Woodbury Business Institute Launches Summer Entrepreneur Bootcamp

This summer, the Woodbury Business Institute welcomed 22 aspiring entrepreneurs — a mix of community members and students from Woodbury University and the University of Redlands spanning majors well beyond business — into its first-ever Build Your Own Business: 8-Week Entrepreneur Bootcamp. Held Tuesday evenings in a hybrid format from May through June, the program was made possible by a generous grant from the Community Foundation of the Verdugos.

Led by faculty members Dr. Paul Sabolic and Dr. James Spee, the Bootcamp paired interactive lectures with hands-on guidance in marketing, opportunity identification, and business plan development. Each week featured a guest lecture from a Woodbury Business Institute Advisory Board member, giving participants direct access to the stories and lessons of real, practicing entrepreneurs.

Twelve participants completed the full eight-week journey, each earning a Certificate of Completion and a business plan built around their own passions. The response was deeply personal: one participant’s mother shared that her son gained newfound confidence in pursuing his entrepreneurial ambitions, while an international MBA student described how the program broadened her vision for ventures she hopes to launch back home.

Every participant received a laptop to support their coursework, and nine additional laptops were secured for next year’s cohort — ensuring this program’s momentum, and its impact, carries forward.

The Bootcamp is a testament to what’s possible when community and campus come together — turning ideas into action, one entrepreneur at a time.