Breadcrumb
Starting & Growing a Business in Humboldt
A Practical 4-Week Accelerator Course
Tuesdays, July 7-28
This course is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs, small business owners, and individuals seeking to strengthen or scale an existing operation within Humboldt’s unique business environment.
With Matthew Cendejas, instructor
Learn how to think like a business owner and gain a practical, real world business plan framework tailored to launching or growing a business within a small, locally driven economy.
Class is held in-person, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at StartUp Humboldt, 816 7th St., Arcata
Open to those age 18+ • Cost: $350 • Register by July 1
A condensed, hands-on version of a traditional semester-long business planning course
This course was designed specifically for the entrepreneurial landscape of Humboldt County. Each week builds directly on the previous one so that participants finish with a clear, actionable foundation for starting or strengthening a local business.
Humboldt County is built on independent operators, tradespeople, service providers, creatives, and community based enterprises. Success here requires practical strategy, adaptability, and an understanding of local market dynamics.
This course will equip you with tools you can immediately apply in our regional economy, where relationships, reputation, and disciplined execution drive longterm success.
WEEK 1: Business foundations and idea clarity
Learn how to sharpen your value proposition, define your ideal customer, and understand how small market dynamics influence businesses' success in Humboldt County. Discuss foundational elements that drive operational efficiency, strategic alignment, and how to incorporate the triple bottom line mindset.
In a community where relationships and reputation play a significant role, clarity matters. This session introduces practical frameworks that help business owners think more intentionally about what they offer, who they serve, and how they fit within the regional marketplace.
You will emerge with a clearly defined business concept grounded in real world market conditions.
WEEK 2: Market, strategy, and competitive advantage
You will learn how to identify customer segments, assess local competition, develop a marketing plan, and think strategically about how to communicate with an audience.
This session introduces practical tools for evaluating demand, market barriers, recognizing competitive advantages, and identifying where you align in the market.
You'll gain a focused market strategy and a clearly articulated competitive advantage.
WEEK 3: Operations and business systems
Focus will be on how a small business operates daily and how those activities connect to revenue. You will be introduced to core concepts related to pricing awareness, insurance, primary revenue drivers, and operational structure within Humboldt County’s resource conscious environment.
Efficiency and consistency often determine long term sustainability. This session emphasizes understanding how time, labor, and core services translate into income, and how structure supports stability.
You will then have a realistic operational plan with clear revenue and cost structure.
WEEK 4: Financials, sustainability, and launch planning
You will be introduced to foundational financial concepts relevant to small business owners operating in Humboldt County. You'll explore cost structures, break-even awareness, and profitability fundamentals.
This session focuses on improving your understanding of your business's financial mechanics and how informed choices contribute to sustainable growth.
The program concludes with an emphasis on practical next steps and continued refinement beyond the course. You will have created a complete micro business plan and a clear next-steps roadmap.
At the end of this course
You will leave the course with a multi-section business plan template that includes:
- Executive summary
- Company description
- Market and industry analysis
- Competitive strategy
- Operations plan
- Financial overview
- Sustainability strategy
- 30/60/90 day action plan
This document is designed to be usable beyond the classroom and adaptable to real-world business launches!
About the instructor: Matthew Cendejas
Born and raised in Humboldt County, Matthew Cendejas started his education at College of the Redwoods and continued at Cal Poly Humboldt. Now, after more than six years teaching business and entrepreneurship at CR, he is proud to give back to this same community. Alongside teaching, he spent over a decade building businesses in manufacturing, landscaping, e-commerce, and media. He is committed to helping the next wave of local entrepreneurs succeed by sharing practical tools and experience. Seeing new businesses grow in Humboldt County is something he genuinely values.
