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   The North Central Small Business Development Center at Central Lakes College is inviting aspiring entrepreneurs and new small business owners to participate in Start Up North Accelerated, an 8-week virtual cohort designed to help participants take their business ideas seriously and build a stronger path forward.

   The cohort will run September 14 through November 4, with online sessions held Mondays and Wednesdays from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Participants will work through the Kauffman FastTrac curriculum while connecting with other entrepreneurs and receiving guidance from North Central SBDC Professional Business Consultants.

   Start Up North Accelerated is designed for people who are thinking about starting a business, are in the early stages of launching, or have been in business for three years or less. The program focuses on practical business planning, financial projections, marketing and promotion, startup assistance, and the development of a lender-ready business plan.

   “This program is for people who are ready to move from thinking about their business to actively building it,” said Katie Heppner, Regional Director of the North Central SBDC. “Start Up North Accelerated gives entrepreneurs structure, accountability, and support as they work through the real pieces of launching and growing a small business.”

   Participants should expect to commit approximately 10 hours per week between live training sessions and independent work. All sessions will be held online through Zoom, and the curriculum will be delivered through Canvas, a free online learning platform.

   Early bird registration is $100 until August 7. After that, registration is $200 until registration closes on August 31. Entrepreneurs who are ready to explore, refine, or launch their business idea are encouraged to register.

   To learn more or register, visit www.northcentralsbdc.com/startupnorth. Questions may be directed to Katie Heppner at [email protected].

   The North Central Small Business Development Center is hosted at Central Lakes College and provides no-cost, confidential business consulting, training, and resources to entrepreneurs and small business owners across an 11-county region. The North Central SBDC supports clients at all stages of business, from idea development to growth and transition. To learn more and register for consulting, visit www.northcentralsbdc.com.

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