine what marketing channels may be utilized to best position their products/services in an online environment.
- Identify what steps must be taken to keep their business ventures secure in an online environment.
- Examine online sales (e-commerce) best practices and payment methods and utilize learning to identify methods that will best showcase their business, products, and services.
- Effectively summarize how relationship-building is relevant to them and the impact it can have on their business.
- Identify steps to achieve operational excellence and sustainability.
- Demonstrate an understanding of key measurements to business financial health.
- Identify significant risks businesses face, or may face, throughout their business’ life cycle and apply that understanding to their own business ideas/ventures.
- Explain employment pro and cons that they must consider in the position of becoming an employer.
- Examine the projected life cycles of their business ventures and utilize that understanding to draft a phased plan to transition or exit.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the economy and business and utilize that knowledge to identify challenges and opportunities this will present for their businesses.
Facilitation
All course sessions will be facilitated by Denise Cilley, Associate Director of Sunrise County Economic Council or Amanda Smith, Coastal Opportunities Advisor and StartUp Downeast Coach at Sunrise County Economic Council. This course is brought to you by Washington County Community College’s Workforce and Professional Development Division, MaineStreet Business Building (a program of Sunrise County Economic Council), and industry partners.
