Charlottetown innovation hub Startup Zone has announced two entrepreneurial education programs as part of its new Startup School initiative, which will focus on encouraging participants to “learn by doing.”

The two programs are called Startup School: Innovator and Startup School: Launch. Both are the result of a partnership with CEED Nova Scotia, the Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development.

The Innovator program targets entrepreneurs looking for help validating a business idea or fine-tuning their early-stage business plans. And the Launch course “gives founders the expertise to successfully launch their business idea.” To that end, both programs are milestone-based.

“Through Startup School, our goal is to service entrepreneurs who are ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work on their business -- and we can’t wait for them to get started,” said Startup Zone CEO Sheryl MacAulay in a press release.

Entrepreneurs can choose to participate in one or both programs. Both are free for existing Startup Zone members, or $299.99 for everyone else. Startup School: Innovator will last nine weeks beginning March 10. Startup School: Launch will run in June, but other details are still to come.

Enrolment for both programs is open now. To participate, entrepreneurs must first book a “discovery call” with Startup Zone, which they can do here.