Students and an instructor in a business class.

Start Your Own Business Second Cohort Starts Mar. 31

March 5, 2026

After a successful first offering, Nicolet College is launching the second cohort of its “Start Your Own Business” course — an eight-week, hands-on experience designed to move aspiring entrepreneurs from idea to action. 

Beginning Tuesday, March 31, participants will meet for eight consecutive Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Nicolet College.  

Registration is open. Seats are limited to ensure personalized attention and meaningful mentorship connections. The course cost is $299, which includes the textbook and a voucher from the State of Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions waiving the $130 fee for registering an LLC. 

The course is ideal for aspiring entrepreneurs ready to move from idea to launch, early-stage business owners seeking structure, and side hustlers looking to formalize and scale their vision. 

“This course provided me with the tools, mentorship, and real-life insights to help provide a clear strategy and strong foundation for initiating a business plan,” said Wendy Gebauer, a student in the first cohort. 

Learning to Build Real Businesses 

This program is built around hands-on, relevant activities for participants. By the end of the eight weeks, participants leave with: 

  • A launch-ready business plan 
  • A clear startup roadmap and action plan 
  • A completed SWOT and market analysis 
  • A live pitch presentation to potential funders 
  • Weekly business journaling 
  • One-on-one mentorship from an experienced business leader  

"This course is about building real businesses — not just talking about them,” said Ellen Mathein, Dean of the School of Business & Entrepreneurship. “Participants leave with clarity, confidence, and a concrete plan to move forward.” 

Mathein added that feedback from the first cohort was overwhelmingly positive, with many participants citing mentorship, structure, and confidence-building as game-changing elements. 

For more information, contact Ellen Mathein at (715) 365-4915 or emathein@nicoletcollege.edu.