Turn your passion into profit

12-weeks / 6 Credits

As entrepreneurs, you can expect to learn and share a lot in the Community Business Academy. The success of our program relies on your talents and contributions. 

In this course, you will be building strong fundamental business skills like budgeting, marketing, bookkeeping, and financing. 

Our experiential methodology embeds direct curriculum application so you are able to work on your business as you learn!

How It Works

Your learning experience.

  • 1. Learn

    Watch Video Lessons Before Your Live Zoom Sessions: These short video lessons are designed to introduce topics and get you thinking about your own business and questions you have. You can ask questions or share your thoughts in on-lesson discussions, take self-assessment quizzes and come back to these videos to review concepts whenever you'd like!

  • 2. Engage

    Participate in the Live Zoom Session: This is where the concepts you learned in the video lessons come alive. You'll discuss concepts, practice using these concepts through engaging exercises and connect what you learned to your own businesses. This is the community of the Community Business Academy!

  • 3. Apply

    Complete Homework: Each week for nine weeks you will have homework. This homework is designed to be your opportunity to apply what you learned to your own business. As entrepreneurs we spend a lot of time running our businesses. This is the time for you to think and plan for your business. Take the time and stay on top of your homework! We are here to support you through it all!

Meet Our Instructors

Experts that care.

Trinidad De La Rosa

New York City born, and raised in Dominican Republic, Trinidad obtained a degree in Business and certification as a Human Resources Generalist. A member of the United States Army with an Honorable Discharge, Trinidad has over 15 years of experience in the fashion industry working for companies like Gucci, Kenneth Cole, and Yves Saint Laurent. Her last position was as an HR Generalist for an manufacturing facility where she developed a passion for helping people. A Hudson County resident for over 25 years, Trinidad has always been active in her community as working with people is her passion. She founded the Union City Book club for Females, Support Group for Females with Weight Issues, and is a member of the Dominican Global Foundation, Dominican Parade of Hudson County, and the Union City Prevention Coalition. Trinidad was part of the staff at “Al Ritmo Del Tiempo TV” from Hudson County, and even had her own radio show on the Internet radio station “809.com.” She was also the owner of her own business in the import industry. She fell in love with Rising Tide Capital’s mission of creating opportunities and maximizing success for the members of the Hispanic community, and brings her passion, networks and resources to her position as Business Services Manager for the Hispanic Community. She enjoys traveling, reading, and dancing.

Jay Savulich

Jay Savulich is the Managing Director of Mission Ventures at Rising Tide Capital, providing contracted services and overseeing real estate activities in New Jersey. Previously Jay led the Community Business Academy and Business Acceleration Services as RTC’s Managing Director of Programs. He also works directly with clients as an instructor and business coach. Jay was the first instructor for The Community Business Academy. He developed the curriculum and taught the first 24 classes. Before starting at Rising Tide Capital, he had a twenty five year career owning and operating successful restaurants in New York City. He also has worked as a technology trainer in the developing world, and continues to work as a photographer. His passion is using his varied experience to help others learn the steps to achieving success in small business and in their lives. Previously, he spent three years as an instructor, business counselor, and micro-loan officer at a similar organization in Brooklyn.

