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.
Register for 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.
The Three Courses
All courses are taught live online
Weekly 90-minute sessions • Small cohorts • Hands-on learning
You can enroll in each class individually or the full 3-course series
1: Find Your Market Opportunity
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 problemÂ
Outcome:Â A clear market opportunity and problem to build your business around.
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.
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.
Course begins August 4th
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
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 FLEETPricing & Scholarships
- Individual course: $400 for each course
- Full 3-course series: $1,150 (a $50 savings)
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Choose the option that matches your primary residence. Eligibility confirmation is required before registering at scholarship or discounted tuition rates.
Illinois Residents
You may qualify for a full scholarship if you are an Illinois resident and meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Veteran, Active-Duty Service Member, or an immediate family member of a Veteran or Active-Duty Service Member.Â
- Involvement with the criminal justice system, including but not limited to arrest, charges, conviction, incarceration, probation, or parole (active or closed case).
- Reside or own a business in an R3 zone (maps can be found here and here).
Outside Illinois
You may qualify for discounted tuition if you meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Veteran, Active-Duty Service Member, or an immediate family member of a Veteran or Active-Duty Service Member.Â
- Involvement with the criminal justice system, including but not limited to arrest, charges, conviction, incarceration, probation, or parole (active or closed case).
FAQ
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
