West Philadelphia business owners create jobs and economic opportunity. The Penn-CCP Entrepreneurship Academy exists to help them do it — with the strategy, expertise, and a network to grow.
West Philadelphia is home to a deep and growing base of entrepreneurial talent, founders with the vision, drive, and community roots to build businesses that last. The Penn-CCP Entrepreneurship Academy exists to invest directly in that talent, pairing it with the strategic tools, expert guidance, and networks that help strong businesses grow even stronger.
The University of Pennsylvania and Community College of Philadelphia have come together to make that investment, launching the inaugural cohort of the Penn-CCP Entrepreneurship Academy this fall. By combining Penn's academic and entrepreneurial expertise with CCP's deep community connections and experience supporting Philadelphia business owners, the Penn-CCP Entrepreneurship Academy will help West Philadelphia businesses sharpen their scope, build lasting relationships, and fuel the economic growth of the neighborhoods they call home.
The Academy is a no-cost, 10-session, cohort-based learning experience for existing and emerging West Philadelphia business owners aiming to reach $1 million to $10 million in annual revenue within the next three years.
Participants will learn from renowned faculty from Penn Carey Law and the Wharton School, alongside accomplished entrepreneurs and subject-matter experts. Each session will combine expert instruction with real-world perspectives, and founders will apply what they learn directly to their own businesses, receive practical feedback, and exchange ideas with a supportive cohort of peers.
Join Us for a Signing Event and Open House
We invite you to attend our open house event to see firsthand how the University of Pennsylvania and Community College of Philadelphia are teaming up to help West Philadelphia businesses sharpen their scope, build lasting relationships, and fuel the economic growth of the neighborhoods they call home.
Sept. 10, 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Community College of Philadelphia
Career and Advanced Technology Center
4750 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19139
Who Should Apply
The Academy is designed for existing West Philadelphia business owners. You are a strong fit if you:
- Own or are developing a business connected to West Philadelphia through its operations, registration, or the owner's residence
- Are aiming to reach between $1 million and $10 million in annual revenue within the next three years
- Can commit to the full program experience, including Thursday evening sessions and the final capstone
- Are open to feedback, eager to learn alongside other founders, and willing to do the work
Admission to the Academy will be selective and based on program eligibility, business goals, readiness, and commitment.
What You Will Gain
The Academy is built to sharpen what you are already building. Through applied instruction, expert guidance, and peer learning, participants will develop:
- A clearer strategy for strengthening and growing their businesses
- A concise, funder-ready business pitch and plan, along with a practical 90-day action plan
- Foundational fluency across business structure, contracts, branding, intellectual property, finance, capital readiness, leadership, workforce management, marketing, and sales
- Greater confidence in identifying business risks, asking the right questions, and knowing when to seek specialized advice
- Meaningful relationships with fellow founders, faculty, practitioners, and members of Philadelphia’s entrepreneurial community
The Learning Experience
Each three-hour session combines applied instruction, insights from guest experts, peer exchange, and guided work on participants’ own businesses.
Throughout the Academy, participants will build and refine a living business plan, completing new components as the curriculum progresses. Office hours and coaching opportunities will provide additional support, feedback, and business metrics.
CURRICULUM
| Program Stage | Focus |
|---|---|
| Build the Foundation — Sessions 1–2 | Examine how successful businesses create and deliver value. Clarify your vision, goals, value proposition, and growth strategy. |
| Strengthen the Structure — Sessions 3–5 | Explore entity choice, contracts, business relationships, branding, intellectual property, and market positioning. |
| Prepare for Growth — Sessions 6–9 | Build financial fluency, evaluate financing options, strengthen leadership and workforce practices, sharpen marketing and sales strategies, and prepare your pitch. |
| Put the Plan into Action — Session 10 | Present an integrated business plan and pitch, receive constructive feedback, identify your next priorities, and celebrate the completion of the Academy. |
INAUGURAL COHORT SCHEDULE
September Open House: September 10, 2026, 5:30 p.m. | Career and Advanced Technology Center | RSVP
Program period: October 22, 2026, to January 22, 2027
Regular instructional sessions: Thursdays, 6-9 p.m., with scheduled holiday breaks
Capstone and graduation: Friday, January 22, 2027
The complete session schedule and capstone details will be provided to selected participants.
LOCATION
Community College of Philadelphia
Career and Advanced Technology Center, Room 243
4750 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19139
Interested in Applying?
Applications for the inaugural Penn-CCP Entrepreneurship Academy cohort will open soon. Complete the interest form to receive updates about the September open house, application and eligibility requirements, and important deadlines. The priority application deadline is October 1, 2026. Applications submitted after October 1 will be reviewed on a rolling basis, space permitting.
Not ready to apply yet? Let's stay connected!
Penn-CCP Entrepreneurship
Academy Team
Praveen Kosuri, J.D.
Faculty Director
Faculty Director
Praveen Kosuri is a former investment banker and business lawyer and current Practice Professor of Law and Director of the Entrepreneurship Legal Clinic at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. He brings deep experience helping founders navigate business risk, legal issues, business relationships, and operational issues while teaching them to balance passion with disciplined execution. Through the Entrepreneurship Legal Clinic, he brings nearly 20 years of experience helping scores of entrepreneurs in and around West Philadelphia realize their visions. As Faculty Director, he designed the Academy’s curriculum from the ground up, drawing on that experience to give participants a practical, step-by-step path from idea to funder-ready business. He is also a gifted professor and mentor.
Franne McNeal
Executive Director
Executive Director
Franne McNeal is an executive coach and former Executive Director of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program at Community College of Philadelphia, one of the region’s most successful small business education initiatives. She has extensive experience as a Kauffman Foundation FastTrac Facilitator (PA, NJ, DE). She has a track record of helping hundreds of business owners grow revenue, create jobs, and translate learning into “significant business results.” She is an experienced ambassador to the Philadelphia entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Renita Miller, Ph.D.
Executive Team Member
Executive Team Member
Renita Miller is Executive Director of Wharton Community Engagement at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where she leads the school’s strategy for community engagement and civic partnerships. She also plays a central role in developing and advancing the Penn–CCP Entrepreneurship Academy on behalf of Penn, working closely with the Academy’s executive and faculty leadership to expand access to entrepreneurship education for Philadelphia business owners. She previously held deanships at Princeton and Yale University. Renita received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Baylor University and her master’s and Ph.D. in Political Science from Rice University.
Richard Perry
Executive Team Member
Executive Team Member
Richard Perry, a private investor, was CEO of Perry Corp. from 1988 to 2021. Prior to 1988, Mr. Perry was in the equity arbitrage area of Goldman, Sachs & Co. He was also an adjunct associate professor at the Stern School of Business at New York University, where he taught a course in the finance department. Mr. Perry currently invests in a wide range of opportunities and securities around the world. A Wharton graduate, he serves on Penn’s Board of Trustees and is deeply engaged in helping Community College of Philadelphia advance its mission.
The Penn-CCP Entrepreneurship Academy is a collaborative initiative of the University of Pennsylvania and the Community College of Philadelphia.