Feliciano Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Join us for the New Jersey Small Business Summit

On Thursday, October 24, FCE+I will welcome the state’s small business community to campus for the New Jersey Small Business Summit, an event dedicated to connecting, learning and sharing ideas on how to support entrepreneurs and small business owners.

In partnership with ten New Jersey higher education institutions, the event will welcome the state’s small business community for a day of networking, learning and inspiration highlighted by a program featuring panel discussions and A-List entrepreneurs.

Panelists at the Summit will include happy™ Products’ Co-founder & CEO Craig Dubitsky, Culina Health Co-Founder and CEO Vanessa Rissetto, The Local Girl Media Group Founder Jennifer Tripucka and Shark Tank Season 14 contestant and Nopalera Founder Sandra Velasquez.

Sessions at the New Jersey Small Business Summit will include:

AI Trends For Small Businesses: Explore how artificial intelligence can benefit small businesses by improving efficiency, decision-making, and customer engagement
Scaling Up: Women Entrepreneurs Turning Ideas into Profits: Women entrepreneurs will share their experiences of growing their businesses from initial ideas to profitable ventures
From Bootstraps to Backers: The Different Paths to Success: Explore the various funding journeys entrepreneurs take, from bootstrapping their ventures to securing outside investment
Doing Business with the NJ Government: Learn how small businesses can engage with the New Jersey government through contracts and partnerships

“We’re beyond excited to host the first-ever New Jersey Small Business Summit at Montclair State University, in partnership with over 30 influential institutions and community organizations from across the state,” says Liz Rich, co-director of the Feliciano Center for Entrepreneurship + Innovation. “Our mission is to create a powerful day of celebration, learning, and connection for our small business community—the true driving force behind New Jersey’s economy.”

Our Mission and Values
The FCE+I at Montclair State University: A Collaborative and Dynamic Community

The Feliciano Center for Entrepreneurship + Innovation is a collaborative and dynamic community, bringing together innovative thinking, roadmap design, mentorship and opportunities for funding to support early-stage entrepreneurs as they launch and grow their ideas.

Our values inform and infuse the work we do:

Encourage an entrepreneurial mindset
Foster a diverse and inclusive community
Uphold a commitment to delivering the highest quality experience
Believe in success for the collective, not just the individual
Committed to serving the highest good

Ignite Entrepreneurs

Building a business roadmap through education, community, and mentorship.

It challenged me to think bigger, push boundaries, and embrace new possibilities. My journey has been fueled by a newfound optimism and belief in my ability to achieve greater heights.
– Cynthia S., Ignite Entrepreneurs Cohort 1

Now underway with our fourth cohort, Ignite Entrepreneurs continues to inspire, inform, and support early stage entrepreneurs on campus and throughout the community. This 20-week program offers a hybrid learning experience, 1:1 mentorship with industry experts, and opportunities to grow your network through in-person events, masterminds, and community meetups.

Through Ignite, you will:

Build a business plan
Hone your pitch
Understand and identify your target market
Better manage your finances

Learn how to market your business with clear and intentional messaging
Expand your network
Strengthen your critical thinking skills
Launch and grow your business

With a focus on building community and connections, Ignite Entrepreneurs is THE program to build your network and grow your net worth.

Ignite is as much of an investment in your business as it is in yourself.
– Renee W., Ignite Entrepreneurs Cohort 2

Participate in our Annual Pitch Competition through Ignite!

Our annual Pitch Competition takes place each spring. Any Ignite participant, past or present, is welcome to apply. Those who qualify will participate in a pitch bootcamp in the weeks leading up to the April event, and the top pitchers can receive up to $10K for their business.

To join the Summer Cohort, launching in June 2025, apply HERE!

Interested in becoming a mentor? Or do you want to be connected to a mentor? Email entrepreneurs@montclair.edu or learn more here.

Montclair Starts Up: An event series where campus and community meet to explore the latest in entrepreneurial trends & learnings

Montclair Starts Up provides opportunities for connection through in-person networking events. These on-campus, evening meet-ups allow students and community members to gather together with a common goal: expand their knowledge and their network.

Learn from leaders in the entrepreneurial space through:

Engaging fireside chats
Intriguing panel discussions
Insightful keynotes

Former Montclair Starts Up Participants:

Interested in joining us for the next event? Request to join our mailing list to be updated about our monthly events!

Women Entrepreneurship Week 2023: Ten Year Celebration!

The 10th Annual Women Entrepreneurship Week celebrated ten years of recognizing and honoring women founders at Montclair State University and around the globe. This year’s speakers and panelists delivered messages of acceptance, resilience, and hard truths, as our audience was reminded to lead with their values, let their idiosyncrasies shine, work with their fears, and lean into their identities. Missed the live event? Check out the livestream below!

Watch Livestream

University Academics

Students conversing inside Montclair Innovation Lab

Go Beyond the Books

The ENTR curriculum is founded on the core principle that problem-solving and creativity — and the ability to shape your creative ideas into successful opportunities — is the key to success in any field. Our classes are experiential and hands on, and teach students real-world skills to succeed in any career. Our students are budding actors, designers, teachers, scientists, inventors and accountants — anyone can be an entrepreneur, which is why our ENTR courses are open to any student of any major.

Our center places a premium on innovation design and creative problem-solving. This philosophy is infused in everything we do, but is perhaps demonstrated best in our 3D printing and digitally mediated making initiatives through our MIX Lab.

Concentration in EntrepreneurshipMinor in EntrepreneurshipEntrepreneurship CertificateInnovation Design CertificateCo-op OpportunitiesHigh School Partnerships