First Steps Program

LA21 ERIC - Entrepreneur Resource Innovation Center

Transform Your Business Idea Into Reality

First Steps To Building A Business

Get clarity on what you need to confidently start your business through 6 weeks of virtual training with AI support—just 3 hours per week

Diverse entrepreneurs climbing stairs together

Clarity

Discover if your idea solves a real problem worth solving

Confidence

Build a defensible offer and sustainable revenue model

Capital-Ready

Understand your funding pathways and next steps

How It Works

Your path from idea to launch in three simple steps

1. Sign Up

Create your account and complete your initial profile to get personalized guidance

2. Attend Virtual Sessions

Participate in live training sessions and complete activities with AI companion support

3. Launch Your Business

Exit with a clear roadmap, validated offer, and funding strategy

See Your Progress in Real-Time

Track your journey with AI-powered insights, confidence scoring, and personalized recommendations

CLIMB participant dashboard showing AI insights and progress tracking

Program Details

Weeks

Weekly sessions every week

Hours Per Session

Live virtual training with peers

Hour Practice

Outside class to apply learning

Total commitment: 3 hours per week for 6 weeks

Your 6-Module Journey

Readiness

Assess your motivations and constraints

Problem Discovery

Identify the real problem you're solving

Revenue Awareness

Explore viable business models

Offer & Responsibility

Define your value proposition

Operations Literacy

Understand what it takes to deliver

Capital Pathways

Chart your funding journey

Tools You'll Create

Explore the problem to be solved, the customer you serve, how your business will make money, how to stay compliant and more—without the guesswork

Business planning artifacts and learning materials

Real Stories from CLIMB Participants

Hear from entrepreneurs who transformed their ideas into viable businesses

"CLIMB helped me realize my initial idea wasn't solving the real problem. By Module 2, I pivoted to focus on what healthcare providers actually needed, not what I assumed they wanted. That clarity saved me months of wasted effort."

"I came in thinking I needed venture capital immediately. Module 6 showed me I could bootstrap with earned revenue first. Six months later, I'm profitable and talking to investors from a position of strength, not desperation."

"The AI companion asked questions I didn't know I needed to answer. Module 5 forced me to face the operational reality of my idea. Now I have a realistic plan instead of just enthusiasm."

Ready to Transform Your Idea?

Join entrepreneurs who are building real businesses with structured guidance and AI support

Already Signed Up?

Access your dashboard, continue your modules, and track your progress.