31
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
no edit summary
= Strategy #5: Startup Pitt =
<div>Innovation cannot thrive in a bubble. Entrepreneurship is up-and-coming in Pittsburgh, and it’s important that undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Pittsburgh are exposed to this awesome movement. Ian is experiencing the entrepreneurial drive first-hand. Regardless of the value of his bioengineering degree, Ian pondered dropping out of school after his startup was admitted into the Alphalab Gear Accelerator program. Ian has feet in both realms: one in the University, one in the community. At the University, Ian is watching groups of students practicing design thinking, innovation, and entrepreneurship, all which are valuable skills for those involved in startups. These students are driven and searching to use what they learn in the classroom on real-world projects. On the other side, Ian is (somewhat firsthand) witnessing the need for startups to hire interns with engineering, design, and business experience. In fact, Ian worked as an intern with his project to further the technological and business development before the thought of commercialization occurred. Why can’t other interns help young startups succeed?</div><div><br/></div><div>Startup Pitt is a smaller-scale model of Venture for America, a program that places recent college graduates in startups throughout the country. VFA Fellows have been instrumental in building businesses and helping startups succeed. Likewise, Startup Pitt interns will help Pittsburgh startups become successful while earning salary and a valuable internship experience. Of course, Startup Pitt keeps to it’s title: starting-up Pittsburgh as a center of entrepreneurship.</div><div><br/></div>
== Program Specifics ==
<div>The Startup Pitt process may be compared to an engineering cooperative-education (co-op) program, an educational program that places engineering students in an established company or engineering firm. A co-op student works for three semesters -- one full year -- with a schedule negotiated between the employer and student. A student may alternate between work and school semesters; work in the fall, assume classes in the spring, work in the summer, assume classes in the fall, etc. On the other hand, a company may want a student to work for a year through, during which time the student would not return to classes. There are subjective benefits and disadvantages to each schedule setup that vary with students and courses of studies. However, a co-op trumps a traditional internship in that a student maintains full-time student status during the co-op semesters. Full-time student status permits a student to reside in on-campus dormitories and receive all the stipulations of being a student. A co-op student does not pay tuition unless she enrolls in night classes.</div><div><br/></div><div>Startup Pitt provides a flexible hiring duration for startups and for students who are looking for an internship. While a co-op is expected to work for three semesters, the Startup Pitt program adapts to the needs of the intern and the startup to satisfy both parties. For example, if a startup can only hire a student for one semester, Startup Pitt may provide an intern who appreciates the short-term work experience that will not delay graduation. Furthermore, Startup Pitt provides internships to not only engineering students, but also business students, students of design, and students who possess skillsets desired by a Pittsburgh startup. Startup Pitt allows a more flexible internship duration.</div><div><br/></div><div>Finances hinder a startup’s ability to hire appropriate help. The Startup Pitt program acknowledges that startups may want to hire an intern but may not be able to afford an intern. Startup Pitt works with departments and organizations at the University of Pittsburgh as well as the supporters of Pittsburgh incubators to subsidize the pay for an intern. In this manner, a startup receives extra help to grow a business without the concern of paying an intern, and an intern receives pay while gaining valuable work experience.</div><div><br/></div>
== Timeline ==
All objectives and tasks in the timeline are subject to change.
=== Customer discovery (March 2015) ===
<div>Identify the needs of students at the University of Pittsburgh. Student groups include engineering students, business students, and those involved in I&E activities. Channels to reach students include department and program coordinators, seminars, and student / faculty organizations. Survey questions include</div>
*Would you (students) be interested in working for a startup?
*How important is maintaining your full-time student status?
*For how many academic semesters could you see yourself working an internship at a startup?
*Why does working at a startup interest you?
*What kinds of skills do you believe are needed to be successful with growing a startup?
*Would you be willing to potentially delay your graduation?
*How much pay (hourly rate) would you see yourself making while interning at a startup?
<div><br/></div><div>Identify the needs of startups in Pittsburgh incubators and accelerators, such as startups involved in Alphalab, Alphalab Gear, Thrill Mill, Idea Foundry, and Revv Oakland. Survey questions include</div>
*Do you believe a college student pursuing an engineering / business / etc. major could make a contribution to your startup as an intern?
*What skills would you look for in a student intern for your startup?
*How long would you hire a Startup Pitt intern?
*If at all, how much could you afford to pay a Startup Pitt intern?
*If the Startup Pitt inter’s pay was subsidized through the University of Pittsburgh and/or your accelerator/incubator, would you be more likely to hire a Startup Pitt intern?
<div><br/></div>
=== Prototype financial infrastructure (April 2015) ===
<div>Coordinate with the University of Pittsburgh Innovation Institute, the Swanson School of Engineering, the College of Business Administration, and the investor networks who support Pittsburgh incubators/accelerators to assess the potential of subsidizing a Startup Pitt’s hourly pay. Establish the value of Startup Pitt with each supporter, and evaluate how much each supporter is willing to contribute to a Startup Pitt intern. </div><div><br/></div>
=== Future tasks ===
*Discuss program with University of Pittsburgh administration. Investigate potential of maintaining full-time student status during employment (May 2015)
*Formulate a faculty and student committee to evaluate student applications (June 2015)
<div><br/></div>
= Impact =
[[Jennifer Sommer]]
[[Ian_McIntyreIan McIntyre|Ian McIntyre]]
[[Category:Student Priorities|Student_Priorities]]
