Entrepreneurship at Penn State

Penn State Academic Offerings

Minors

  • Engineering Entrepreneurship Minor <http://www.e-ship.psu.edu/>
  • Engineering Leadership Development Minor <http://www.eldm.psu.edu/>
  • Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship <http://www.engr.psu.edu/ece/>
  • Smeal http://www.smeal.psu.edu/fcfe/education

I think there is a program for entrepreneurship within Ag Engineering as well.

Additional Courses

  • AGBM 302 Food Product Marketing
  • AGEC 460 Managing the Food System
  • BA 422W Strategic Management
  • COMM 493 Entrepreneurship in the Information Age
  • IBIOS 571 Current Issues in Biotechnology
  • MGMT 521 Complex Negotiations

Entrepreneurship - Take the following two courses

  • FIN 301H (3) Corporation Finance, in this class students gain experience writing a business plan for an early stage venture. That is not promoted in the course description, but it is part of the class. Greg Pierce is the professor.
  • MGMT 425 (3) New Venture Creation
  • MGMT 426 (3) Invention Commercialization
  • ENTR 500 (1-3) Innovation and Entrepreneurship, mba
  • ENTR 503 (1-2) Garber Venture Capital Practicum, mba (I’m in this course right now)
  • ENTR 504 (2) Essentials of Business Planning, mba
  • ENTR 596 (1-9) Individual Studies, mba
  • MGMT 427 (3) Managing an Entrepreneurial Start-Up Company
  • MGMT 494H (1-12) Research Project

o  MGMT 494H is what I will be taking for doing my thesis on entrepreneurship. You may want to communicate that a thesis in the field of entrepreneurship is an option.

  • There could very well be more than these, and I’m sure there are many Engineering Entrepreneurship which are likely covered under the listed minors
  • There may also be courses that deal with Intellectual Property but I’m not sure what those are. Those would be valuable.

**For full list of courses, see http://bulletins.psu.edu/bulletins/bluebook/.

Penn State Resources

  • Entrepreneurship at Penn State http://www.smeal.psu.edu/fcfe/

-  This website, created by Farrell Center for Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Smeal College of Business, bring together the programs, initiatives, and contacts for students and others seeking information concerning the entrepreneurship resources available at Penn State

-  This link takes me to Farrell so you probably want to combine this bullet point and the one below

  • Farrell Center for Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship

-  Focuses on creation and management of educational programs in corporate innovation and entrepreneurship, research, and outreach.

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  • Lion Launch Pad http://www.lionlaunchpad.org

The Lion Launch Pad is an independent, non-profit, business accelerator for Penn State undergraduates. Based in State College, Pennsylvania, the program was created to help undergraduate student entrepreneurs convert innovative concepts into viable startups. Every year, we see a number of student-driven concepts with fantastic potential that failed to make the leap to successful startup. The Lion Launch Pad was founded to help students build their startups while at Penn State – we are a startup, helping startups. The Lion Launch Pad and its team of professors, alumni, and successful entrepreneurs can assist in several ways. We can help by offering mentoring, helping you find other key contacts and teammates, and locating the resources you need to grow.

  • “Innoblue”

Innoblue is an independent, non-profit with a Penn State student chapter for student involvement, called Innoblue @ University Park. Mission: “We start and support ventures that will have a positive impact at Penn State, and beyond. We believe that one idea, executed well, can positively change both the local and global community.” Innoblue seeks to promote innovation and create a culture of entrepreneurship at Penn State by providing consulting, networking, mentorship, and resources (i.e. legal, web, banking) to ventures accepted into its formal program. Innoblue @ University Park also has a student consulting team that trains and educates students while offering consultants the chance to work directly with start-up ventures.

For more info, check out http://innoblue.org/

The Learning Factory http://www.lf.psu.edu/

Our mission is to help bring the real-world into the classroom by providing engineering students with practical hands-on experience through industry-sponsored capstone design projects. In 09/10, we completed a record 124 projects for 77 different sponsors and nearly 600 out of the 1460 engineering students that Penn State graduated participated in such a project. The Learning Factory provides a University-Industry partnership where student design projects benefit industrial clients and industrial sponsors interact with students and faculty to help us create world-class engineers and make a significant difference in engineering education at Penn State.

Small Business Development Center http://www.sbdc.psu.edu/

The Penn State Small Business Development Center (SBDC) offers free business consulting for Centre and Mifflin counties. Whether you already own a business or are planning to start one, our seminars and free consultations can help you achieve your goals.

Established in 1997, the Penn State SBDC is one ofeighteen such centers in Pennsylvania, and one of more than 1,000 centers nationwide. When you give us a call, you aretapping into a pool of experts and resources that spans the country.

  • Innovation Park <http://www.innovationpark.psu.edu>

Innovation Park at Penn State is a 118-acre business park that provides companies with multiple real estate options. Residents of the Park have access to Penn State resources and the support services to transfer knowledge from the University to the marketplace.

  • Ben Franklin Technology Partners <http://benfranklin.org/>

Provides early stage/technology funding and business support services to emerging tech-based startups and existing manufacturers in our 32-county footprint.

  • Center for Engineering Design and Entrepreneurship (CEDE)

For faculty and students in engineering and business colleges in partnership with industry to design, construct, and test solutions to engineering problems.

