Inclusive Entrepreneurship

Date: September 30-January 2027

Time: Wednesday evenings, 5:00-7:30 PM

Location: Online, with an in-person graduation ceremony

Instructors: Ruchi Nadkarni (Operations), Nicole Morris (Finance), and Gwen Pokalo Hart (Marketing)

Description

Start Up is a semester-long business planning course for women, transgender, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming adults.

The class has a 30+ year history, and many local business owners have been through the course and gone on to operate successful businesses. The curriculum covers the fundamentals of business planning through three content areas in depth: marketing, finance, and operations, and is taught by instructors who are also women business owners. In addition to gaining expertise in these areas, we’ll connect as a group around the business planning process, personal wellbeing, and the realities of business ownership.

You will graduate knowing what you need to do to start and operate a successful business, and you’ll have completed a comprehensive, realistic business plan that you can use to guide you and to take to a lender if you decide you’ll need funding.

This course is also great for people who are already in business and want to reinvent their business or take it to the next level. 

Class size is intentionally small, so you’ll get lots of personal attention and form lasting bonds with your classmates. This cohort-based design adds incredible value to the learning experience and has been described as “life-changing” by many of our previous graduates.

The class is designed to meet a variety of learning styles — you’ll be asked to review lessons each week in the online classroom before the class meets on Zoom, and in class we’ll review and cover new content.

All Zoom classes are recorded and slides used in class are posted so you can watch replays anytime. We use an online business planning tool that streamlines your writing and financial projections. You’ll also get regular time to check in with me to ensure satisfaction with your learning experience and business plan.

Tuition and Assistance

The tuition for the course is $2,500, and mandatory fees include a $25 application fee and a $90 license fee for a dedicated LivePlan account for 6 months (online business planning software).

We are grateful to partner with VSAC to offer Advancement Grants to cover the cost of tuition for income-eligible students.

Students who are not awarded a VSAC grant may qualify for flexible, interest-free payment plans and a sliding scale tuition reduction. A 5% discount for full payment up front before the first class is also available.

How to Apply: Applications for the Start-Up program are accepted on a rolling basis and can be found HERE or you can contact Ruchi Nadkarni by email, or call 802-846-7081.

Register Here

This is a six-hour workshop that spans over the course of three sessions, each two hours long. The workshop is designed to introduce aspiring adult entrepreneurs to self-employment and to assist with creating a vision and a plan for a path forward that incudes business ownership. Space is prioritized for new participants.

Register Here

Register once to attend one or more workshops.

Advanced Vendor Training is a three-session, hands-on series for entrepreneurs who are actively selling products and want to strengthen the strategy and financial understanding behind their business. Designed as an advanced complement to Mercy Marketplace programming, participants will work directly with their own products, customers, costs, and sales goals.

Sessions will focus on target customers and value proposition, product costing and pricing, and product mix and sales strategy. Participants will use practical exercises and real business information to make more informed decisions about what they sell, how they price it, and how they increase sales and profitability. Admission to the class is contingent upon application review.

Register Here

A short workshop series designed to help entrepreneurs intentionally create space to work on their businesses rather than constantly working in them.

Small business owners often spend so much time responding to immediate tasks and daily demands that there is little room for reflection, problem solving, and long-term thinking. This is a three-workshop series spanning three weeks, each two hours long.

This series will create dedicated time and structure for participants to pause, step back, and build practices that support more intentional decision-making and sustainable growth.

Register Here

The Introduction to Small Business Workshop Series is an eight-week introductory program designed for aspiring and early-stage entrepreneurs who want practical information and tools to start and operate a small business in Vermont. Each workshop focuses on a different aspect of business ownership, allowing participants to build foundational knowledge across business planning, registration, marketing, finance, risk management, and day-to-day operations. The eight workshop topics are:

Date: Wednesdays
October 14 - December 2

Time: 1.00- 3.00 pm

1. Design Your Business Model Using the Business Model Canvas – Oct 14

Design a one-page business model using the Business Model Canvas; a graphic business planning tool that displays nine interconnected core components of any business.

2. How to Register Your Business – Oct 21

Understand the process of registering a business in Vermont, as well as how to get set with state agencies like the Dept. of Taxes and Dept. of Labor.

3. Intro to Marketing and Branding – Oct 28

Define and understand the difference between marketing and branding, and how to put together a simple marketing strategy for their business.

4. How to Create Your Own Website – Nov 4

Explore different website platforms, understand the content needed to develop a website, and learn about the behind-the-scenes functionality required to launch a website for a business.

5. Intro to Business Finance and Bookkeeping - Nov 11

Understand the basics of financial accounting, including the different accounting methods, categories and reports. Participants will walk away with a solid routine for DIY bookkeeping.

6. Paying Yourself and Your Taxes as a Business Owner - Nov 18

Understand the different ways that one can pay themself as a business owner, as well as what to expect and plan for regarding income tax.

7. Managing Risk for Your Business – Nov 25

Evaluate the risks taken on in business and the ways to limit or mitigate those risks, including insurance, policies, procedures and contracts.

8. Time Management for Business Owners - Dec 2

Explore the multiple roles of business ownership and learn tricks and tools for managing time across those roles.

Register Here

Our open-door weekly office hours are here to help you move forward quickly and with confidence. Reserve a 45- 60 minute appointment to bring your business questions, challenges, or next steps. We’ll work through them together and follow up with relevant resources, templates, and referrals as needed.

How it Works:

• Register online
• Follow up with an email to rnadkarni@mercyconnections.org, introduce yourself, make an appointment and bring 1–2 clear focus areas
• Come to a first discovery session
• Leave with tangible steps and tools

This class is for participants who are looking for community and support as they start their new business. Launch Pad is a supported, drop in, co-working space for folks actively working to start a new business. Participants work alongside other entrepreneurs to take action and get support on tasks to get their business up and running. Staffed by our Director of Inclusive Entrepreneurship, get help on everything from registering your business or setting up bookkeeping software to building a marketing strategy. This course only takes place in the summer. 

Friends & Founders is a casual community gathering that brings together entrepreneurs, small business owners, alumni, and friends of Mercy Connections for connection and conversation. Come meet other local entrepreneurs, build relationships, share ideas and experiences, and strengthen your network in a welcoming, informal setting. Whether you’re just getting started or have been in business for years, Friends & Founders is a space to connect with others who understand the entrepreneurial journey.

This in-person, hands-on series focuses on the most critical (and often confusing) parts of running a business: your finances, your taxes, and your risk. Come ready to work on your business in real time, build clarity, and leave each session with practical next steps. Participants may register for the full series or attend individual sessions based on interest.

This student-centered class introduces topics related to starting a business in Vermont. Each class will include vocabulary instruction and examples of cultural practices essential for exploring small business. Students will have opportunities to practice open conversations and learn directly from business owners. The class is designed for intermediate-to-advanced level English language learners.

This workshop is designed to introduce aspiring adult entrepreneurs to self-employment and assist with creating a vision and plan for a path forward that includes business ownership.