Overview
Our Launch Your Business Bootcamp is an 8-month entrepreneurship certificate program that supports creative and social entrepreneurs at the idea stage in starting your business and laying the foundation for your business to thrive.
Locations | Duration | Next Application Deadline |
---|---|---|
Boston Chicago Oakland |
8 months | 07/28/2023 |
Our Launch Your Business Bootcamp is an 8-month entrepreneurship certificate program that supports creative and social entrepreneurs at the idea stage in starting your business and laying the foundation for your business to thrive.
Through the Launch Your Business Bootcamp, you will gain the education, tools, and resources to:
Below are the courses included in Launch Your Business Bootcamp.
Learn more about the courses you will take in our Launch Your Business Bootcamp.
Clarify your business idea and potential customer, test your concept, and get feedback to develop your product / service.
Learn how to go from having a minimum viable product / service to building awareness and making sales in your business.
Further define your service offering, ideal client relationships, business model, and social impact.
Develop a basic strategy for growing your services business from freelancer to agency.
Further define your product offering, value proposition, business model, and social impact.
Develop a basic strategy for growing the sales and production of your products.
Average time commitment for our Launch Your Business Bootcamp course work is 8-10 hours / week dedicated to building your business, and includes the following weekly activities:
Title |
Weekly Activity | Weekly Commitment |
---|---|---|
Background Materials |
|
1-2 hours / week |
Workshops |
|
3 hours / week |
Business Development Activities |
|
2-3 hours / week |
Peer Mentoring |
|
1 hour / week |
One-on-One Mentoring |
|
30 minutes / week |
Building a business is a process of continuous improvement. As business owners, you will receive feedback from customers, employees, and partners on regular basis through informal conversations and more formal surveys and other tools. And, you will use that feedback to refine your business strategy.
Through the Launch Your Business Bootcamp, we also provide you with regular feedback to start and grow your business. You will receive informal feedback from mentors and peers on your weekly business development activities. In addition, you will receive more formal feedback through progress reports designed to provide you with documented feedback on your business and personal development and next steps for your business at regular intervals throughout the bootcamp.
In order to complete the Launch Your Business Bootcamp and receive a Certificate of Completion, you must meet the following requirements:
A Certificate of Completion will be issued to each entrepreneur who has successfully completed the program within thirty (30) days of the end of the program.
We select up to 8 businesses per location to participate in the Launch Your Business Bootcamp in each enrollment period.
To be considered for the Launch Your Business Bootcamp, you must apply online. After each application deadline, our local Program Directors will review all applications for the Launch Your Business Bootcamp and select the top applicants for interviews.
Based on interviews, our Program Directors will select up to 8 businesses per location to participate in the Launch Your Business Bootcamp. We will notify all applicants of our selection decisions at least one week prior to the start date of each enrollment period.
Our Launch Your Business Bootcamp is offered during the following times.
Enrollment Period | Program Dates | Application Deadline |
---|---|---|
Winter 2023 | February 2023 - October 2023 | December 9, 2022 |
Spring / Summer 2023 | June 2023 - February 2024 | April 14, 2023 |
Fall 2023 | September 2023 - May 2024 | July 28, 2023 |
Enrollment Period | Program Dates | Application Deadline |
---|---|---|
Winter 2023 | February 2023 - October 2023 | December 9, 2022 |
Spring / Summer 2023 | June 2023 - February 2024 | April 14, 2023 |
Fall 2023 | September 2023 - May 2024 | July 28, 2023 |
Enrollment Period | Program Dates | Application Deadline |
---|---|---|
Winter 2023 | February 2023 - October 2023 | December 9, 2022 |
Spring / Summer 2023 | June 2023 - February 2024 | April 14, 2023 |
Fall 2023 | September 2023 - May 2024 | July 28, 2023 |
The cost of the Launch Your Business Bootcamp is $5,050 which consists of a one-time $50 non-refundable registration fee and program fees of $5,000.
Given the current economic circumstances, we are providing entrepreneurs with a subsidized cost on the program fee, which will be determined based on household income, as well as a payment plan over the 8-month enrollment period. Below are the monthly program fees based on household income levels.
< $35,000 HOUSEHOLD INCOME | $35,000 – $50,000 HOUSEHOLD INCOME | $50,000 – $100,000 HOUSEHOLD INCOME | > $100,000 HOUSEHOLD INCOME | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Monthly Program Fee | $25.00 / month | $50.00 / month | $200.00 / month | $400.00 / month |
Below are the total program fees for the Launch Your Business Bootcamp over the 8-month enrollment period based on household income levels.
< $35,000 HOUSEHOLD INCOME | $35,000 – $50,000 HOUSEHOLD INCOME | $50,000 – $100,000 HOUSEHOLD INCOME | > $100,000 HOUSEHOLD INCOME | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Registration Fee | $50.00 | $50.00 | $50.00 | $50.00 |
Program Fees | $200.00 | $400.00 | $1,600.00 | $3,200.00 |
Total Fees | $250.00 | $450.00 | $1,650.00 | $3,250.00 |
In addition as a business owner, you will need to invest in the basic costs of starting and growing your business. You should be prepared to pay these basic costs of doing business on your own. These costs are estimated at:
We are committed to supporting the local economies where we run our programs. As such, you must be a resident in a metropolitan area where we have a location, either Boston, Chicago, or Oakland / East Bay metropolitan areas.
The full value of our Launch Your Business Bootcamp is $5,000. Given the current economic situation, we are subsidizing the majority of the cost of the Launch Your Business Bootcamp for all entrepreneurs of color. By completing the Launch Your Business Bootcamp, you will have the knowledge, tools, and network necessary to start your creative or social enterprise.
We encourage those who are passionate about creating sustainable impact in their community to apply. Some of the entrepreneurs we have worked with in the past include, but are not limited to, those in arts and culture, health and wellness, food and beverage, retail and eCommerce, manufacturing, and services industries.
We are looking for entrepreneurs who believe in advancing principles, processes, and practices that build economic and political power to shift from an extractive economy to a regenerative economy. This includes business concepts that provide for cultural expression, create good jobs, advance worker ownership and democracy, utilize sustainable production methods, shift to zero waste, among other practices.
As a Launch Your Business Bootcamp graduate, you may be eligible to apply for and receive admission into our Entrepreneur Academy. Our Entrepreneur Academy is a 16-month entrepreneurship certificate program that supports creative and social entrepreneurs in developing plans, improving operations, accessing capital, and strengthening leadership capabilities to build thriving, resilient businesses.
All Uptima entrepreneurs who complete a certain level of our programs and are in good standing on their program fees are eligible to become member-owners of Uptima Entrepreneur Cooperative. Entrepreneurs who are interested in becoming member-owners will need to go through the membership process.
Becoming a member of Uptima Entrepreneur Cooperative means you become a part of a cooperative community that invests in each other, shares in our profits, and has a say in how we are run.