At Arizona State University (ASU), students of all majors use entrepreneurship as a means to solve local and global challenges. ASU faculty and students identify local and global needs, articulate how to meet them and move forward with implementing entrepreneurial solutions, regardless of whether they are pursuing, for instance, business, social work, or the arts.
ASU suffuses entrepreneurship into the fabric of the university and makes entrepreneurship resources accessible. For this reason, entrepreneurship is not concentrated in the field of business, nor does the university have a single entrepreneurship institute or school. Instead, entrepreneurship opportunities are offered in- and outside of the classroom and in a wide variety of departments and schools. ASU developed a distributed model for entrepreneurship and has over a dozen "mini-centers" that are housed in disciplines across the university, allowing students, faculty and staff to embrace an entrepreneurial culture.
Funding Opportunities. In 2009-2010, ASU awarded over $250,000 to student teams with innovative project, prototype and venture ideas. Through the Edson Student Entrepreneur Initiative, the Innovation Challenge and the performing arts venture experience (p.a.v.e.), students are awarded with grants ranging from $1,000 to $20,000. Edson winners are also provided with office space, training and mentoring. Scholarships are also available for student entrepreneurs.
Classes, Certificates and Degrees. Over 10,000 students enroll in ASU entrepreneurship classes each year. ASU offers over 90 entrepreneurship courses and a wide variety of degrees and certificates. Students of all majors and interests are encouraged to enroll.
The Venture Catalyst. Students interested in speaking with a professional about making their ideas happen can utilize the services of ASU’s Venture Catalyst. The Venture Catalyst provides a suite of venture acceleration services that are designed to help ventures, in all stages of development, grow and succeed. Some of these services include legal counsel, startup assessments, startup boot camps, mentoring opportunities, workshops and office hours.
Student Clubs. Students with an interest in becoming part of a network of student entrepreneurs should consider joining one of ASU’s many student entrepreneurship clubs, which help students build a strong network of like-minded peers as well as entrepreneurship professionals.
Internships. Students who are eager to learn from local entrepreneurs can intern with them to gain experience through the Sun Devil Entrepreneurship Network (SDEN). SDEN interns come from all majors and interests and learn through working closely with professionals and entrepreneurs.
Hackspace. Students can find free co-working and collaborative workspace at Hackspace. Hackspace, located at SkySong, the Scottsdale Innovation Center, provides open space for students with common interests to meet, socialize, work and/or collaborate.
High Impact Career Counseling. Through ASU’s Career Services, students can learn more about high impact career opportunities, including ASU’s entrepreneurship programs and resources. Career Services also hosts a broad range of entrepreneurship activities for our students, including panel and networking events for those interested in learning more about writing a business plan, applying for funding or starting a venture.
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Professor CJ Cornell
CJ Cornell is Professor of Digital Media & Entrepreneurship in ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Communication and an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the school's Knight Center for Digital Media Entrepreneurship.
He teaches an innovative series of entrepreneurship courses and mentors students' digital media projects, transforming their ideas from concept to market, and into viable, scalable ventures. As a serial entrepreneur, Cornell was a founder or part of the senior management team of multiple successful startup ventures that collectively attracted over $250 million in private funding, created nearly 1,000 new jobs, and launched innovative products that have exceeded $3 billion in revenues.
