Neff College of Business to Host Entrepreneurship Bootcamp Sept. 8-10

Neff College of Business to Host Entrepreneurship Bootcamp Sept. 8-10

The University of Toledo's John B. and Lillian E. Neff College of Business and Innovation will support regional entrepreneurs as the venue host for a Lightship Bootcamp in partnership with the UToledo Business Incubator.

Lightship Bootcamp, a program of Lightship Foundation sponsored by JobsOhio and supported regionally by the Regional Growth Partnership, is an immersive three-day program that supports early-stage founders and small business owners with a curriculum covering brand development, marketing and design strategy, legal advice and how to pursue investment opportunities.

The bootcamp, which is open to student entrepreneurs and free to eligible small business owners, will take place at UToledo from Tuesday, Sept. 8, to Thursday, Sept. 10.

Applications are open now at the JobsOhio website.

The upcoming program is the sixth of eight Lightship Bootcamps scheduled in Ohio in 2026, and UToledo's role as venue host complements the Neff College of Business' broader support for entrepreneurship. Business students are encouraged to explore and develop their business ideas through coursework in the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program and with the support of faculty and the UToledo Business Incubator.

"Entrepreneurship is becoming a defining strength of the Neff College of Business and Innovation," Dean Barbara Ritter said. "Through new and expanding experiences we are creating a vibrant ecosystem where students do more than learn about entrepreneurship, they practice it. This upcoming bootcamp offered in collaboration with our partners at RGP and JobsOhio reflects our commitment to helping students test ideas, build confidence, connect with mentors and turn innovation into meaningful impact for our region and beyond."