Start Your Own Business. Create Your Own Opportunity.
What if you don’t want to just go to college or get a job like everyone else?
College costs too much. Jobs pay too little.
The cost-of-living is up and you might be wondering: “How am I going to make it?”
Imagine if there were a two-year program that would:
- Help you launch your own viable business venture
- Open your eyes to opportunities (even in challenging times)
- Transform you into a more confident and resilient person
- Equip you with in-demand skills and real-world experience
- Actually make you money in the process
Well, that’s exactly what we do at the Rising Entrepreneur Institute.
We help students launch their own businesses under the guidance of Christian business owners and entrepreneurs.
Our students graduate with a viable business instead of college debt. And instead of working a dead-end job, they’re creating jobs for others.
Made $5,000 in sales during her first 4 months.
$65,000 From Her Etsy Shop for Book Lovers
Earning Thousands of Dollars Per Job
Landed Seven New Clients in Quarter One of 2025
Earned $23,000 Over The Summer Last Year
$50,000 in Revenue Before Turning Twenty
Step-by-step guidance from coaches who have built their own successful businesses
Accessible training videos that make starting a business feel doable
Regular coaching calls, plus review of all your assignments
Proven templates and business models that have worked for other students
Supportive community where you can ask questions at any time
All from a Christian perspective that values faithfulness & integrity as vital ingredients for true success
The program aligns with a typical school calendar, with fall and spring semesters. However, we offer support and guidance during the winter and summer breaks to ensure students retain momentum as they grow their businesses.
All courses are eight weeks long, and each semester includes two courses. An overview of the program is below:
YEAR 1
Course 1 – Business Basics
Course 2 – Market Research and Business Launch
Course 3 – Branding and Marketing
Course 4 – Managing the Venture
YEAR 2
Course 1 – Solidifying the Foundation
Course 2 – Strategic Planning
Course 3 – Business Expansion
Course 4 – Transition – Manage or Sell
Students work directly with seasoned entrepreneurs who have built their own successful businesses and have a heart for investing in the next generation.
CEO & Co-Founder
Brett Harris
Director
Dr. Brian O'Rear
Business Coach
Becky kopitzke
Business Coach
Margaret mcgriff
Business Coach
Chad Kopitzke
Business Coach
Audrey Wilkerson
Business Coach
Jon Parks
Business Coach
David naus
Business Coach
Jason Kempson
How to Apply:
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Apply for the Rising Entrepreneur Institute
What do I need to do to prepare for the call?
Make sure you are in a distraction-free environment with a pen and paper to take notes. Your parents are welcome to join you. This is a no-pressure call where you can ask questions and share about your entrepreneur journey and goals.
Is this just for students who already have entrepreneurial experience?
No. We work with any student who knows they want to run their own business and needs a viable path to get there — whether you’re unsure what kind of business you’d run or you’ve already run a business before. Motivation, teachability, and a willingness to work hard are more important than your level of business experience.
Is this a brand new program?
Yes and no. While the Rising Entrepreneur Institute is new, it emerged from five years of coaching authors to become entrepreneurs at the Author Conservatory. After seeing how effective our coaches were in helping young authors launch their own businesses (and receiving many requests to launch a version of the program just for entrepreneurs), the Author Conservatory launched the Rising Entrepreneur Institute to help aspiring entrepreneurs build their own businesses.
Is there a limit to how many students you can take?
Yes. We can only take fifteen students in a class, so apply early if you’d like to be considered for one of our limited spots.
Can you work with students outside the United States?
Yes. We work with students from Australia, the U.K., New Zealand, Canada, and more.
How hard is this program?
Creating and building a business is a very difficult task, one that many people attempt, but few can accomplish. The courses are not difficult, but implementing the lessons will take grit, determination, and hard work. If you are easily discouraged or afraid of hard work, this is not the program for you, and you might find a better fit at a local college. This program will take you out of your comfort zone and will challenge you to make your dreams a reality by working hard to achieve them.