Company: Wesleyan University
Location: Middletown
Program
Describe your program
The Startup Incubator is a one-semester, experiential learning program designed to teach and enable student entrepreneurs to develop sustainable business models from their ideas. The program brings together an ambitious, committed, and diverse group of individuals from all classes and majors who are passionate about developing successful solutions to challenges; identify as entrepreneurs, disruptors, and thought leaders; and have the tenacity, work ethic, and ability to succeed.
What are the coolest, most popular features of your program?
The Startup Incubator allows students to explore their ideas and turn them into a reality. During this course, students define their core values, interview experts in their field, identify initial customers, explore competitors, create a minimum viable product, write a business plan and prepare a pitch for our demo day event. Students also receive valuable mentorship from alumni, members of the community, and SCORE.
What impact did your program make in 2020?
In 2021, 26 ventures were created by 30 students.
Nominator Justification
The Startup Incubator is a one-semester, experiential learning program designed to teach and enable student entrepreneurs to develop sustainable business models from their ideas. It began in 2018 through a partnership between Wesleyan University, reSET, and CTNext. Since then, 89 undergrads have completed the course. Recent ventures include a crochet apparel company, an arts DAO, and more-- https://newsletter.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2021/12/13/student-entrepreneurs-unveil-ideas/
Education
Company/organization description
Established in May 2011 through a gift from the Robert ’61 and Margaret Patricelli Family Foundation, and with the ongoing support of Propel Capital, Newman's Own Foundation, and other generous donors, the Patricelli Center for Social Entrepreneurship supports Wesleyan student entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, and changemakers.
How do you train, educate or prepare entrepreneurs
The Startup Incubator allows students to explore their ideas and turn them into a reality. During this course, students define their core values, interview experts in their field, identify initial customers, explore competitors, create a minimum viable product, write a business plan and prepare a pitch for our demo day event. Students also receive valuable mentorship from alumni, members of the community, and SCORE.
What impact did your program have in 2020?
In 2021, 26 ventures were created by 30 students.
Nominator Justification
The Startup Incubator is a one-semester course designed to teach and enable student entrepreneurs to develop sustainable business models from their ideas. It began in 2018 through a partnership between Wesleyan University, reSET, and CTNext. Since then, 89 students have completed the course. Recent ventures include a crochet apparel company, an arts DAO, and more-- https://newsletter.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2021/12/13/student-entrepreneurs-unveil-ideas/
