For individuals in West Palm Beach facing challenges who are launching or growing a business
The West Palm Entrepreneurship & Adversity Program (WPEAP) is a 10-month entrepreneurial training initiative supporting individuals in West Palm Beach who are navigating economic hardship or systemic barriers while building or growing a business. The program is managed by the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship and the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship at Florida State University, and in partnership with the Urban Poverty and Business Initiative at the University of Notre Dame, advancing inclusive entrepreneurship and community-based economic resilience.
About the Program
Program participants will benefit immensely from the Community Bootcamp for Entrepreneurs - a hands-on exposure to the fundamentals of launching and growing a successful venture. Taught by seasoned faculty, subject matter experts and successful entrepreneurs, the program occurs on six consecutive Saturday mornings from mid-August to mid-September 2026 from 8:30 a.m to 12:30 p.m., followed by a networking lunch. The bootcamp will be held at The Press Building, 2751 South Dixie Highway, in West Palm Beach. This is an FSU West Palm Beach collaboration space.
Topics covered in the Community Bootcamp address all facets of a successful venture, ranging from the development of a viable business concept to understanding your market, designing your profit model, setting up operations properly, marketing your venture, and understanding the basic numbers. Our underlying focus is how to think and act in entrepreneurial ways—including how to do more with less—and how to grow a venture when you have little in the way of resources. The approach will be interactive, so participants will be encouraged to bring business ideas and challenges into the weekly discussions.
Program Goals
The West Palm Beach LEAP program seeks to:
Foster the creation of new, profitable ventures by those facing economic or other disadvantages
Assist existing small businesses owned by those with disadvantages in becoming sustainable and growing
Work with community members on the development of both the person as an entrepreneur and the business as a successful venture
Identify and share best practices in poverty alleviation through entrepreneurship
Measure and track the development and performance of entrepreneurs and their ventures based on program participation
Celebrate entrepreneurial achievements of those facing/overcoming adversity
Important Dates
- Application Deadline: August 1, 2026
- Session 1: August 15, 2026
- Session 2: August 22, 2026
- Session 3: August 29, 2026
- Session 4: September 5, 2026
- Session 5: September 12, 2026
- Session 6: September 19, 2026
- Mentoring Begins: October 2026
- Consulting Phase: Spring 2027
Location
The bootcamp will be held at The Press Building, 2751 South Dixie Highway, in West Palm Beach. This is an FSU West Palm Beach collaboration space.
Who Should Apply?
Anyone in the community who suffers from adverse economic, physical, or related circumstances is eligible to participate in the program. We focus on supporting community members living in poverty who have a dream of starting and growing a venture, including those who have already started a venture but are struggling.
Program Cost & Scholarships
The cost of the program is $500. However, scholarships of $475 are available for anyone with financial need. All applicants are considered for scholarship. The $25 fee is due at the time of acceptance into the program or on the first day of the program (if previously agreed with the Program Directors). Payment information will be made available upon program acceptance.
Get Involved & Support
We welcome members of the West Palm Beach community to support WPEAP as:
- Volunteers
- Mentors
- Program donors
Questions about participating or partnering? Reach out via the contact information below.
Why This Matters
The WPEAP program equips local entrepreneurs with the tools, knowledge, and connections to build and sustain successful businesses — turning adversity into opportunity and strengthening the economic fabric of West Palm Beach communities.
Contact & Program Leadership
Program Inquiries:
Susana C. Santos, PhD
Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship
Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship
Email: ssantos@jmc.fsu.edu
Phone: 850-644-1691
