​Are you interested in commercializing an idea? Can you envision yourself perhaps starting your own business? Possibly you just have an interest in building a foundation of business knowledge, or is it social entrepreneurship that you are interested in?

The purpose of the Institute is not to just to help business students become entrepreneurs but rather help address some of the general disconnect between ideas and business creation. We would strive to provide a forum and an opportunity for students from different fields, no matter what their major is, who may be interested in bringing an idea, a product, or even just talent to the market, to share those ideas and built the necessary required foundations.

Emphasis in business education has traditionally been placed mostly on the corporate models with relatively scant attention given to entrepreneurial and start-up ventures. We believe that today’s economic environment favors entrepreneurial and start-up ventures and we would like to prepare our students and help them develop the necessary skills and tools.

Adrian College students Emily Hlavka, Keri Ward, Garrett Beitelschies, Aaron Armstrong, and Matt Zantop in the Entrepreneurial Experience class create the above video after being challenged to create value out of a stack of post-it notes and a black marker.

Mission & Objectives

The Institute has 3 primary goals:

1. To create and provide an academic environment at Adrian College in which students will be exposed (through classes, seminars, lectures, guest lecturers and active participation in various entrepreneurial activities) to the entrepreneurial environment. Entrepreneurship training calls for the development of both multi-disciplinary skills and non-traditional business skills. We will strive to help students develop the skills that will prepare them to deal with challenges of operating in a business environment that favors creativity and risk-taking. 
2. To help develop and promote entrepreneurial ventures (such as business incubators) for). This effort will strive to provide an environment that will be a catalyst for the development and success of clean/green tech technology startups. By doing so we will help the companies, the college our students and the local economy. 
3. Community Outreach: to provide a link to the community. Resources and human talent will be made available to work with local businesses and institutions and provide consulting services and facilities that will help the community and at the same time will allow students to gain valuable practical experience.