Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Established in 1986, EMU's Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (CFE) strives to enhance a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation in the EMU community by supporting a strong entrepreneurship curriculum and offering a variety of co-curricular programs. The CFE also encourages local entrepreneurship by engaging EMU students and faculty in innovation, business creation, and growth in southeast Michigan. To achieve our goals, we enjoy great support from the entrepreneurship community in our state to offer mentorship and coaching services.
Diane and Bruce Halle Foundation Chair in Entrepreneurship
Dr. Sanjib Chowdhury is the Diane and Bruce Halle Foundation Chair in Entrepreneurship. Visit the website to learn more about the specific initiatives under this program. Fall 2023 Diane & Bruce Halle Faculty Research and Student Essay Presentation Report is available here. Application for the Diane and Bruce Halle Research faculty research application here. Diane and Bruce Halle student essay application here.
Sesi Midwest Entrepreneurship Conference
An annual entrepreneurship conference in March celebrating entrepreneurship, the event features high school and college students from the Midwest region and notable business leaders/entrepreneurs. The conference is designed to foster an entrepreneurship student culture in our region. Students, instructors, and community members from our region are invited to attend this free, flagship event presented by the EMU's Center for Entrepreneurship.
Skandalaris Business Plan Competition
University (and high school) students compete in separate categories for a chance at thousands in prize money, with the top three placers presenting their plans at the Sesi Entrepreneurship Conference in March. Students from universities and colleges from the Midwest region are eligible to compete, and we happily accept plans that are part of a group project for class.
Executive Certificate in Entrepreneurship
A unique eight-week certificate program delivered in a hybrid format developed by the Center for Entrepreneurship at Eastern Michigan University. The program will feature a unique mix of exposures to academics, industry experts, mentors, professional coaches, and startup investors. The topics covered in this program are:
Evaluating startup ideas and business concepts
Discovery and acquisition of customers
Forming a company and legal issues
Financial planning
Business Valuation and Pitching for Fundraising
The Venture Challenge for $25,000
EMU Elevator Pitch Competition
The Center for Entrepreneurship organizes an elevator pitch competition every year for all EMU students. Students pitch their ideas to leaders of local entrepreneurial community leaders. Winners of this competition receive recognition and cash awards. In addition, they get valuable advice from experts in the entrepreneurship community. Fall 2023 Elevator pitch competition application is available here.
Alumni Entrepreneur of the Year Award
On Friday, March 11, 2022, the EMU Center for Entrepreneurship awarded Chris Kaufman (BFA ’07) its inaugural Alumni Entrepreneur of the Year award. Chris is a strategic serial entrepreneur and has started multiple venture backed companies. He is the co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of StockX, an innovative company currently valued at $3.8 billion. Read more
Entrepreneurship Speakers Series
The speaker series offers an opportunity for students and community members to learn from and network with successful entrepreneurs in our region. Stay tuned for Fall 2023 speaker information.
Academic Curriculum
This includes a major in entrepreneurship for College of Business (COB) for students pursuing a bachelor's in business administration (B.B.A) program, a minor in entrepreneurship for students outside the COB, a graduate certificate (both face-to-face and online) in entrepreneurship for anyone with a bachelor's degree, and finally, a specialization in entrepreneurship for master's in business administration students.
MGMT 488 Field Studies in Entrepreneurship
This course acts as a catalyst and matches small businesses and non-profit organizations with EMU faculty-led teams of advanced students who participate in projects as significant parts of their course work. CFE is also involved in the execution of the field studies in entrepreneurship courses. If you are a local business and want to participate in the Winter 2024 student project, please complete the form available here.
Entrepreneurship Research
CFE promotes entrepreneurship research and offers funding for two faculty-led research projects each year. CFE also organizes an entrepreneurship research brown bag for the entire EMU faculty each year.
Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization (CEO Club)
CFE supports the EMU chapter of the Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization, which maintains an active program of events for students at EMU, as well as area community colleges and high schools. Contact Dr. Ratan Dheer at [email protected], faculty advisor, if you want to learn more about the CEO.