WELCOME TO THE STARTUP ACADEMY

"Helping Youth Turn Their Business Ideas into Impactful New Ventures!"


"THE URBAN LEADERSHIP LAB™: FOSTERING ENVIRONMENTS FOR OUR YOUTH TO CONNECT, EXPLORE, AND IGNITE THEIR POTENTIAL!"

"Hello, and welcome to The Urban Leadership Lab™. My name is T.J. Breeden and I'm the Founder & Executive Director of eMerging Entrepreneurs, Inc.; a 501(c)(3) non-profit provider of entrepreneurship and economic development services, catered to military, minority, and socially disadvantaged communities. On behalf of our sponsors and planning committee, I would like to thank you for your interest in our youth development program. The Urban Leadership Lab™ is a tech and startup incubator; providing young people (K-12) with access to the kinds of resources that will advance their capacity to do (and become) their best! Our program brings together non-profits, community & faith leaders, industry executives, university personnel, and volunteers to introduce creative ways of engaging our community's under-served youth. Just as our non-profit organization uses Entrepreneurship as a pathway for community development, our lab aims to surround young people with startup tools, leadership training, and community service opportunities; all in an effort to help our teens unlock the full range of their potential! Not only were we selected to contribute to the "Computer Science for All" campaign (launched in coordination with the Obama Administration's 2016 STEM education initiative) as one of its ongoing service organizations, but we've also joined forces with EdX, The Emily Krzyzewski Center, The LEGO Foundation, Infinite Scholars, and others to offer a productive & safe environment for kids to explore their creativity. Programs include:

  1. STEM programs, ranging from LEGO robotics education to an online coding academy;
  2. Online & classroom-style entrepreneurship courses that introduce young people to the core functions of business development;
  3. EdX courses from Harvard, Microsoft, MIT, and other institutions in disciplines ranging from mobile app development to leadership;
  4. Group achievement, mentorship, and community service programs; and
  5. Monthly learning labs, designed to help our young people fully envision themselves in positions of leadership!"


ABOUT OUR STARTUP LAB:

"The objective of this online course is to introduce young people to the foundations of entrepreneurship, which include: Defining what it means to be an entrepreneur, providing examples of young people who have successfully launched ventures, listing the skills needed to pursue careers in entrepreneurship, exploring social entrepreneurship and community giving, and sharing the journeys of our nation's most impactful business leaders. This is achIeved through a series of radio snippets from our LIVE weekly broadcasts; tied together by curated video content from Entrepreneur.com, the History Channel, and other online media sources. This is a FREE course, and aims to serve as a pathway into our full program which can be accessed upon completion."

Our entrepreneurship platform (powered by Teachable.com) introduces youth (ages 13-18) to the core elements of building a successful business! Our curriculum was developed around a 5-part business course series: “Intro to Entrepreneurship,” “American Innovation,” “Community Leadership,” and “The Art of Selling & Closing;”** and is taught in 3-connected platforms:

  1. Our online program, complete with videos, podcasts, & LIVE streaming lectures;
  2. Classroom-style workshops; and
  3. An our annual Startup Competition, known as the “Business Leaders Track”.



Disclaimer:
eMerging Entrepreneurs, Inc. nor any of the organization's affiliates/partners claim ownership or copyrights to media content curated and presented through this free course. All rights reserved to the respective producers and owners of the content shared within this online platform.


Your Instructor


T.J. Breeden, MBA
T.J. Breeden, MBA

T.J. Breeden’s passion for public service is deeply rooted in his undergraduate experience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and East Carolina University. Wanting to explore how he could couple his entrepreneurial ambitions with his maturing passion for impacting people, he attended the McGhee School of Continuing and Professional Studies at New York University. It was here; in an executive seminar on social entrepreneurship and organizational development; where he was able to connect these interests and launch his own non-profit venture: Emerging Entrepreneurs, Inc. In the summer of 2012 (just 6-months after their launch), the White House’s Office of Public Engagement honored T.J. as one of eleven individuals within the veterans’ community; those who served in Vietnam as well as those whose organizations support veterans’ advancement; who are “Champions of Change,” in conjunction with President Obama’s “Winning the Future” initiative. These individuals have shown continued support for efforts to end veterans’ homelessness, boost veterans’ employment, treat problems with substance abuse, and develop treatment programs for those dealing with PTSD. T.J. is also the recipient of the Small Business Administration’s 2013 “Veteran Entrepreneurship Advocate of the Year“ award, for his efforts in advancing small business growth within the military community. T.J. completed his Masters studies in Business Administration from the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University with a focus in Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises, and is a Doctoral Candidate at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he is pursuing a Doctorate in Education (EdD) in Educational Policy, Organization, and Leadership. (Click here to read full bio).


Course Curriculum



Frequently Asked Questions


Is this program really free?

Yes, as free as free can be!

When does the course start and finish?
The course starts now and never ends! It is a completely self-paced online course - you decide when you start and when you finish.
How long do I have access to the course?
How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.
What if I am unhappy with the course?
We would never want you to be unhappy! If you are unsatisfied with our program, please contact us and provide feedback so that we can improve our user experience for future participants.
What happens after I finish?

Everyone who completes our program is invited to join in the full version of our Startup Lab! LIVE online workshops, podcasts, an small business competition, and scholarship opportunities!

Get started now!