The number of MBA entrepreneurs is on the rise, and this is no exception at the Tuck School of Business. Last fall, the school launched the Entrepreneurship Initiative (EI) to support student entrepreneurship through the creation and coordination of programs, activities, and events. The EI has seen tremendous success in its first year by enhancing the resources available to students interested in entrepreneurial ventures.
Of the students who graduated from Tuck in 2012, about half the class had listed entrepreneurship as one of their main interests upon enrollment. About 55 percent acted on this interest before graduation by enrolling in entrepreneurship courses or undertaking course projects where they worked on an entrepreneurial idea. About 10 percent of the class chose to take a step further by devoting significant time outside of the classroom to improving and developing their ideas through structured extracurricular activities organized by the new initiative, such as the Barris Incubator and Summer Venture programs.
“By taking advantage of the entrepreneurial resources at Tuck, you get the best of both worlds,” says Joaquin Villarreal T’08, manager of the initiative. “You get a top-notch business education, which you can apply towards more traditional career choices for MBAs. You can also explore the process behind starting a new venture and develop a set of tools to address the distinctive challenges that face both start-ups and established businesses.”
The initiative has expanded several programs at Tuck, including the Barris Incubator Program, which supports and facilitates the launch and development of Tuck- and Dartmouth-related ventures. The EI also established the Entrepreneur in Residence program. The program taps into the wealth of Tuck and Dartmouth entrepreneurs by connecting them with students. Visiting entrepreneurs give a presentation to students, hold office hours and one-on-one meetings, and are available for student consultation beyond their visit to campus, making it easier for students and visitors to connect.
Tuck strives to provide the world’s best educational preparation for a career of business leadership. The EI supports students with services and programs that complement their academic instruction on entrepreneurship. The EI works towards these objectives in association with the Dartmouth Entrepreneurial Network (DEN), Tuck’s Center for Private Equity and Entrepreneurship, Tuck’s student‐run Entrepreneurship Club, and with local and community partners. The EI also helps increase collaboration between Dartmouth’s professional schools (Tuck School of Business, Thayer School of Engineering, Geisel School of Medicine) and the college.
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