SCC's Start Up Academy and Launch Lab at the Avista Center offers you multiple ways to get the entrepreneurial education you need to start or grow your business. Our curriculum is designed to get you started and not just study theory.

The entrepreneurship certificate program welcomes students from many backgrounds and areas of study. Students participate in a two-quarter business experience where they create a business from the ground up. Students are guided through the experience by your college instructors, as well as by local business and community leaders.

The Start Up Academy also offers several nonacademic programs for individuals who would like to start or grow a business. These programs include the Entrepreneurship Citation, the Entrepreneurship Boot Camp, the Launch Lab and various entrepreneurial workshops.

Entrepreneurship Citation

This is a two-class non-academic citation for aspiring entrepreneurs who have experience in their business concept area or business experience who are looking for a quick, immersive dive into their business idea. Required classes: Professional Sales and Entrepreneurship/Business Plans.

In this program you will work closely with faculty and Spokane's entrepreneurial ecosystem to develop your concept. Outcomes include: understanding all aspects of what it takes to operate a business, performing market research, understanding business model canvas, performing feasibility analysis, pitching your business to potential investors, testing the viability of your business concept and writing your business plan.

Boot Camp

The 8-week evening program provides an accelerated, non-credit curriculum specifically designed to help prepare entrepreneurs for launching their businesses as well as helping existing businesses grow and be sustainable. This program meets Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM.

The program is designed to help determine the viability of a business idea, establish start-up costs and cash flow projections, identify customers, and learn from local subject matter experts. It's a hands-on course designed to have individuals work through the critical elements of their idea or business throughout the 8-week program.

Launch Lab

Got the plan and ready to start your business? The Launch Lab is an eleven-week program that supports your business concept with a collection of human, financial and physical resources. The Launch Lab is in the company-building business and getting yours to a minimum viable product is what we do.

Support for each business concept is different, but in general, we help with:

• Industry experts and mentors
• Prototyping
• Market research
• Websites and online stores
• Go to market strategy
• Review of intellectual property
• Investor pitch presentations
• Logo and branding strategy
• Connect to financing options

Workshops

In conjunction with Greater Spokane Incorporated's Start Up Central, SCC offers entrepreneurial workshops throughout the year for those wanting to learn more about what it takes to start or grow a business.