Pathways To Success

Pathways to Success (Pathways) focuses on supporting entrepreneurs and business owners through education and connections with community resources. Pathways’ mission acknowledges one of the ways to eliminate poverty is through entrepreneurship and that anyone is “capable of creating a sustainable enterprise.”

Founded in 2020 by Notre Dame University, the program is currently offered in eight countries, 36 cities, and 25 universities and colleges and has served over 3000 entrepreneurs, provided 18,000 hours of mentoring, helped support the creation of 600 new businesses and coached 1700 existing businesses, created over 3000 jobs and decreased the average new start up failure rate from 80% to 30%.

Women and minority entrepreneurs make up 80% of the entrepreneurs helped through this program and are a focal point for the TAMU-CC program. Women represent approximately 49% percent of the Coastal Bend population, but they make up only about 7% of business ownership. According to Workforce Solutions of the Coastal Bend (WSCB) there are approximately 886 women-owned businesses in the region as of January 2023. This number does not reflect the additional number of women-run businesses – those businesses owned by a non-female but that are nonetheless managed and directed by a woman.

The program is offered at virtually no-cost to the community, and scholarships are available for those who qualify. The program will run for six consecutive weeks, one day per week for three-hours per session including a provided boxed dinner. Materials are provided at no-cost to each attendee.

There are three phases to this program – instructional, mentoring and student agency.

The CBBIC will walk each selected participant through an entrepreneurial journey comprised of 80 distinct steps in a multi-week cohort-based program of education, activities, and individual mentoring. The goal is to “level the playing field so that everyone can experience the empowering and transformative potential of entrepreneurship.” The program will follow a structured format combining presentations, lectures, guided activities, and self-directed coursework. There are seven distinct modules:

Module 1. Entrepreneurial thinking, the process, the journey, and key competencies and skills.

Module 2. Basic economics of business, how you will make money and financial statements.

Module 3. Planning, thinking strategically, and managing your risk.

Module 4. Getting resources (including money) when you do not have any money.

Module 5. Understanding markets, customers and marketing.

Module 6. Operations, organizing, staffing and other fundamentals that matter.

Module 7. Graduation and Certificate Presentations.

Graduates of Phase 1 will have the opportunity to be mentored by a successful entrepreneur.

Low-cost student assistance for marketing, social media, graphic design & market research.