Applications Now Open for New Entrepreneurship Boot Camp and Mentoring Program

Applications are now open for the ImpactNJ: Urban Ventures Collaborative, a new Entrepreneurship Boot Camp and Mentoring Program designed to equip entrepreneurs with the tools and guidance needed to launch their businesses and strengthen underserved communities across northern New Jersey. The program is open to aspiring entrepreneurs and existing business owners who may have limited access to capital training or other essential resources.

Set to begin in January 2026, the program is part of the nationally recognized Urban Poverty and Business Initiative (UPBI), a growing network of universities and nonprofit partners worldwide committed to expanding opportunity through entrepreneurship and sustainable community development. As the Northern New Jersey partner for UPBI, Seton Hall is helping to drive inclusive growth across communities including Newark, Orange, East Orange, Irvington, Paterson, Elizabeth and Jersey City. 

The program offers an 11-month experience that supports both low-income individuals ready to transform their business ideas into viable ventures and entrepreneurs who have already launched a business but face challenges scaling it to the next level. After completing the six-week boot camp, graduates who wish to continue will receive four months of one-on-one mentoring from entrepreneurs, followed by additional consulting support in August from Seton Hall students to help them develop websites, enhance their social media presence and strengthen their business operations.

“This program is about more than education it’s about empowerment,” said Susan Scherreik, Director of ImpactNJ: Urban Ventures Collaborative and Founding Director of Seton Hall’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. “What sets this initiative apart is the depth and duration of support we provide. This program offers truly individualized guidance for aspiring entrepreneurs who might otherwise feel overwhelmed by the challenges of their daily lives.” 

The ImpactNJ initiative builds upon Seton Hall’s history of supporting entrepreneurship through programs such as the Pirates Pitch startup competition, the Pirates LaunchPad summer accelerator, the Entrepreneur Hall of Fame and the UPitchNJ collegiate competition in partnership with Nokia Bell Labs.

“By aligning with UPBI, Seton Hall connects urban entrepreneurs in New Jersey to a broader national and global network of support and opportunity, said Joyce Strawser, Ph.D., dean of the Stillman School of Business. “We are especially excited about involving our students in this program and providing an important service-learning experience in their journey to becoming principled business leaders.”

Boot Camp and Mentoring Program Features

The program begins with a six-week Saturday Boot Camp, offering participants foundational business knowledge and real-world tools to strengthen or launch their ventures. Attendees will benefit from:

• Practical business training through in-person workshops
  Access to microlending resources
• One-on-one mentorship from experienced professionals
• Support with business basics such as licensing, banking, websites, and accounting
• Ongoing consulting and guidance through Seton Hall’s student-led business consulting teams

Workshop Dates: Saturdays, 8:30 a.m.–1 p.m. — January 31, February 7, 14, 21, 28, and March 7, 2026

• Location: Equal Space ES89 Sharespace & Incubator, 89 Market Street, 4th Floor, Newark, NJ
• Cost: Participants pay just $25 with a scholarship (valued at $725)

Through collaboration with local partners such as the Greater Newark Enterprises Corporation (a certified Community Development Financial Institution), as well as regional business leaders and Seton Hall faculty and students, participants will gain the training, tools and mentorship needed to build sustainable businesses and achieve long-term financial stability.

Click here for more information or to apply for the January 2026 cohort of the ImpactNJ: Urban Ventures Collaborative Entrepreneurship Boot Camp and Mentoring Program. 

In addition, we are seeking mentors to work with both early-stage entrepreneurs and those already operating businesses. The mentoring will take place over an approximately four-month period from mid-March through July via bimonthly one-on-one discussions, which can be virtual, in-person or a combination of both. Those who are interested and have experienced a successful launch and development of a business of their own can sign up to be a mentor here.

For partnership inquiries, contact [email protected]. 

About the Urban Poverty and Business Initiative (UPBI)
The UPBI, led by the University of Notre Dame’s McKenna Center for Human Development and Global Business, is a growing alliance of universities and nonprofit organizations dedicated to alleviating poverty through entrepreneurship. UPBI currently supports urban entrepreneurship programs across the United States, including in Chicago, New York City, Miami and Los Angeles and globally in communities that have historically lacked access to business education and support. Each UPBI program is locally tailored but shares a common methodology, belief in inclusive economic empowerment and commitment to long-term impact.

Categories: Education