Center for Entrepreneurship

The Center for Entrepreneurship, established in 1986, is a co-curricular program of the EMU College of Business. It strives to encourage innovative business creation and growth in southeast Michigan and a strong culture of entrepreneurial thinking in the EMU community.

The Center operates a variety of programs in several areas:

• Economic development: Hosts the Michigan Small Business Development Center Region 9 program, serving Oakland, Monroe and Wayne counties. It also supports the Washtenaw Smart Zone, Ann Arbor SPARK, the B-Side program and other business development activities.
• Student service learning: Matches small business and non-profit organizations with EMU faculty-led teams of advanced students who participate in projects as part of their course work.
• Student club: Supports the EMU chapter of the Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization, which maintains an active program of events for students from EMU, as well as area community colleges and high school students.
• Business plan competition: Hosts the Skandalaris Business Plan Competition, which includes university, community college and K-12 students from the Midwest region. Students compete in separate categories for cash awards.
• Research and curriculum development: Strengthens and expands College of Business academic programs through the Entrepreneurship Continuous Improvement Committee.

In its fifth year, the Skandalaris Business Plan Competition is presented by the EMU Center For Entrepreneurship. The competition has university/community college and high school categories as students compete separately for prize money.  First place (for each category) is $1000 and second place is $750, and third place is $500. There is also a $200 prize for "best presentation."

Plans are judged by professional business counselors from the Michigan Small Business and Technology Center (MI-SBTDC) and EMU Mangement Faculty. The competition was re-named in 2010 to honor EMU alumnus Robert Skandalaris; author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist.  Click here for complete submission guidelines.