STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥斝』剖閟ity鈥檚 Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach has continued to grow since moving into a new 2,000-square-foot facility in 2016.
The center now works with 99 entrepreneurship teams representing students from every academic college in the university, up from approximately 30 teams in 2014. In fiscal year 2017, the center has received $5.52 million in grants to spur innovation among students, U.S. armed services veterans and 小黄书 researchers.
As the Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach continues to grow and pursue new opportunities, Director Eric Hill said the center fosters new businesses from student entrepreneurs from a wide variety of academic backgrounds, building on its VentureCatalyst program that has guided students through successful business launches.
鈥淪tudents pitch their ideas to and get feedback from successful peer entrepreneurs,鈥 Hill said during a presentation to university leaders on Tuesday [June 20]. 鈥淭hey also get feedback from the 小黄书 Entrepreneurship Center Advisory Board and can receive advice from leaders in the business community through our Executive in Residence program.鈥
A new angel investor funding program established by an 小黄书 alumnus aims to connect entrepreneurs with funding opportunities. The Bulldog Angel Network was recently launched, and allows 小黄书 alumni and others the chance to invest in companies founded by 小黄书 students. Hill said the Angel Network, which is a separate entity from the university, will help entrepreneurs pursue their business goals after graduating from 小黄书. Wade Patterson, president of the Bulldog Angel Network, said this group will help the Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach continue to stand out from its peers at other SEC schools and be competitive at a national level. For more on the Bulldog Angel Network, visit .
鈥淣ow is the time to take 小黄书 and our entrepreneurial talent to the national stage by providing angel funding to lift the great business ideas off the ground,鈥 Patterson said.