Only 1 session in. 9 to go.
There's still time to Start Smart.
AI can draft a business plan in minutes. A real expert makes sure it holds up.
Start Smart is a live, five-week course for startup founders and small business owners: ten sessions, one finished business plan, and a cohort of entrepreneurs building alongside you. Class kicked off Tuesday, October 6, but only one session is behind us. Session 2 is Tuesday, October 13 at 11:30 a.m. CT, and you can still join.
Tuition reduced from $199 to $138 for the full course.
Ask about tuition assistance
What do you want to start?
Pick one and we'll show you your five weeks.
Nine sessions ahead. One real plan for your business.
An expert in your corner
Why a live expert beats asking AI
AI is a great drafting assistant. It's a risky stand-in for a mentor, and your business plan is a bad place to find that out.
The question you forgot to ask
AI answers the question you ask. A seasoned consultant tells you the one you forgot to ask. Your instructor, Daniel Frunza, has consulted hundreds of startups.
Confidence needs a reality check
AI can sound sure when it's wrong. Legal structure, licensing and cash flow are where confident mistakes get expensive. In class you can push back and get a straight answer.
Feedback on your business
AI doesn't know your business. Here you ask live questions and get practical feedback on yours.
Accountability to keep moving
AI won't hold you accountable. Two live sessions a week and a cohort keep you moving until the plan is done.
Connections that open doors
Start Smart connects you to fellow entrepreneurs, BiGAUSTIN's free one-on-one consulting and small business loans.
Use AI to move faster. Use Start Smart to make sure you're headed the right way.
Your five weeks: 9 sessions still ahead.
Session 1 is done, and session 2 is Tuesday, October 13. Live on Microsoft Teams, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. CT. Join from a computer or phone. Each week tackles one big question every owner has to answer.
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1Week 1Does it work?
Find out if your business can work
Run a feasibility check before you spend a dollar: who needs this, what it costs to deliver, and whether the numbers add up.
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2Week 2Who buys, and why?
Know who buys from your business and why
Define your customer, size up the competition, and build a marketing approach that fits your budget.
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3Week 3Put real numbers behind it
Put real numbers behind your business
Startup costs, pricing, cash flow, and the basics of credit and banking, explained in plain language.
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4Week 4Set it up the right way
Set up your business the right way
Choose a legal structure, understand licenses and contracts, and protect yourself from the mistakes that sink new owners.
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5Week 5Walk away with your plan
Walk away with a plan for your business
Pull it all together into a written business plan, and learn what funding and support you can reach for next.
- Join us for Session 2
- Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Only 1 session completed. 9 to go.
- Schedule
- Tuesdays & Thursdays 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Central
- Where
- Live on Microsoft Teams Join from anywhere with a computer or phone
- Time with an expert
- 18 live hours still ahead 10 sessions total, with 9 remaining
Was $199
Community-driven pricing for the full course. Tuition assistance is available, because cost should never be a barrier.
Save my seat Ask about tuition assistanceCommunity-driven pricing
The math is easy.
A private business coach: $150–$300 for one hour. Start Smart: $138 for the full course, with 18 hours of live instruction still ahead, a cohort of peers and a finished plan.
Cost shouldn't stop a good business from starting, so tuition assistance is available for those who qualify.
Starting a business throws a dozen decisions at you at once.
Is there real demand? What do I charge? Which legal structure and licenses? How much cash do I need? Where does funding fit? Start Smart puts those decisions in order.
Startup founders
Pressure-test your concept—demand, delivery costs, and whether the numbers hold—before you spend.
Small business owners
Already selling, but pricing, paperwork and planning feel shaky? Fill in what you had to skip while you were busy running things.
Your instructor
Daniel Frunza
Learn from someone who knows business at every size.
- University of Texas MBA and Master Trainer in Entrepreneurship
- Has consulted hundreds of startups
- Mentor at the IC² Institute at UT Austin
- Executive experience at Accenture, plus 15+ years of executive leadership
He knows small and large businesses and can help yours grow. He teaches from real owner problems, not a textbook, and every session leaves room for your questions.
“Start Smart helped me turn my business idea into a clear plan. I learned what it takes to run a business, refined my idea, and gained a better understanding of what I need to know as a business owner. Now I have the foundation of my business plan and a clear path to get my business off to the right start.”
Start Smart is the first step, not the last.
Graduates don't get handed a certificate and sent off alone. BiGAUSTIN has been backing Central Texas entrepreneurs since 1995, and the course connects you to everything that comes next.
Learn
Build the knowledge and the written plan in Start Smart, then keep growing through BiGAUSTIN workshops.
Get counsel
Free, confidential one-on-one consulting to work through your specific business. Schedule an appointment
Get funded
When you're ready, BiGAUSTIN's small business loans can help you launch or grow. Your plan is where that conversation starts.
Questions people ask before signing up
I missed session 1. Is it too late?
No. Only 1 of 10 sessions has happened, with 9 still ahead, and session 2 is Tuesday, October 13. Register and your Teams link arrives by email.
Do I need to have a business already?
No. Most people join with just an idea. If you've already started, the course will help you shore up the foundation.
Is it in person?
No. Every session is live virtual on Microsoft Teams. You'll get the link by email after you register. You can join from a computer or phone.
How much time does it take?
Live sessions are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Central. The full course includes 10 sessions. Nine sessions and 18 hours of live instruction are still ahead.
What if I can't afford $138?
Tuition assistance is available for those who qualify. Email melissa@bigaustin.org or call (512) 928-8010 and we'll walk you through it.
What do I get at the end?
A written business plan, a clear picture of your costs and next steps, a network of fellow entrepreneurs, and a direct line to BiGAUSTIN consulting and lending.
Your business deserves a real plan and a real expert.
Only 1 session in, 9 to go. Seats are limited, so save yours now.
Questions? Melissa at melissa@bigaustin.org or (512) 928-8010