Business Foundations: From Market Opportunity to Business Model
A 3-course program designed to help you find the right opportunity, develop your idea, and build a strong foundation—before writing your business plan.Â
This is not a lecture-based program—you’ll actively work on your idea each week through conversations, testing, and iteration.
Taught by David J. Hansen, Ph.D., based on a university entrepreneurship course he developed.
Explore the coursesOverview
Many people want to start a business—but don’t know where to begin or which idea is worth pursuing.
This program helps you start the right way—by focusing on real opportunities, real people, and ideas that can work.
Instead of jumping straight into a business plan, you’ll first:
- identify real opportunities
- understand the people you want to serve
- develop and refine your ideas
- design a business model that can actually work
By the end of the program, you’ll have a clear direction and a strong foundation—so when you enter FLEET, you’re ready to build a high-quality business plan.
How the Program Works
A Flexible, Step-by-Step Program
- 3 courses, each 4 weeks long
- Courses build from opportunity → idea → business model
- Live, online sessions (90 minutes per week)
- One-week break between each course
- You can start with any course, but most participants begin with Course 1 and move through the full sequence.
What You'll Gain
By the end of the series, you will:
- Identify a real market opportunity
- Understand the needs of your target customers
- Develop and test multiple business ideas
- Build a business model that can work in the real world
- Learn by doing—through real conversations, testing, and iteration
- Be fully prepared to write a strong business plan in FLEET
What to Expect
A Hands-On, Interactive Learning Experience
- Â A small, cohort-based learning experience
- Active participation in discussions and exercises
- Conversations with potential customers between sessions
- 1–2 hours per week of work outside of class
- A practical, hands-on approach focused on real progress
Pricing & Scholarships
Program Pricing
- Individual course: $400 for each course
- Full 3-course series: $1,150 (a $50 savings)
- Discounted pricing available via scholarships
Scholarships Available
Scholarships and discounts available to qualified participants, including veterans, active-duty service members, justice-impacted individuals, and those living in eligible communities.
Apply for a ScholarshipAlready have a scholarship?
If you've already been approved for a scholarship/discount pricing, click the link below. You will be taken to a page with the scholarship/discount price.Â
Register with ScholarshipThe Three Courses
Reserve Your Spot in Course 1
1: Find Your Market Opportunity
Start here if you’re not sure what business to pursue
In this course, you’ll focus on understanding your community and identifying real problems worth solving.
You’ll learn how to:
- identify a specific group of people to serve
- talk to potential customers and understand their needs
- recognize patterns and opportunities
- define a clear problem to focus on
Outcome:Â A clear market opportunity and problem to build your business around.
Live, online | 90 minutes per week | Limited seats
Course begins May 26th
2: Research & Develop Your Business Idea
Turn your opportunity into a strong, tested idea
In this course, you’ll develop multiple ideas and begin testing what works.
You’ll learn how to:
- generate multiple potential solutions
- compare and refine your ideas
- learn directly from potential customers
- identify which ideas have the strongest potential
Outcome:Â A well-developed idea with strong potential for product-market fit based on real customer feedback.
Live, online | 90 minutes per week | Limited seats
Course begins June 30th
3: Design Your Business Model
Build a foundation for a real, working business
In this course, you’ll define how your business will actually operate using tools like the Business Model Canvas.
You’ll learn how to:
- map out how your business works
- identify revenue and cost structure
- test key assumptions
- refine your model before investing more time and money
Outcome:Â A clear, realistic, and tested business model.
Live, online | 90 minutes per week | Limited seats
Course begins August 4th
Enroll in the Full 3-Course Series
If you’re ready to fully develop your idea and build a strong foundation for your business plan, you can enroll in all three courses as a complete sequence.
- Progress step-by-step from opportunity → idea → business model
- Stay with the same cohort across all three courses
- Build momentum and continuity over time
Best value for participants planning to continue into FLEET
Which Course Is Right for You?
Start with Course 1 if:
- you don’t have a clear idea yet
- you’re not sure who you want to serve
- you want to explore opportunities before committing
Start with Course 2 if:
- you already have an idea
- you want to test and refine it
- you’re unsure if your idea will work
Start with Course 3 if:
- you have a strong idea
- you’re ready to figure out how your business will work
- you want to prepare for writing a business plan
Preparation for FLEET
This program is designed to give you a strong foundation before writing your business plan in FLEET.
Instead of starting from scratch, you’ll enter FLEET with:
- a clear idea
- real customer insight
- a tested business model
This allows you to focus on building a strong, complete business plan—and increases your chances of success.
Learn more about FLEETFAQ
Do I need a business idea to start?
Do I have to take all three courses?
How much time should I expect outside of class?
How do scholarships work?
What if I miss a session?
How is this different from FLEET?
 “Funding provided in whole or in part by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority”
Contact Us
Email: info@entrepreneursacademy.net
Phone: 773-295-5365
Address: 4950 W Thomas St, Chicago, IL 60651
