WRITER: Alejandro Najera-Acosta, 575-646-2025, a_najera@nmsu.edu
The deadline is approaching for New Mexico State University civil engineering students to apply for the Construction Side Hustle course, a five-week online program designed to help participants transform their skills into a profitable business.
An element of the Mike Hunt Construction Sprints, the course begins March 5. Applications will close Friday, Feb. 28. The program is open to NMSU civil engineering students and staff members. Teams are welcome to apply, provided at least one member is a civil engineering student.
With the March 5 start date fast approaching, this is the final opportunity to enroll. Students interested in gaining practical business experience and entrepreneurial skills in the construction industry are encouraged to apply.
The Mike Hunt Construction Sprints, a flagship initiative of NMSU’s Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship, supports regional entrepreneurship by empowering diverse communities – equipping students with the tools to bring innovative products and services to market – and expands access to early-stage investment. Through this program, students gain practical experience in business development while leveraging their expertise in construction.
The Construction Side Hustle Course offers a structured yet accessible pathway into entrepreneurship, addressing challenges faced by early-stage and aspiring entrepreneurs. Many students hesitate to identify as founders or business owners, finding the prospect of launching a full-scale company overwhelming. This course introduces side hustling as a low-risk, high-impact approach, enabling students to test and refine their business ideas while balancing their academic and professional commitments.
The program will be led by Jeff Mitchell and Laura Hart, co-owners of Lane Two, a leading education partner specializing in side-hustle development. Jeff Mitchell, the founder of Lane Two, launched Canada’s first course for side hustlers in 2020 and has since helped more than 1,000 entrepreneurs build and scale their businesses.
Participants will gain hands-on experience in customer discovery, business modeling, sales strategies, and launching a Minimum Viable Offer to establish a revenue-generating construction business. The course includes weekly online training sessions, live coaching hours for individualized support and a final in-person workshop, culminating in a certificate presentation.
"This course provides students with a clear roadmap to launch their own construction business while still in school. By the end of the five weeks, participants will have a validated business model and a plan for sustainable growth" said Carlos Murguia, director of the Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship
For more information or to apply, visit https://tinyurl.com/constructionsidehustle or contact Carlos Murguia at cmurguia@nmsu.edu.
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PHOTO CAPTION: The Construction Side Hustle Course, part of the Mike Hunt Construction Sprints at New Mexico State University, is a five-week online program designed to help civil engineering students develop and launch a revenue-generating construction business. (Courtesy photo)
IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A blueprint with several design- and construction-related items on top.