FSU Offers Free Entrepreneurship Program for Veterans in Tallahassee

The new Veteran Entrepreneurship Certificate Program focuses on business modeling, customer discovery and market validation.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Florida State University's Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship is launching a free, six-week Veteran Entrepreneurship Certificate Program in Tallahassee, offering hands-on entrepreneurship training for veterans, service members and military-connected families. The program, delivered in partnership with Veterans Florida, will focus on business modeling, customer discovery and market validation to help participants test ideas, refine business models and build a foundation for sustainable growth.

Why it matters

The program aims to leverage the discipline, leadership and problem-solving skills that veterans bring, and provide them with practical tools and a supportive community to turn their entrepreneurial ideas into viable businesses. This initiative builds on FSU's longstanding commitment to serving the veteran community and creating pathways for long-term economic opportunity.

The details

The Tallahassee-based cohort will run for six weeks, with sessions on Saturdays and Wednesday evenings. Participants will work through a structured curriculum designed to help them test ideas, refine business models and build a strong foundation for sustainable growth. Upon completion, they will receive a certificate from the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship and become eligible to join the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship's statewide alumni network.

  • The program will run from April 18 to May 20, 2026.
  • The Saturday sessions will be held on April 18 and April 25 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • The Wednesday evening sessions will be held from April 29 to May 20 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The players

Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship

The entrepreneurship college at Florida State University, which is launching the Veteran Entrepreneurship Certificate Program.

Veterans Florida

A non-profit organization that partners with FSU to deliver the Veteran Entrepreneurship Certificate Program, with a mission to help veterans transition successfully into civilian life through education, entrepreneurship and workforce training.

Eric Liguori

The associate dean for research and external relations in the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, who emphasizes the value that veterans bring to entrepreneurship.

Susan Fiorito

The dean of the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, who highlights the program's ability to extend FSU's impact beyond the classroom and into the Tallahassee community.

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What they’re saying

“Veterans bring discipline, leadership and problem-solving skills that translate naturally into entrepreneurship. This program is about meeting veterans where they are, providing practical tools and surrounding them with a community that helps turn ideas into viable businesses.”

— Eric Liguori, Associate Dean, Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship (Mirage News)

“This partnership with Veterans Florida allows us to extend FSU's impact beyond the classroom and directly into the Tallahassee community. By combining high-quality entrepreneurship education with strong local partnerships, we are creating pathways for long-term economic opportunity for veterans and their families.”

— Susan Fiorito, Dean, Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship (Mirage News)

What’s next

Interested attendees can apply for the Veteran Entrepreneurship Certificate Program through the application page on the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship website.

The takeaway

This free entrepreneurship program for veterans in Tallahassee demonstrates FSU's commitment to supporting the veteran community and creating opportunities for them to leverage their unique skills and experience to start and grow successful businesses, contributing to the local economy and their own long-term financial stability.