Mission Ready Entrepreneurship (MRE) Academy: Pre-Venture "Ready to start a business?"

Calling all veterans, service members and their family members interested in entrepreneurship: Unlock your entrepreneurial potential with the Mission Ready Entrepreneurship (MRE) Academy Spring 2026! Portal opens May 4th.

Embark on an entrepreneurial journey with our on-demand virtual training courses, with professional consulting support.

The New Jersey Small Business Development Center (NJSBDC) network is partnering with Fairleigh Dickinson University, Rutgers Camden and Stockton University to provide this no-cost business training course to veterans, service members and their families. From pre-venture to opening the doors, MRE Academy will give you all the necessary tools to launch your business from experts in their fields.

Dreaming of starting your own business? MRE Academy is the program to take you from business idea to launch! Modules 0-5 are ideal for students potentially seeking entrepreneurship as a new path, generating business ideas, self-assessing skills and abilities, and testing feasibility.

---

Course Details:

On-Demand Module 0, Non-mandatory, self-paced, and designed for autonomous engagement to support your learning.

Module 0 - Operational Readiness & Resilience

• Interactive wellness module to equip veteran entrepreneurs with accessible tools and mindset strategies that enhance emotional resilience, support identity transition, and build clarity, confidence, and focus as they pursue business development.

On-Demand Modules 1 - 3 with Workbook, 3 Total Classes, Estimated 2 Hours of Video and Homework for Each Module.

Module 1 - Cultivating an Entrepreneurial Mindset

• Military to Entrepreneurship
• Entrepreneurial Mindset & Misconceptions
• Cultivating Your OWN Mindset
• Creating Your Ecosystem
• Life as an Entrepreneur
• Entrepreneurial Traits

Module 2 - Self-Assessments

• Entrepreneurial Self-Assessment/Improvement
• Exit Planning
• Personality Self-Assessment
• Manager vs. Leader
• Your Leadership Style & Skills
• Your Interests & Success

Module 3 - Idea Generation

• Intro Idea Generation
• Finding Your Opportunities
• Options to Entry
• Market Problem & Opportunity Identification
• Full Idea Generation

On-Demand Modules 4 - 5 with Workbook, 6 Total Classes, Estimated 10 - 15 Hours of Video and Homework Total

Module 4 - Building a Business Model

• Create, deliver and capture the initial value of your business idea.

Module 5 - Feasibility Testing

• Critically assess the viability and potential of your business idea and model in the real world before embarking on a comprehensive business plan.

Intended Students: Pre-venture, with or without a business idea. Must be a veteran, service member or military family member and complete intake form (emailed separately after registration)

No-cost scholarships made possible through the TD Charitable Foundation and Wells Fargo.

Register here, or email us at SBDCinfo@fdu.edu to enroll! On-demand portal opens May 4th for Modules 0 - 5.