Learning Lab

This interactive accelerator combines expert instruction, practical application, and collaborative peer learning to help growth-stage makers strengthen the business behind their products. Through hands-on workshops, real-world case studies, financial modeling, facilitated discussions, and small-group problem solving, participants will apply each concept directly to their own businesses while learning from the experiences of fellow entrepreneurs.

Learn more about this program and learning outcomes. Businesses must have completed the Capital Readiness workshop intensive in 2025 or 2026 to participate. Participation in all sessions is required.

Is marketplace vending, trade shows, or pop-up retail a vital part of your business? If so, this course is for you. Over four weeks, you’ll learn a practical framework to plan and improve your marketing and sales at in-person retail events. Through expert guidance and peer exchange, you’ll gain strategies, tips, and best practices to boost your pop-up performance. In addition to in-person sessions, virtual office hours will be available for personalized support throughout the course.

Learn more about this workshop and learning outcomes. Participation in all sessions is required.

Do you have a product you’d love to see in the marketplace? Or have you ever wondered how wholesale and pop-up markets actually work? The answer is layered, but at its heart is a product you believe deserves to exist in the world. From there, the challenge becomes turning that idea into something customers can understand, trust, and ultimately buy.

In this three-week workshop, artists, designers, and makers will learn about wholesale trade shows and what they need to get started. You will gain insider knowledge from people who have participated in trade shows for the past 20 years. All products specifically made for the gift market are viable.

Learn more about this workshop and learning outcomes. Participation in all sessions is required.

This hands-on workshop will help entrepreneurs understand the funding options available to their businesses and how to choose the right ones. Participants will explore loans, grants, government funding, and other sources of capital; learn how to assess eligibility and avoid predatory options; and begin building a practical capital strategy. Each participant will also receive a personalized funding report with opportunities tailored to their business and the option for continued one-on-one support.

This workshop will take place in spring 2027.

As makers and creative entrepreneurs, we often grow by saying yes - to opportunities, to customers, to whatever keeps the momentum going. But what happens when the busyness of running your business pulls you away from the vision that started it all? This three-part workshop series creates the space to step back, reflect, and realign.

In each session, we will work together to reconnect with the core vision and values that drive your business decisions, use both quantitative and qualitative data to identify real opportunities for growth and innovation, and build an actionable strategic map for your next 12 months. The goal is not just to plan, but to co-create a direction you feel genuine ownership over, one that reflects where you started and where you want to go.

This workshop will take place in spring 2027.

This intensive program is tailored to small business owners seeking to unlock the keys to financial growth through knowledge of both debt and equity capital. In today’s competitive landscape, securing funding is essential for fueling expansion, innovation, and sustainability. Whether you’re a startup seeking initial investment or an established business looking to scale, understanding the nuances of debt and equity funding is paramount.

Learn more about this program and learning outcomes. Businesses must commit to at least 75% of all sessions to participate.

View the full program calendar and session information here.