Priorities:Bucknell University Student Priorities

Overview

Bucknell University has never lack of entrepreneurial pursuits. Over the years, Bucknellians have gone on to found Lending Tree, StellaService, Home Depot, Kiva.org, Quidsi, The Pit, Y-Combinator, Integra Life Sciences, and countless other successful ventures. In the latest Higher Education Research Institute (HERI) survey, 35% of incoming Bucknell students indicated that "Becoming successful in a business of my own" was essential or very important to them. At Bucknell, there are many actions have been taken to create a better entrepreneurial ecosystem with the belief that this is something students want. With its new president, President John Bravman's extensive support on improving the entrepreneurship on campus, many previously uncoordinated efforts have been synthesized in a much more effective way. In the rest of the article, the detailed entrepreneurship programs available for both student faculty, as well as the resources available to further nurture the entrepreneurial endeavors.

At the same time, Bucknell's small size and rural location inherited some limitations on its ecosystem. Two most prominent gaps are insufficient entrepreneur awareness on campus, and weak financial and network support.

Insufficient Entrepreneur Awareness Although we have a lot of resources available for students, yet most of students are unaware of their existence. Events are not arranged frequently; students don't show up; lack of followup events. These are all the problems that current Bucknell problems are struggling. To increase the student awareness and benefit most from the existing facility are the key to a growing ecosystem.

Weak Financial and Network Support Since Bucknell doesn't have any fund resources for student ventures, looking for the first seed fund is very hard for student entrepreneurs. The most financial support that a student can get from Bucknell is by winning the Business competition which gives $1,500 to the first place, $1,000 to the second, and the third gets $500. Considering making a minimum viable product for a software app can easily go up to $5,000, these financial input couldn't help much.

Link to Prezi overview of campus ecosystem:

Calling all students

Informational Session (come hear plans, offer feedback and help expand opportunities for all students)

• Where: [Google Hangout On Air <a href="<a href="http://www.google.com/+/learnmore/hangouts/onair.html">http://www.google.com/+/learnmore/hangouts/onair.html</a>">[1]</a> or other existing meeting of students interested in I&E in Engineering.]
• When: [Date, Time]
• RSVP: [your email address, google form, eventbrite or meetup link]

Strategy #1: Improve Entrepreneurship Awareness

Following are an array of strategies that will fully address Gap #1 over a 2-3 year period:

Tactic #1: Student Residential Weekend Workshop

• Description: Currently at Bucknell, there are six distinct themed Residential Colleges and many affinity houses. Some of them are closely related to I&E, such as Social Technology Residential College and the Engineering & Innovation House. Students chose to live in those houses are interested in I&E. By creating weekend workshop gatherings, we can foster the collaboration between students and help them start working on their ideas. Getting started is always the first hurdle. This will help students who are already interested in I&E to overcome the get started dilemma.
• Team Leader:: RAs
• Milestones:
  • Arrange the first Meeting with RAs on related residential halls and houses.
  • Reserve the workshop space and get permission from school.
  • RAs arrange the interest meeting on their individual hall.
  • Propose a year long weekly events based on student's interests.
  • Start the project.

Tactic #2: TEDx Event

• Description: Bucknell currently has a speaker series called: Tech/No. It invites famous authors, businessman, managers to have a open one-on-one interview. Students showed a lot interests in those event. Having a TEDx event will further foster the innovation ecosystem at Bucknell.
• Team Leader:: TBA
• Milestones:
  • Apply TEDx event license
  • Invite speakers
  • Reserve event space
  • Advertise the event on campus
  • Hold the TEDx event

Tactic #3: Student focused Start-up Workshop

• Description: Although Small Business Development Center holds start-up workshops regularly, most of these workshops are community oriented. Many of them are off campus and unknown by students. This workshop series will be student focus. Inform interested students with how to start a business, and show them the current available resources. This event will be an introductory event.
• Team Leader:: SBDC student consultants
• Milestones:
  • Meet with SBDC director
  • Reserve room for workshop
  • Invite speakers: Professors, Alumni entrepreneurs, SBDC consultants, etc.
  • Advertising the event on campus, fliers, posters, emails
  • Holding the workshop

Strategy #2: Strengthen Realization Supports

Following are an array of strategies that will fully address Gap #2 over a 2-3 year period:

Tactic #1: Establish Student Venture Fund

• Description: Starting a company, finding seed fund is always the most difficult task, especially for student entrepreneurs. Student Venture Fund can help solve this problem by invest enough amount capital to help student entrepreneurs make their first minimum viable product to show their ideas. This can largely help students who do not have the money to implement their ideas and make them ready for a larger stage.
• Team Leader:: Yifan Ge
• Milestones:
  • Get school permission
  • Register the organization
  • Find advisers
  • Seeking funding from interested student, faculty, alumni or staff
  • Make a fund at endowment office
  • Plan the first call for proposal and advertise
  • Hold a proposal review session
  • Select one project per year and connect the advisers with the student entrepreneurs

Tactic #2: Student and Alumni Entrepreneur Network

• Description: Bucknell has a large successful alumni network. A lot of them are working in finance industry. Also, Bucknell does have one Alumni Entrepreneur Network. However, the students are loosely connect with them. The purpose of this tactic is to bring students and alumni together. By holding gathering event, alumni can get to know the current student entrepreneurs on campus. Possibly they can help them get funding or connect with financial support with their network. They might even join the venture.
• Team Leader:: TBA
• Milestones:
  • Contact Alumni Entrepreneur Network
  • Contact Alumni Relations office
  • Prepare events
  • Hold events at Bucknell or New York City

Tactic #3: Software Development Office

• Description: Most of the start-up now are software based. One of the problem student entrepreneur facing are high cost for implementation. Although they may have great ideas, the high price to obtain even a minimum viable product may deter them from pursuing the venture. So this office is aim for providing an inexpensive software development assistant. This will greatly help entrepreneurs to explore new ideas and realize lean start-up.
• Team Leader: Yifan Ge
• Milestones:
  • Find developers
  • Establish a website
  • Get permissions
  • Advertise