At-a-Glance
BUILD is a self-paced program for founders who've chosen a specific venture and are ready to start building it in the real world.
Eight guided lessons walk you from a rough idea to a clearer, more tested foundation, helping you understand who you're serving, what you offer, how your business works, and what to do next. Along the way, you'll build your Business Snapshot, a one-page summary of everything you've developed throughout BUILD. By the end, you'll have a clear picture of where your venture stands and a practical roadmap for moving it forward.
This isn't a video series you watch. Every lesson tells you exactly what to do, when to pause and do it, and what you should be able to say by the end including real conversations with real people, not just worksheets completed on your own.
Note: BUILD is designed to stand on its own. It may help prepare founders for GROW down the line, but completing BUILD does not guarantee admission into GROW.
STAGE:
You've chosen a venture and are ready to test it.
FORMAT:
Self-paced lessons + monthly live virtual group check-ins
DURATION:
Move at your own pace — most founders take 3–6 months
COST:
$99
ENROLLMENT:
Open — enroll anytime
What's Included
BUILD combines flexibility with accountability — so you can make real progress at your own pace. The program includes:
Eight self-paced lessons
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Clarify Your Idea — Define what you're building and why it matters.
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Understand Your Customer — Learn from real people instead of assumptions.
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What You Offer & Why It Matters — Clearly describe what you're offering and why someone would choose it.
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How You Make Money — Explore how your business earns income and what it costs to run.
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Your Market & Competition — Understand what already exists and how your idea fits or stands out.
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Try It, Learn, and Adjust — Test your assumptions and learn from real-world feedback.
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How You Talk About Your Business — Explain your venture clearly and confidently.
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Plan Your Next Steps — Turn what you've learned into realistic priorities and action.
Plus
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Guided worksheets for every lesson, with clear stopping points so you always know what to do next.
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Monthly live virtual group check-ins for accountability, community, and questions.
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Your Business Snapshot—a one-page summary that comes together as you work through BUILD and becomes your personal roadmap for what comes next.
What You'll Build
BUILD isn't about rushing through eight lessons—it's about making steady progress on your business.
By the end of BUILD, you'll have:
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Greater clarity about your business and who it's for.
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A stronger understanding of your customers, market, and business model.
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Practical experience testing assumptions and learning from real-world feedback.
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A personalized Business Snapshot that captures everything you've developed throughout the program.
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A clearer roadmap for your next steps.
Built for More Than One Kind of Founder
BUILD is designed for founders who are actively building something—whether that's a product, service, creative business, neighborhood venture, or scalable startup.
Some founders begin with a clear problem they're trying to solve. Others begin with an opportunity, a craft, or an idea they believe people will love. BUILD supports both approaches by helping founders better understand their customers, test assumptions, and make informed decisions as they move forward.
What matters isn't fitting a particular business model. It's being ready to actively build.
Who BUILD is For
BUILD is for founders who've chosen a specific venture and are actively working on it, not people still deciding between ideas, and not founders who've already validated and scaled their business.
You'll get the most out of BUILD if you:
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Have a specific venture you're working on, even if it's still early.
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Are willing to test your assumptions instead of only planning around them.
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Want structure and accountability—not just information.
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Are comfortable working independently, with optional group support rather than ongoing one-on-one mentoring.
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Are ready to make time for the real work—talking to customers, testing ideas, and learning from what happens. The founders who get the most value from BUILD are the ones who consistently put the ideas into practice.
Looking for something different?
Just getting started or still deciding what to work on? Start with Startup 101—it's free and will help you narrow your ideas and decide what to build before investing in BUILD.
Already operating a growing business and looking for more individualized support and a peer community?
Learn more about GROW, Startup Tucson's invitation-based membership for founders building innovative, growth-oriented ventures.
How it Works
1. Checkout
Pay the $99 fee to reserve your spot.
2. Complete Your Enrollment Form
You'll receive a confirmation email with a link to a short enrollment form. This helps us track outcomes for our grant partners and impact reporting.
3. Get Your Toolkit
Once you've submitted the form, you'll receive an email with full access to your BUILD toolkit: eight lessons, worksheets, Business Snapshot, Progress Tracker, Business Basics Checklist, and supporting resources and templates. Your access is available for 12 months from enrollment.
4. Work Through the Lessons
Move at your own pace. Every lesson tells you when to pause, what to complete, and what you should be able to answer before moving on.
5. Put It Into Practice
Several lessons ask you to step away from the screen: interview potential customers, study your competition, test a version of your idea, and learn from real-world feedback.
6. Join the Monthly Check-ins
Optional virtual group sessions help you stay accountable, ask questions, and connect with other founders working through BUILD.
7. Complete Your Business Snapshot
As you move through BUILD, you'll gradually complete your Business Snapshot—a one-page summary of your business that captures everything you've developed along the way.
8. Keep Building
You'll finish BUILD with greater clarity, a stronger business foundation, and a practical roadmap for your next steps. If GROW becomes a fit in the future, your Business Snapshot provides a natural starting point for that conversation.
Have questions before you apply? Contact Us or explore Startup 101 to get started.