Centre Region Entrepreneur Network

The Centre Region Entrepreneur Network (CREN) is a new organization dedicated to fostering relationships among local entrepreneurs. http://www.centrecountyidc.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=B3Lsl8FmR9Y%3D&tabid=121

New Leaf Initiative

New Leaf Initiative is a non-profit organization designed to provide individuals and organizations with immersive experiences to enhance their understanding and application of sustainability. (this has an entrepreneurial feel for it but isn’t specifically entrepreneurial in nature. It’s clearly focused on green projects) http://newleafinitiative.org/

Resources for Schreyer Scholars

SHC Entrepreneurship Advisors

The SHC has several alumni who have offered to assist with reviewing business plans. We are in the process of working out details and finalizing the forms and should be prepared to launch this program shortly. Essentially, students will submit their business proposal, and alumni will have an opportunity to review and provide feedback regarding the proposal. This will be modeled after successful programs at business schools. Since many of the students participating will not have business experience, we will guide students towards campus or alumni resources that can assist them with the proposal if needed.

Speaker Series w/ Farrell Center?

Penn State Organizations

  • Agricultural Entrepreneurship

-  To inform Ag entrepreneurs about marketing, economics, and news in the Ag industry. Help others make an impact on the agriculture and improve ag systems world-wide.

Penn State Entrepreneurs Network (PSEN) <Facebook group>

Innoblue @ University Park.

Innoblue @ University Park is the first student chapter of Innoblue, Inc. and runs the day to day operations of Innoblue at Penn State. See Innoblue above for more details

  • Helios (I don’t think these guys exist anymore)

-  A developmental organization dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship in undergraduate students through a shared pool of networks and resources.

  • Penn State Entrepreneur Network

-  An organization of undergraduate and graduate students motivated to practice and promote entrepreneurship.

  • Nittany Consulting Group (Pretty sure these guys don’t exist anymore)

-  Gives all Penn State students an opportunity to learn, in-depth, the aspects of the banking industry.

  • Penn State Investment Association (This isn’t exactly for entrepreneurship but it wouldn’t hurt either)

-  Educates the Penn State student body in the fundamental principles and techniques of financial statements and working on investment portfolios.

  • Nittany Lion Venture Capital (Never heard of this)

-  Seeds five or six start-up companies with capital financing from a venture capital fund.

  • Entrepreneurial Student Association (ESA) (Never heard of this)

-  A student organization for individuals who are interested in starting their own business.

Nittany Entrepreneurs,

The mission of Nittany Entrepreneurs is to provide a better understanding of business environments, career opportunities, professional entrepreneurships, and community service through education, mentorship, and internship programs. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nittany-Entrepreneurs/163866080292955

There are two newly formed groups as well

1)  MBA Consulting Group (through mba program)

2)  Law and Entrepreneurship Project (through law program)

Penn State Competitions

  • Penn State Idea Pitch Competition

Hosted by PSU’s Farrell Center and the Smeal College of Business. Open to all students from all campuses and majors to work together and learn how to effectively formulate, communicate, and create innovative ideas into real opportunities

Penn State Events

Global Entrepreneurship Week at Penn State- November 15-21

Penn State will be participating in the global initiative with several events on campus scheduled throughout the week. These events are directed at helping students and community members expand their entrepreneurial skills and become familiar with the resources available to them here at Penn State. To learn more about the events and speakers, please visit www.geweekatpennstate.weebly.com. There will be excellent sessions on topics ranging from funding to free services provided for small businesses. This looks to be a great start to bringing a variety of groups together to share information about local resources. (The founder of Weebly, David Rusenko, is a Scholar alum.)

Other Resources

Books

  • Business Plans Handbook: A Compilation of Actual Business Plans Developed by Small Business Throughout North America Business Library, Reference: HD 62.7.B865 v.10 2004
  • Encyclopedia of Small Business Business Library, Reference: HD 62.7.H553 2002 (2 vols.)
  • The Ultimate Small Business Guide: A Resource for Startups and Growing Businesses 3rd Floor Paterno: HD2340.8.U48
  • Essentials of Entrepreneurship: What it takes to create successful enterprises 3rd Floor Paterno: HG4027.6.H364
  • Small Business Startup Guide (electronic) 2nd Floor Paterno, US Documents: SBA 1.19:2004003191 ; Online: http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS40408

Business Planning

  • Anatomy of a Business Plan: A Step-by-Step Guide to Building a Business and Securing your Company’s Future 3rd Floor Paterno: HD30.28.P5
  • Business Plans Handbook: A Compilation of Actual Business Plans Developed by Small Businesses Throughout North America 3rd Floor Paterno: HD62.7.B865; Latest in Business Library, Reference
  • Business Plans That Work: A Guide for Small Businesses 3rd Floor Paterno: HD30.28.T5766
  • Also consult the HD30.28 area of the Business Reference collection for the newest guides to business plans and planning

Financing Your Business

  • Angel Capital: How to Raise Early-Stage Private Equity Financing 3rd Floor Paterno: HG4751.B458
  • Attracting Investors: A Marketing Approach to Finding Funds for Your Business 3rd Floor Paterno: HG4751.K68
  • Highlighting Small Business Video: 38156
  • Minding My Own Business: Financing Video: 91590
  • Special Issues for Women Entrepreneurs Video: 38181

Websites

  • Center For Women’s Business Research <http://www.nfwbo.org/>

This site provides information on women business owners, including women entrepreneurs.

  • Entrepreneurship.com: Entrepreneur Magazine <http://www.entrepreneur.com/>

Entrepreneur Magazine’s website provides free access to recent and archival issues of the magazine. Users can also sign up for free newsletters relating to marketing, management, and technology issues for small businesses.

  • National Business Incubation Association <http://www.nbia.org/>

This is an association that promotes business incubation and entrepreneurship. Members include incubator developers and managers, economic development professionals, and venture capital investors.

  • SBA: The U.S. Small Business Administration Planner <http://www.sba.gov/>

The U.S. Small Business Administration provides extensive information on starting a business. This site provides answers to some of the most frequently asked questions on starting a small business.

More Info

  • Lisa Kerchinski 10 Schreyer Honors College

University Park

E-mail:

  • Schreyer Home Page

<http://www.shc.psu.edu/>