FastTrac®

For aspiring entrepreneurs or ones who have recently launched their business

Free, immersive 10-session entrepreneurship bootcamp that provides aspiring entrepreneurs with the knowledge and skills they need to launch successful businesses in NYC.

With the guidance of experienced facilitators, business experts, and a network of supportive peers, participants will:

• Refine business concepts by identifying their target market and discovering their competitive advantage
• Identify the components of a strong business plan by learning how to set realistic financial goals and manage business functions
• Determine the steps to profitability by building a branding and marketing strategy
• Identify potential sources of funding and develop a business pitch

To apply for NewVenture™, you must meet the following criteria:

• Have a specific idea for a new business or have recently launched a business.
• At least two years of work experience; and
• Have conducted initial market research for your business, assessed the cost of your product and/or services, and identified your target customer.

Apply for FastTrac New Venture

Focuses on topics, challenges, and resources relevant to women entrepreneurs

With the guidance of experienced facilitators, business experts, and a network of supportive peers, participants will:

• Refine business concepts by identifying their target market and discovering their competitive advantage
• Identify the components of a strong business plan by learning how to set realistic financial goals and manage business functions
• Determine the steps to profitability by building a branding and marketing strategy
• Identify potential sources of funding and develop a business pitch

To apply for NewVenture™ for the Female Entrepreneur, you must meet the following criteria:

• Have a specific idea for a new business or have recently launched a business;
• At least two years of work experience; and
• Have conducted initial market research for your business, assessed the cost of your product and/or services, and identified your target customer.

Apply for FastTrac NewVenture for Female Entrepreneur

Focuses on topics, challenges, and resources relevant to women entrepreneurs aged 50 years or older; presented in partnership with WE NYC and women.nyc

With the guidance of experienced facilitators, business experts, and a network of supportive peers, participants in this specialized version of FastTrac® NewVenture™ for the Female Entrepreneur will:

• Refine business concepts by identifying their target market and discovering their competitive advantage
• Identify the components of a strong business plan by learning how to set realistic financial goals and manage business functions
• Determine the steps to profitability by building a branding and marketing strategy
• Identify potential sources of funding and develop a business pitch
• Leverage your extensive personal and professional experiences to launch a profitable business

To apply for NewVenture™ 50+, you must meet the following criteria:

• Have a specific idea for a new business or have recently launched a new business;
• At least two years of work experience; and
• Have conducted initial market research for your business, assessed the cost of your product and/or services, and identified your target customer.

Apply for FastTrac NewVenture 50+

Focuses on topics, challenges, and resources relevant to aspiring technology entrepreneurs

• Refine business concepts by identifying their target market and discovering their competitive advantage
• Identify the components of a strong business plan by learning how to set realistic financial goals and manage business functions
• Determine the steps to profitability by building a branding and marketing strategy
• Identify potential sources of funding and develop a business pitch
• Test their business product/service and assess its financial and technological viability

• Have an informed, tech-based idea for a new business or have recently launched a business;
• At least two years of work experience; and
• Have conducted initial market research for your business, assessed the cost of your product and/or services, and identified your target customer.

Apply for FastTrac® TechVenture™

FastTrac® GrowthVenture™ is a free, immersive eight-session entrepreneurship bootcamp that provides owners of operating businesses with the knowledge and skills they need to drive sales and strategically grow their businesses.

SBS offers both general and specialized GrowthVenture™ courses:

FastTrac® GrowthVenture™:

For business owners who are currently operating businesses

With the guidance of experienced facilitators, business experts, and other successful entrepreneurs, participants will:

• Analyze their current business models and create an action plan for growth
• Identify methods to strengthen their existing products/services
• Use techniques to improve financial performance
• Identify potential sources of funding and refine their business pitch

To apply for FastTrac® GrowthVenture™, you must meet the following criteria:

• Have a business that has been operating for at least a year
• Demonstrate market potential by providing an estimate of the maximum sales of their product/service

Apply for FastTrac® GrowthVenture™

FastTrac® GrowthVenture™ for Veterans:

For veterans who currently own and operate businesses

This course helps veterans apply skills they developed in the military to growing a successful and profitable business. In this course, veterans will:

• Analyze their current business model;
• Strengthen their existing products/services;
• Improve their business’s profits and financial performance;
• Discover how to navigate government processes/access resources and incentives available exclusively to veteran entrepreneurs; and
• Create an action plan for growth.

To apply for GrowthVenture™ for Veterans, you must meet the following criteria:

• Have served at least one day in the active U.S. Military – including the Reserves and National Guard;
• Have a business that has been operating for at least a year; and
• Provide an estimate of the maximum sales of a product/service (demonstrated market potential)

Apply for FastTrac® GrowthVenture™ for Veterans

BE NYC Startup Intensive is a free, 40-hour intensive instructional course based on the FastTrac® curriculum that provides Black entrepreneurs with the knowledge and skills they need to launch and run successful businesses in NYC.

The program features the unique perspectives of thriving Black entrepreneurs across the five boroughs, which is complemented by research-based content and data that highlights the success and growth potential of newly launched Black firms.

With the guidance of experienced facilitators, business experts, and a network of supportive peers, participants will:

• Learn techniques to overcome barriers such as limited access to capital, atypical work experience, and continuing education needs
• Learn the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and refine their business concepts
• Identify the components of a strong business plan
• Gain the knowledge and skills they need to launch a profitable business, including identifying existing opportunities, organizations, and resources available for Black entrepreneurs in NYC

BE NYC Startup Intensive is administered in the following two tracks:

1. General track: This track targets all Black entrepreneurs, providing knowledge and skills needed to run a successful business in NYC.
2. Women entrepreneurs track: This track features the unique perspectives of thriving Black women entrepreneurs across the five boroughs and focuses on topics, challenges, and resources relevant to Black women entrepreneurs.

To apply for BE NYC Startup Intensive, you must meet the following criteria:

• Have a specific idea for a new business or have recently launched a business;
• Have at least two years of work experience; and
• Have conducted initial market research for your business, assessed the cost of your product and/or services, and identified your target customer.

Apply for BE NYC Startup Intensive

Gain the tools to launch your cannabis-focused business

FastTrac for Cannabis Entrepreneurs provides prospective entrepreneurs with the fundamentals of starting, operating, and scaling a cannabis-focused business in New York’s emerging industry.  

Offered virtually in 10 sessions over 30 hours, this course has been designed to provide entrepreneurs with a mix of traditional Kauffman FastTrac® instruction combined with content developed by industry leaders and influencers. Participants will learn how to navigate New York State’s Cannabis Regulatory Framework and explore different strategies to enter the market with one of the available operating licenses.

Topics covered will include:

• New York’s cannabis regulations
• Operating and licensing requirements
• HR, commercial space, and operational considerations of a commercial cannabis business
• Financing

With the guidance of experienced facilitators, business experts, and a network of supportive peers, participants will:

• Analyze their current business models and create an action plan for growth
• Identify methods to strengthen their entry strategies and create competitive advantages
• Gain a better understanding of technology and tools for improving productivity
• Identify potential sources of funding and refine their business pitch

To apply, you must meet the following criteria:

• Have a specific idea for a new cannabis-focused business in NYC or have recently launched a cannabis-focused business in NYC
• Must be willing to commit to attend all 10 sessions of the cohort

Apply for FastTrac® for Cannabis Entrepreneurs