The Kauffman FastTrac program is hosted by the Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center (ECC) in UTRGV and focuses on helping entrepreneurs launch their business ideas.
According to the Kauffman FastTrac official website, the goal is to provide entrepreneurs with the business skills and insights, tools, resources, and peer networks necessary to start and grow successful businesses.
Director of the ECC’s program at the university, Linda Ufland, says the Kauffman FastTrac initiative has been in collaboration with UTRGV for more than six years after the University’s center reached out.
“We knew they had an entrepreneurial program that was very robust and very well formed or created”
The ECC partners with different economic corporations around the valley to sponsor the program in order to lift some of the financial burden from entrepreneurs.
She continues “So we have very good relationships with the EDCs or the economical development corporations around the Valley, and they support this Kauffman FastTrac through their sponsorship”
The program is a consecutive seven week, three hour-a-week course and it is offered year round in different cities around the valley, in both English and Spanish.
Ufland explains the program helps entrepreneurs who are looking to start or scale their business. Some business owners also take the course to stay updated with current business trends.
“We meet with this cohort of entrepreneurs that are seeking to either start their business or scale their business, it is not entirely for startups.”
The course modules guide the participants to eventually develop a business strategy or proposal, and pitch their future plans for the business to an investor, supplier or even customer. Additionally the program dives deeper into the different topics they offer such as marketing, intellectual property, finances and organizational structure.
The program even includes its own speaker series according to Ufland.
“Every module has a speaker that comes in that really deeps more into the topic that is being discussed that day.”
The application process includes asking the applicant their ideas for their business and finding the level of commitment they have to bringing the idea to life. The process mostly depends on the economic corporations in the city.
Ufland says the program has a diverse group of participants.
“All types of people. Usually we have young entrepreneurs but we also have, you know, our third generation population that joins so we’ve seen a mix, and a very diverse mix of females and males which we are very excited about.”
The relationship between the program and the entrepreneur does not end when they graduate but the program follows them for six to 12 months to make sure they are staying afloat.
To apply or submit your application, visit the website www.utrgv.edu/ecc/applications
This is Silvana Villarreal for Vaquero Radio.
