Entrepreneurship

Overview

Schedule

1. Week 1Find Your Opportunity(Customer Discovery)
2. Week 2Validate the Problem(Interviews)
3. Week 3Design Your Solution(MVP Creation)
4. Week 4Build Your Brand(Identity & Story)
5. Week 5Build Your Website(AI-Assisted Build)
6. Week 6Go to Market(Marketing & Launch)
7. Week 7Company Financials(Business Model)
8. Week 8Pitch Your Business(Presentation)

Learning Outcomes

• —Apply how startups progress from idea to launch using lean methodology, customer discovery, and go-to-market principles.
• —Use AI-powered tools to validate a business idea, build a functional website, and produce real marketing materials and content.
• —Create and launch an original venture, including brand identity, MVP, and investor pitch and present it to a panel of founders and investors.

Deliverables

(Per Student/Team)

• —Company Identity (Name, Logo, One-Liner)
• —Live Website and/or Landing Page
• —Pitch Deck or 60-Second Video
• —Presentation to Panel of Investors
• —Certificate of Completion (LinkedIn)

Course Format

• —Tuesdays → Weekly Online Sessions — Videos, materials, lectures, and learning on ideation, development, go-to-market, and presenting.
• —Thursdays → Classes on Campus (TBA) — Plus weekly office hours for 1-on-1 time with instructors and mentors and guided self-study work.

Credentials Earned

• —WCC — Entrepreneurship Certificate of Professional Development
• —Blue Academy — Certificate of Completion (LinkedIn)

Required Technology

• —Active email address per participant (no sharing)
• —Access to desktop or laptop computer
• —Access to reliable high speed internet (min. 512k)
• —Device with camera, microphone & speaker for video conferencing
• —Most recent updated browsers

Instructors

Alexi Drouin (Blue Startups)

LinkedIn

Alexi Drouin is a Hawaiʻi-based entrepreneur, investor, and educator with 20+ years of technical founder hands-on experience in marketing, operations, and leadership. He serves as Assistant Director of Hawaii Angels, leads Program Operations at Blue Startups, organizes the East Meets West conference, and is an Ambassador for Hawaii Tech Week. He is currently working with the University of Hawaii (UH), Windward Community College (WCC), and Hawaii Pacific University (HPU) to build an entrepreneurship curriculum for Blue Academy. Alexi is passionate about AI in education, accelerating startups, and showcasing Hawaiʻi's innovation ecosystem to the world.

Monty Clark (WCC)

LinkedIn

Monty Clark is a highly organized leader with 20+ years of experience working with diverse companies, nonprofits, and government leaders to research, develop, and implement strategic initiatives on time and on budget. Award-winning producer, student success coach, author, and lecturer. A master strategist with an entrepreneurial mindset who balances big-picture vision with attention to detail. Monty has built multimillion-dollar budgets and engaged diverse teams toward shared goals. An entrepreneur launching his own company, Monty currently serves as Workforce Development Coordinator at Windward Community College (WCC).

Partners

Blue Startups

Blue Startups is Hawai'i's premier tech accelerator. Its nationally recognized program—ranked a Top 20 in the U.S. by TechCrunch—helps tech companies scale globally. With deep expertise in tech and an extensive network across the Pacific, Blue Startups serves as a hub for Hawaii's innovation ecosystem. Blue Academy is the education arm of Blue Startups, partnering with universities across Hawaiʻi to help entrepreneurs take ideas from concept to launch.

Windward Community College

Windward Community College is part of the University of Hawaiʻi System, serving the windward side of Oʻahu with accessible, high-quality education and workforce programs. WCC is committed to expanding entrepreneurial opportunity for adult learners across Hawaiʻi, equipping students with the skills, mentorship, and network to build local businesses that create lasting impact in their communities.