Startup Acceleration & Idea Launch (SAIL) Program: Business Planning Lab Series
Do you have a new business idea?
The Cape Fear Community College Small Business Center (SBC), in partnership with Bank OZK, is excited to present the Startup Acceleration & Idea Launch (SAIL) Program—a cohort-based entrepreneurial training program and pitch competition designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs transform their ideas into viable businesses in New Hanover and Pender Counties. Participants will also have the opportunity to compete for startup funding: $4,000 for first place, $2,500 for second place, and $1,500 for third place.
SAIL is a multi-week training program created to equip first-time entrepreneurs with the tools, knowledge, and local connections needed to successfully launch and grow a business. Over nine weeks of structured coursework—running from August 20th through October 29th—and culminating in a final pitch competition, participants will receive hands-on instruction in:
- Business planning and operations
- Marketing strategies for small businesses
- Financing options and funding resources
- Networking and community engagement
The program concludes with an in-person pitch event, where participants will present their business concepts to a panel of judges for the opportunity to win startup funding and prizes, while also gaining valuable feedback, community connections, and actionable next steps for launching their venture.
The SAIL Program is intended for first-time entrepreneurs who have a viable business idea but have not yet launched their business or begun generating revenue. Applicants should:
- Be within six months of developing their business idea
- Be passionate about their concept and willing to commit to the training
- Have some familiarity with the industry they wish to enter
- Plan to launch a business in New Hanover or Pender County
The program is free to apply, and free for all accepted participants. Space is limited to 15 participants, and MUST apply to attend! Not all applicants will be accepted; admission is competitive and based on application strength.
If you are interested in learning more, click the program packet below to explore all information and program schedule. If you have any questions after reviewing the program pacet, please contact Jenna O'Neal at jloneal998@mail.cfcc.edu.
Interested, and want to apply? Applications are due by Monday, July 27th at 11:59 PM. All applications will be reviewed, and applicants will receive a decision via email by August 3rd. Apply through the link here!
Speaker(s): Cherith Roberson is a small business owner, the author of The Guided Small Business Planner™, and a speaker and educator. Cherith served as the Director of the Wake Technical Community College Small Business Center from 2017 to 2022, and is now the owner of Flourish in Growth , where she helps business owners navigate and build the businesses they aspire to have. In 2020, she was awarded the State Director of the Year by the Small Business Center Network for her support of business owners during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Cherith holds a B.S. from North Carolina State University, with a concentration in Entrepreneurship.
Co-Sponsor(s): Bank OZK
Fee: No Cost