Course curriculum

    1. Welcome to Our Demo Course

    2. Getting Support

    3. Next Steps

    1. Navigate our Learning System

    2. Meet Your Online Instructor

    3. Meet Your Online Resiliency Guide

    4. Maximize the Course: Your Business and Time

    5. Communicate with Your Instructors

    6. Get Technical Help

    7. Understand Our Process

    8. LEARN: Complete and Continue

    9. LEARN: Check Your Understanding

    10. ENGAGE: On-Lesson Discussion

    11. ENGAGE: Get Ready to Zoom

    12. ENGAGE: Joining the LIVE class (Zoom)

    13. APPLY: Homework Tips

    14. APPLY: Homework Practice 1

    15. APPLY: Homework Practice 2

    16. RESILIENCY: Preparing Yourself for Entrepreneurship

    17. RESILIENCY: Reset Meditation

    18. CHECK-IN: How did it go?

    19. CHECK-IN: How are you doing?

    20. UPLOAD: Your Profile Image

    21. REMEMBER: Graduation Requirements

    1. How to use this chapter

    2. Computer Basics

    3. Zoom Access

    4. Digital Skills Connecting to Wifi

    5. Digital Skills Online Learning and Research

    6. Digital Skills Staying Safe Online

    7. Importance of Financial Coaching

    8. DOWNLOAD: Resiliency Chime

    9. REMEMBER: Graduation Requirements

    1. Welcome to the Community Business Academy!

    2. THINGS TO KNOW: The Design of the Class

    3. DISCUSSION: Business is all about relationships!

    4. REVIEW: Student Handbook (Download)

    5. YOUR COMMITMENT: Student Handbook

    6. FILL-IN: Pre-Survey

    7. DISCUSSION: Getting To Know You

    8. FILL-IN: Getting To Know Your Business

    9. NEW CONCEPT: You – The Entrepreneur

    10. ASSESSMENT: Self-Evaluation

    11. NEW CONCEPT: The Business Idea

    12. DISCUSSION: What Makes a Good Product or Service?

    13. DEFINITION: Business Plan Outline

    14. The Executive Summary Contest

    15. FILL-IN: Check Your Understanding

    16. DISCUSSION: How are you doing?

    17. NEXT STEPS: Our LIVE class is coming up!

    18. BEFORE WE START: Get ready to Zoom

    19. BEFORE WE START: What to bring

    20. WELCOME: Our LIVE Zoom class

    21. HOMEWORK 1: Introduction

    22. HOMEWORK 1: EXAMPLE

    23. STUDY HALL: Extra support for you

    24. RESILIENCY: Intention

    25. CHECK-IN: How are you doing?

    26. UP NEXT: Looking ahead to Week 2

    27. REMEMBER: Graduation Requirements

    1. Welcome back!

    2. THE GAME: Purpose

    3. GAME CONTEXT: Location

    4. GAME CONTEXT: Target Customer

    5. GAME CONTEXT: Your Role

    6. TOOLS REVIEW: Business Cycle Calendar

    7. TOOLS REVIEW: Daily Record Keeping Journal

    8. TOOLS REVIEW: Weekly Sales Journal

    9. TOOLS REVIEW: Weekly Expense Journal

    10. NEXT STEPS: Our LIVE class is coming up!

    11. BEFORE WE START: Get ready to Zoom

    12. BEFORE WE START: What to bring

    13. WELCOME: Our LIVE Zoom class

    14. HOMEWORK 2: Business Simulation I

    15. HOMEWORK 2: EXAMPLE

    16. STUDY HALL: Extra support for you

    17. RESILIENCY: Create Positivity

    18. CHECK-IN: How did it go?

    19. UP NEXT: Looking Ahead to Week 3

    20. CHECK-IN: How are you doing?

    21. REMEMBER: Graduation Requirements

    1. Welcome Back

    2. Managing Your Personal Expenses and Income

    3. Personal Budget

    4. NEW CONCEPT: Personal Expense Categories

    5. DEFINITION: Personal Income

    6. APPLYING YOUR LEARNING: Personal Income and Expenses

    7. THINGS TO KNOW: Savings

    8. THINGS TO KNOW: Understanding Your Credit

    9. DEFINITION: Interest

    10. FILL-IN: Check Your Understanding

    11. THINGS TO KNOW: Why is Having Good Credit Important?

    12. THINGS TO KNOW: How to Correct Errors in a Credit Report

    13. THINGS TO KNOW: Negative Information in your Credit Report

    14. RESOURCE: Example Credit Report

    15. NEXT STEPS: Our LIVE class is coming up!

    16. BEFORE WE START: Get ready to Zoom

    17. BEFORE WE START: What to bring

    18. WELCOME: Our LIVE Zoom class

    19. HOMEWORK 3: Monthly Personal Income and Expense Budget

    20. HOMEWORK 3: EXAMPLE

    21. STUDY HALL: Extra support for you

    22. RESILIENCY: Unlock Energy

    23. CHECK-IN: How did it go?

    24. CHECK-IN: How is your learning?

    25. UP NEXT: Looking Ahead to Week 4

    26. REMINDER: Importance of Financial Coaching

    27. REMEMBER: Graduation Requirements

About this course

  • Free
  • 318 lessons
  • 3 hours of video content

FAQ

  • What's the cost?

    Tuition for The Community Business Academy is valued at $3,000 per student. Thanks to our generous supporters and donors, tuition is waived for every student accepted into the program. All participants, however, must pay a small materials and registration fee. Based on your household income, your fees are calculated on a sliding scale ranging from $150 to $375. Additional financial aid is available for those who qualify.

  • Who are the instructors?

    Our instructors all actively own or run small businesses, and have been through a one-year intensive training program geared towards maximizing their experience as entrepreneurs in teaching small business concepts.

  • How do I apply?

    Introduce yourself by filling out our program inquiry form here and we will walk you through next steps.