Belmont College Launches Design Entrepreneurship Bootcamp this Fall

St. Clairsville, OH (August 4, 2025) – Belmont College is pleased to announce the launch of a brand-new Design Entrepreneurship Bootcamp through its Workforce Development and Community Education program. Running from September 8 to October 6, 2025, this 5-week course will take place on Monday evenings from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. and is designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs and creative thinkers bring their ideas to life.

The Bootcamp offers a unique opportunity for individuals who are new to entrepreneurship or design and want to explore how to turn a product or service idea into a viable business. Participants will engage in hands-on learning that walks them through the entire innovation process—from ideation and customer discovery to prototyping and pitching for funding.

Course topics include:

  • Solving real-world problems with innovative products or services
  • Conducting customer discovery and teamwork-based investigation
  • Designing, testing, and registering intellectual property
  • Creating local economic impact
  • Preparing and delivering high-impact pitches to investors, funders, customers, and employers

The program culminates with an Investor Showcase and Pitch Competition on October 6, 2025, where participants will present their ideas under the theme, “Improving My Region: New Products and Services for Belmont County.” Cash prizes and valuable resources will be awarded to support the best ideas.

Registration is open now and will be accepted until September 1, 2025.

“This bootcamp is about empowering creative problem solvers to take control of their ideas and make them real,” said Dr. Carrie White, Vice President of Academic Affairs. “Whether you want to launch a business or just understand the process of innovation, this course is a practical, hands-on starting point.”

The program will be led by experienced facilitators: Dr. Carrie White, a seasoned entrepreneurship educator, mentor, investor, and business founder and Katie Stoller, designer and entrepreneur with a background in fashion and product design, and founder of a successful sewing and alterations business.

The Bootcamp is made possible thanks to generous support from The Community Foundation of the Ohio Valley (CFOV) and the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE).

 To learn more or apply click here or contact 740.699.3800.

# # # #