Take the leap, launch your business with Entrepreneur Academy
Expert Training + Mentorship
Join 8 weeks of hands-on business classes led by experts. Wrap it up with Demo Day, where you’ll pitch your idea to local business leaders.
Local Resources + Networking
Get connected with legal, financial, and community resources, plus build relationships with other local entrepreneurs and professionals.
Perks Upon Graduation
Earn a certificate and a free 1-year Chamber membership ($315+ value). Top ventures from Demo Day may receive a cash prize to grow even faster.
Hear what our graduates have to say
2025 Session Schedule
ChamberECT’s Regional Innovation Center: 92 Eugene O’Neill Drive, New London, CT.
Additional speakers and special guests are to be announced. Curriculum is subjected to change
September 9 | 4:30 – 7:00 pm
Please note the time change for session 1.
Orientation: 4:30 – 5:30 pm
Facilitated by Tony Sheridan, Chamber President and CEO; Kevin Zhang, Regional Innovation Center Community Manager
Session 1: Market Research and Defining Your Initial Target Market
5:30 – 7:00 pm
Speaker: Tom Gezo, TGezo Business Consulting
Special Guest : Margo Weitekamp, SCORE(Service Corps of Retired Executives)
Participant Q+A.
September 16 | 5:30 – 7:00 pm
Speaker: Ellie Greenberg, Wonderlosity
Panel Discussion:
- Len Wolman, Waterford Hotel Group
- John Carlin, Carlin Construction
- TBA
Participant Q+A.
September 23 | 5:30 – 7:00 pm
Speakers: Christopher Drake, Office of Secretary of the State; Thomas Kasper, Reid & Riege
Participant Q+A
Cohort networking time
September 30 | 5:30 – 7:00 pm
Speaker: Sherry Konweski, Women’s Business Development Council
Speaker: Lee Couture, Couture Financial
Special Guest: Amanda Ljubicic, Ace Overhead Doors
Participant Q+A
October 7 | 5:30 – 7:00 pm
Speaker: Maria Miranda, Miranda Creative
Special Guest: Atif Faruqui, TurboFlow AI Solutions
Participant Q+A
October 14| 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Please note the time change for session 6
Speaker: Liberty Bank; Ted Fisher, AdvanceCT
Funding Organization Exhibitors:
- Community Investment Corporation (CIC)
- Small Business Development Centers (SBDC)
- Southeastern Connecticut Enterprise Region (SECTER)
- Connecticut Department of Economic Community Development (DECD)
- U.S. Small Business Administration (US SBA)
- Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC)
- Hartford Economic Development Corporation (HEDCO)
- Black Business Alliance (BBA)
- Latin Financial
- Community Economic Development Fund (CEDF)
More funding organizations to be announced.
Time will allow for individual discussions with attending funding organizations. Participants are required to collect a certain number of stamps from exhibitors to complete this session.
October 21 | 5:30 – 7:00 pm
Speakers: David Gellar, Quinn & Hary Marketing; Onyeka Obiocha, Center for Green Chemistry & Green Engineering at Yale; CT Innovations
Participants will have a chance to practice pitching their business idea and receive feedback in preparation for the next session, Final Demo Day.
October 29 | 5:30 – 7:00 pm
Presentation of business plans by participants, voting by attendees, and awarding of cash prizes for the most promising ventures.
Who should apply?
Eligibility:
- Must live or work in Connecticut
- Must be 21 or older
- Must be in the idea stage or within the first year of business
- Past participants are not eligible
- Make sure to include a brief business plan with your application.
Class Size: Limited to 45 participants.
Acceptance: A Selection Committee reviews all applications and selects participants based on the strength and completeness of application materials. Be sure to include a brief business plan in your application to be considered.
Selected applicants will be notified via email two weeks (approx. August 26, 2025) before the program start date (September 9, 2025). Selected applicants must confirm their enrollment promptly, or their spot will be offered to the next person on the waitlist.
