The Hurt Hub@Davidson is excited to be offering another round of the Building a Lean Startup course for all interested students, faculty, staff, and members of the general public. This course is an opportunity for individuals or small business teams to learn about the core principles of entrepreneurship and work on developing an idea through the Lean Startup methodology. No previous business experience required!

The Lean Startup methodology is an approach to building new businesses rooted in the belief that entrepreneurs must investigate, experiment, test, and iterate as they develop new products and services. Unlike traditional startup approaches, lean startups move quickly, iterate often and continuously solicit feedback from their customers.

Taught by Rebecca Weeks Watson*, Building a Lean Startup is a 7-session course covering topics including how to come up with business ideas, how to get users/customers and grow, how to execute on sales and marketing, how to hire, how to raise money, which key metrics to measure, and more. All of these topic areas will rely on a build-measure-learn approach to make sure you find effective solutions quickly and inexpensively.

Lean Startup is a mindset and a methodology that is used across industries, sectors, and professions to solve problems and understand what your customers need most. We welcome people from all backgrounds and encourage an open and engaged mindset!

Cost: Thanks to a generous Truist Charitable Fund grant, this course is now completely free to attend for all community members!

Course Schedule:

September 24 - November 5, 2025

Wednesday Evenings | 6:45pm-8:30pm

*Please email chsmith2@davidson.edu for any accomodations needed related to missing class.

About the Instructor: Rebecca Weeks Watson is a digital media entrepreneur with 17 years of experience in Silicon Valley and two U.S. patent awards. After starting her career in finance and then consulting for Match.com, she decided to pursue her interest in the startup world. She was on the founding team and led Business Development for two different marketing technology companies, one of which was acquired by Meredith Corporation. She has spoken at 50 conferences nationwide and enjoys lecturing at the University of Virginia's undergrad business school. Most recently Rebecca founded a groundbreaking interview series called The Reveal that uncovers surprising personal stories of world-class leaders.

FAQ

Q. Will this class be delivered in-person or virtually?

A. This is an in-person course, delivered at The Hurt Hub in Davidson, NC.

Q. Do I need to have an idea or business established before joining the course?

A. You don’t need to have anything established before joining the course, but you’re more than welcome to bring an idea you’ve been working on. We’ll learn how to generate ideas the first week of class. We also recommend attending one of the Hurt Hub’s Idea Jams for some added inspiration.

Q. Is there homework? What is the time commitment outside of class?

Yes, there is homework that averages approximately one to two hours per week. This includes watching several instructional videos, researching and talking to potential customers, and tracking feedback on your business concept. The more effort you put into the homework, the faster and more interesting your entrepreneurship journey will be.

Q. I don’t have an affiliation with Davidson College, can I still attend?

A. Absolutely! The General Public is encouraged to participate.

Q. Is there food involved?

A. Yes! Dinner will be provided at the start of class each week.

Building a Lean Startup - Fall 2025