Overview of the Program
Biz Smart Sprint is your introduction into the world of entrepreneurship. In this live, virtual 6-week course, you will learn the building blocks you need to become a successful entrepreneur. Each week, you’ll discover the key components you need to start a business, including the Business Model Canvas business planning tool, understanding your customers and market, developing a marketing strategy, legal and operational considerations, and financial basics.
This course is an excellent touchpoint for:
- Entrepreneurs who are just starting out
- Participants who need a refresher on business basics
- More established businesses looking to formalize or revamp their business planning process
- Individuals who are considering the feasibility of their “big idea”
- Product or industry experts who are looking to learn how to think of their product or service in business terms
GrowthWheel
In addition to the program content, you’ll receive limited-time client access to GrowthWheel, an online platform that provides you with tools designed by an entrepreneur and used worldwide. These tools enable you to see a 360-degree view of your business and to break down business decision-making into smaller pieces – brick by brick. Your GrowthWheel account is accessible 24/7, and can be used to help you understand the different dimensions of your business, utilizing the worksheets to structure your thinking and assist you to prioritize/set your business goals.
Throughout Biz Smart Sprint, you will also receive GrowthWheel worksheets that can help you assess your strategy and articulate various aspects of your business. While these worksheets are fully optional for the course, they can help you capture your ideas visually and enable you to think through your own business’ challenges. If you plan to move forward with writing a business plan, GrowthWheel is a great place to keep all of your ideas in one place!
Program Structure
In this course, program participants will have 6 sessions of business content and a wrap-up session on next steps.
- Session 1: Course introduction, understanding the Business Model Canvas and Value Proposition Canvas
- Session 2: Identification of key customers and market in order to determine product/market fit
- Session 3: Marketing Strategy
- Session 4: Financial basics (key terms, pricing, managing cash flow, sources of financing)
- Session 5: Legal and Operational Considerations (entity selection, HR Laws/policies, insurance/liability, etc.)
- Session 6: Writing a formal Business Plan
Looking for a more formalized option to help you quickly move toward launching your business or writing a full business plan? The Entrepreneurial Training Program (ETP) may be for you.
Wondering which program – the Entrepreneurial Training Program or Biz Smart Sprint – is right for you? Visit this page for a comparison of the programs.
Registration Summer 2024
Location: Live Virtual
Schedule: 4:00- 6:00 pm CST
Dates: 6 sessions
- July 11, 2024 from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm (class taught online via Zoom)
- July 18, 2024 from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm (class taught online via Zoom)
- July 25, 2024 from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm (class taught online via Zoom)
- August 1, 2024 from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm (class taught online via Zoom)
- August 8, 2024 from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm (class taught online via Zoom)
- August 15, 2024 from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm (class taught online via Zoom)
Fee: $239
Register here for Summer 2024 or call 608-262-2451 to register. BONUS: Purchase 2 or more SBDC classes in a single transaction, and receive 10% off the registration fee using discount code SBDC10.
Registration Deadlines
Registration type | Date | Fee |
Earlybird | Earlybird closes: 6/27/2024 | Earlybird Registration Fee: $215.10 |
Late Registration | Late Registration begins: 7/6/2024 | Late Registration Fee: $262.90 |
Course registration closes | 7/10/2024 | — |
Registration & Cancellation policies
- Payment will be required at time of registration. You must have either a credit card or valid UW-Madison funding string to be able to register.
- Cancelations at least 24 hours before the program begins will incur a $25 cancellation fee. Cancelations less than 24 hours before the start of the program will incur the full program fee. To cancel, call registration at 608-262-2451. Please note that in the case of a cancellation (by either the participant or the SBDC), participants can only be transferred one time into a new course.
Disability Statement: Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact the UW-Madison SBDC office at sbdc@bus.wisc.edu to request accommodations.
The Wisconsin SBDC Network is a proud part of the Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship in the University of Wisconsin System.
It is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact us at sbdc@bus.wisc.edu or call (608) 263-2221.