Advertisement

USC to Offer FastTrac in Spanish

Share via
TIMES STAFF WRITERS

USC’s Business Expansion Network has offered its popular FastTrac program to thousands of entrepreneurs over the years, but was missing a key component of the region’s economy: Spanish-speakers eager to launch start-ups.

Beginning Tuesday, USC will offer its seven-week course in Spanish for the first time, slashing the cost of the program for a limited time from $995 to less than $125. Only Spanish-speaking Los Angeles County residents are eligible to apply for the program, which provides management, marketing and financing assistance to those starting their own businesses.

The reason for the shift? Demand.

“Maybe it’s the spurt in Latino entrepreneurship, but for the last two or three years we got calls from people wanting to know if it’s offered in Spanish,” said USC BEN Executive Director Nitin Bhatt. “Everyone knows this is the next frontier of entrepreneurship.”

Advertisement

USC contacted the Kauffman Foundation, which is helping to underwrite the cost of the initial program.

USC BEN also runs a Minority Business Development Center, which can provide free follow-up services, in Spanish and English, to FastTrac graduates.

*

For more information or to make reservations, call Mayling Pacheco at (213) 743-1726.

Advertisement