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Take Starter U - our online course on how to start, run and grow a business.

Entrepreneurship Education Platform

Join people around the world who want to learn how to start and grow a business.

Start & Grow a Business

Go from idea to income. This is where entrepreneurs get their start.

Introduction to Starter U

Turn ideas into action

The Brian Hamilton Foundation’s Starter U is a self-paced online course teaching everything you need to know to start, run, and grow a business. Whether you live in Portland, Oregon or Portland, Maine, work 3rd shift or 1st shift, this course is designed to give you, the entrepreneur, the flexibility to learn according to your schedule.

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"Starter U was a very useful tool for me even though I have been in business for years and have multiple degrees from UNC, including one in Economics. I am so pleased to say I took the classes because of the high caliber individuals involved. So happy with it so far. I know that this will be a valuable resource even in the near future."

Turtle H. Durham, NC

"I am a start-up specialist, working with new owners (many of them new businesspeople) opening new locations or purchasing existing ones. Many of them have no idea what it will take to run a business, thinking they can devote part-time effort and receive full-time compensation. I have been sharing Starter U with all my new non-business owners and it has been well-received. I found many of the cautionary stories to be very accurate, which I liked. Starting a new business is not for the faint of heart!"

SUSAN S. Los Angeles, CA

"I would highly recommend the Starter U course to anyone, especially formerly incarcerated people, to create better opportunities for themselves through entrepreneurship. I am grateful I took the course and it has helped change my life for the better. Thank you guys so much for Starter U."

CORY H. Richmond, VA

Today's Entrepreneurship Tip

Video of the Day

One Reason to Be an Entrepreneur

Do Your Homework

Know Your Income Statement

Your First Hire Is Big

Get Customer Feedback

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What will you learn?

This three-hour course distills decades of entrepreneurship experience. Through six sections, you’ll gain the essential knowledge needed to start a business tomorrow.

Let’s Start a Business in 8 Minutes

What Is an Entrepreneur and What Is Required to Be an Entrepreneur
How do Entrepreneurs Think? The Mindset of an Entrepreneur
Reasons to Start a Business
Obstacles and Roadblocks: Why Businesses Fail
How to Come Up with a Business Idea

Setting Up Your Business: What You Need to Get Started
How to Get Your First Customers

Hiring
Financing
Knowing When to Expand
Legal Infrastructure
Money Management
Getting and Using Customer Feedback
Getting and Using Employee Feedback

Intellectual Property: The Key Is the Way You Think
Legal
Human Resources
Pricing: How to Price Effectively
Basic Accounting Things

If You Do Nothing Else, Do This

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Frequently asked questions

What is Starter U?

Starter U is a practical, straightforward, and actionable course designed to help you start, run, and grow your own business. With Starter U, you will learn from entrepreneur Brian Hamilton, the founder of the country’s first fintech company, who has successfully used the skills and lessons described in this course while growing businesses that include a landscaping company, a chain of coin laundromats, two technology companies, and a nonprofit organization. You will also hear stories of the highs and lows of business building and coming out on the other side.

Who is Starter U for?

Starter U is for anyone who wants to start, run, or grow their own business. The course is especially designed for people interested in building a low-capital business, since most businesses in the U.S. are self-funded. Whether you’re starting with $10 or $1,000,000, Starter U teaches the practical steps to turn a business idea into a real, sustainable business.

How much does it cost?

The Brian Hamilton Foundation is investing in future entrepreneurs by covering the tuition for all Starter U participants. Sign up today to get started.

What is the format of the course?

Starter U is organized into six sequential sections that walk you through starting a business step by step.

Each section includes chapters focused on specific topics (for example, a chapter on hiring employees falls within “Growing Your Business”). Every chapter includes:

An expert-led video lesson
A five-question quiz to reinforce key concepts

To move forward, you’ll need to answer at least four out of five questions correctly. You can retake quizzes as many times as needed.

While the course is self-paced, meaning you can start and stop anytime, if you were to complete a chapter a day, you would complete the entire course in less than a month. We recommend finishing the course within a month, so the information is front and center as you progress in your business.

Is the course interactive?

Yes. Starter U is designed to keep participants engaged as they move through the course. Each chapter includes a short quiz, and participants must score at least 80% to unlock the next chapter and continue progressing through the program.

Will I receive a certificate for completing Starter U?

Yes. Participants who successfully complete the entire Starter U program will receive a certificate of completion. The certificate can be added to your LinkedIn profile.

How long is the course?

Starter U can be completed in about three hours.

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Business ownership is the most reliable way for people to work themselves up to where they want to be from where they are today. Dream big. Start here.

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