Entrepreneurship 101
Self-paced modules with live monthly workshops, ending in a capstone pitch. Offered to Discoverers, Voices and Torchbearers, with project depth scaled to the band.
Course description
Entrepreneurship 101 walks students from a blank page to a real pitch. They learn to notice problems, talk to actual customers, shape an idea, price it, and tell the story behind it. Every module pairs a short self-paced lesson with pages in the printable Founder's Notebook, and each month closes with a live workshop where students bring their venture and answer questions out loud.
What students will be able to do
- Identify a real problem and the customer who feels it.
- Interview customers and adjust an idea based on what they hear.
- Price an offer and read a simple profit and loss sheet.
- Deliver a persuasive pitch to a live audience.
Modules
Describe an entrepreneur you know in real life and the problem they solve.
Compare a historic Black-owned business with one operating today.
Name one builder habit and track it for a month.
Find three real problems worth solving in your own community.
Run two customer interviews and report what surprised you.
Build a customer profile and say plainly who you serve.
State your idea in one clear sentence.
Explain what makes your idea different from what already exists.
List your startup costs and set a price you can defend.
Complete a P&L sheet and say whether the idea makes money.
Deliver a 60-second version of your founder story.
Pitch your venture to a live audience and answer questions on your feet.
Monthly rhythm
- Weeks 1 & 3: new module released, self-paced lesson and notebook pages.
- Weeks 2 & 4: assignment due by 11:59 pm on the posted day.
- Once a month: live workshop on Zoom, recorded for anyone who misses it.
See how this lands on a real month on the university calendar.
Progress & feedback
| Band | Points | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Exceeds | 4 | Accurate, specific, and grounded in the student's own venture. |
| Meets | 3 | Complete work with clear reasoning. |
| Approaching | 2 | Partly complete or reasoning is thin. |
| Beginning | 1 | Attempted; needs a rework with instructor support. |
Instructors leave written feedback on every submission. Students may revise once for a higher score.
Materials
The printable Founder's Notebook, family conversation cards, a notebook, and a device with camera and microphone for interviews and the capstone pitch. No textbook purchase required.