Leadership is easy to talk about. Harder to practice.

That’s where entrepreneurship comes in.

At the William & Mary Entrepreneurship Hub, the focus isn’t simply launching startups. It’s developing people who know how to think, decide, and lead when the outcome isn’t guaranteed.

Leading that work is Brandon Hennessey, director of the Hub, which serves students, faculty, staff, and regional entrepreneurs.

The premise is straightforward. Entrepreneurial thinking builds leaders.

That means learning how to test ideas in the real world, communicate clearly, make decisions without perfect information, and handle rejection when things don’t go as planned. It’s less about theory and more about practice.

One of the Hub’s most hands-on opportunities is the Venture Acceleration Program, a short cohort experience designed for founders who already have something in motion but need structure to keep progressing.

Participants typically have early traction, an MVP, or customers, but feel stuck or unsure about what comes next. The program brings together a small group of companies for four weeks of focused sessions, peer learning, and mentor feedback.

At the end of the program, founders present a progress pitch reviewed by the Hub’s mentor network. Participating companies also have the opportunity to compete for a shared pool of up to $6,000 in non-dilutive funding awarded based on progress made during the program.

The next cohort of the Venture Acceleration Program runs March 24 through April 14, 2026, meeting Tuesdays from 6:00 to 7:30 PM, with applications due March 13.

Importantly, the program isn’t limited to William & Mary students. While the Hub prioritizes entrepreneurs from Williamsburg, York County, and James City County, founders from across the region are welcome to apply.

In the end, the goal isn’t simply to launch more startups.

It’s to build people who know how to lead when there isn’t a clear playbook.

Upcoming Opportunities for Founders

In addition to its regular Startup Meetup events, the William & Mary Entrepreneurship Hub is encouraging regional founders to apply for its upcoming Venture Acceleration Program cohort.

The four-week program is designed for entrepreneurs who already have early customer traction and want to sharpen their growth strategy, pressure-test assumptions, and build momentum alongside mentors and peer founders.

The next cohort runs March 24 through April 14, meeting Tuesdays from 6:00–7:30 PM in a hybrid format. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis through March 13.

Regional founders and William & Mary alumni interested in participating can learn more through the William & Mary Entrepreneurship Hub.

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