Ready to turn your idea into a business — or take your small business to the next level?
Startup Academy is a free, 9-week course designed for current and future small business owners that conduct business in Williamson County. Whether you’re just starting out or have years of experience, this program offers practical tools, expert insight, and a supportive community to help you move forward with confidence.
The Curriculum
Organized into 5 key phases over 9 weeks
1. Ideate
Discover how your idea aligns with your personal goals and vision.
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Identify entrepreneurial strengths
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Align your idea with your vision
2. Position
Analyze the market, your competition, and legal structures.
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Find your customers
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Choose a business structure
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Define your value proposition
3. Commit
Learn how to build your brand, develop a sales strategy, and plan finances.
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Create your brand voice
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Understand funding needs
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Protect your intellectual property
4. Refine
Use early feedback to improve your offering before launch.
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Track early results
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Adjust operations and messaging
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Build your support team
5. Launch
Get ready to lead, scale, and plan for long-term success.
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Market your business
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Define success metrics
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Prepare for challenges and growth
The Schedule
Sessions are held virtually from 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM CT unless otherwise noted.
Attendance is required – participants may miss one session, but additional absences may affect program completion.
August 27 – In-person kickoff
September 3 – Virtual
September 10 – Virtual
September 17 – Virtual
September 24 – Virtual
October 1 – Virtual
October 8 – Virtual
October 15 – Virtual
October 22 – In-person closing session