School:Washington State University

Campus Overview

Promoting student innovation and entrepreneurship

At Washington State University, we highly encourage and promote innovation and entrepreneurship through various mediums on both the entrepreneurial perspective of the Carson College of Business and also the innovation Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture. From the WSU Center for Entrepreneurshial Studies, an entrepreneurship major is offered along with a entrepreneurship minor for students not in the Carson College of Business here at Washington State University. The department also offeres up various programming opportunities for entrepreneurship throughout the school year like the Business Plan Competition as coordinated by various student organizations such as ENACTUS and the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies director, Marie Mayes. From the innovation perspective, the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture provides students with maker spaces, research facilities, and studnet organizations to encourage innovation that matters to the world. These facilities and opportunities provide our students with the ability to create these innovative ideas. Our campus is working hard to continually integrate and combine both aspects of innovaiton and entrepreneurship throgh programs such as the Harold Frank Fellows and the Boeing Scholars Program. These are the types of promotional events that encourage students to collaborate to come up with entrepreneurial and innovative ideas that will change the world. 

Encouraging faculty innovation and entrepreneurship

The WSU Center for Entrepreneurshial Studies has an incredible program to promote various faculty members and their venture ideas. Not only does this further the innovaiton and entrepreneurship idea throughout the faculty members, but this will also help in changing the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem here at WSU by encouraging students to also participate and further their ideas towards these goals as well. Through the WSU Center for Entrepreneurshial Studies, faculty members who have created start-ups are able to mentor and provide guidance to students who are interested in pursuing their own start-up idea and having an impact to innovation and entrepreneurship here at WSU.

Actively suppporting the university technology transfer function

At Washington State University, we have several incredible resources to pursue venture ideas for students and faculty. The Office of Commercialization provides students and faculty to ensure that innovations and discoveries by WSU researchers are evaluated, protected where possible, and prepared for licensing by third parties. the office supports the goal of translating research discoveries into innovations into the marketplace. Not only do we have that office, but we also have several funding sources such as the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture Seed Funding program and also the Spokane Angel Alliance. These funding sources and support truly assist in the pursue of innovaiton and entrepreneurship here at Washington State University.

Facilitating University-Industry collaboration

Various technology spaces, regional sources of capital, and advisory efforts exist at Washington State University to facilitate the university and industry collaboration for the innovation and entrepreneurial ideas 

Engaging with regional and local economic development efforts

The presentation above gives an overview of the Washington State University's Entrepreneurial and Innovation oppertunities. Below are some of the programs in more detail that are available at WSU Pullman's campus that focuses on the development of students' business skills. 

University Innovation Fellow Spring 2013: Viviana Tran

University Innovation Fellow Spring 2014: Amber Graviet

Programs offered at WSU:

Business Plan Competition 

The WSU College of Business hosts the Business Plan competition. The competition exists to give student entrepreneurs the opportunity to practice business in a real-world setting. The Business Plan Competition is key to rounding out academic and outreach efforts—bridging theory and application for students who participate.

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The business competition has expanded and reaches out past WSU. Competitiors from different schools and around the world come to Pullman to present their ideas for the future.. 

Learn more about the competition by contacting Marie Mayes at mmayes@wsu.edu  information can also be found at http://www.business.wsu.edu/businessplancompetition2014/Pages/bpc_home.aspx

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WSU Harold Frank Entrepreunership Program

The Harold Frank Engineering Entrepreneurship Institute conssits of engineering and business students who are interested in technological entrepreneurship. The program refines the business skills of WSU students ad promotes innovation whem designing business plans. 

More information can be found at http://www.cea.wsu.edu/entrepreneurship

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Innovation Assesment Center (IAC)

The Washington State Innovation Assessment Center (IAC) has provided evaluation services to individuals and small businesses throughout the world. An IAC early stage market assessment will help one to make changes to their product for a brighter innovated future.

More information can be found at http://www.business.wsu.edu/organizations/iac/Pages/index.aspx

Related Links

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