NOT all subjects can be thoroughly taught in a classroom. Sometimes, you have to take the students to the subject. That’s why NC State University’s Entrepreneurship Initiative (EI) arranges for entrepreneurial-minded students to meet with people who have worked in entrepreneurship or been involved in a start up. Through conversations with NC State alumni and others in the entrepreneurial community, NC students gain a real world perspective on the possibilities for their own careers. It can be a life-changing experience.
Sometimes, you have to take the students to the subject

Local Entrepreneur Tours

Twice a semester, NC State University entrepreneurship students spend a day with local, high-growth companies of all sizes, learning how they got started and seeing where they are now. Among companies visited in the past are Cisco, Cree, ChannelAdvisor, Reverbnation.com, Canvas On Demand, SAS, Burt’s Bees, GlobalGolf, eTix, Digital Smiths, Blue Stripe Software, and Inspire Pharmaceuticals.

Silicon Valley Entrepreneurship

For the past five years, the Engineering Entrepreneurs Program at NC State has traveled to Silicon Valley over spring break to visit entrepreneurial legends, including those who work at Google, Apple, and Facebook. In 2009, the trip was expanded to all entrepreneurship students at NC State. Students spend the trip meeting with entrepreneurs and executives at companies ranging from small start-ups to large multi-nationals. Proudly, many of these entrepreneurs are NC State alumni.