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NC State Innovation and Entrepreneurship serves as a unifying hub for entrepreneurship at the university, enhancing NC State's reputation as a leader in entrepreneurship education.

An Entrepreneurial Mindset

Developing an entrepreneurial mindset happens inside the classroom and outside the classroom. NC State engages students through programs designed to help cultivate the entrepreneurial mindset in any field or area of study.

Faculty, staff, alumni and community members are a vibrant part of the entrepreneurial ecosystem at NC State. We offer continued support to these valuable supporters of our community.

We’re here to help you connect with the resources you need on campus.

Network

For students early in their entrepreneurship journeys who are interested in learning how to come up with an idea, exploring the entrepreneurial thinking process, developing new skill sets and expanding their network of like-minded peers and mentors.

  • Advancement of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE)
    The Advancement of Women Entrepreneurs is a collaborative and accepting network of entrepreneurial women who seek to empower and educate fellow female innovators and thinkers, wherever they are in their journey to success. Learn More
  • Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program
    Through 3 experiential courses, the program goes from learning to identify a promising idea to create value, to learning the tools to develop a new agribusiness venture or a new product, to being part of problem-solving teams in the clinical environment of startups and existing businesses. Learn More
  • Arts Entrepreneurship
    EMA classes are consistently filled with like-minded peers who want to both network and work together. Learn More
  • Entrepreneurship Garage
    The Garage is here to create collisions. Have ideas? We can help. Need resources? We can direct. Want to learn the basics? Come talk with us! Learn More
  • Entrepreneurship Clinic (eClinic)
    The NC State Entrepreneurship Clinic fuels the NC State Mentors Program where +60 industry experts interact with our top students through social events. The Clinic also facilitates the connections between students with diverse backgrounds, local investors, and entrepreneurs in our network. Learn More
  • Mentors Program
    The NC State Entrepreneurship Mentors Program facilitates interaction between industry experts and entrepreneurial-minded students at NC State. Learn More
  • Office of Research Commercialization (ORC)
    ORC provides a connection to the local entrepreneurial ecosystem through its various partnerships with other groups. ORC also has a monthly Executives-in-Residence program available to NC State IP-based groups who desire feedback from seasoned executives and entrepreneurs. Additionally, ORC manages NC State’s NSF I-Corps Site, which provides technology teams the opportunity and funding for customer discovery and market validation. Learn More
  • Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation
    The Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program, supported through the Institute for Nonprofits, supports campus and community social entrepreneurs and the creation of social enterprises. Learn More

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Learn (Academics)

For students who are pursuing academic credit in entrepreneurship — classes, certificate, minor or major.

  • Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program
    Through 3 experiential courses, the program goes from learning to identify a promising idea to create value, to learning the tools to develop a new agribusiness venture or a new product, to being part of problem-solving teams in the clinical environment of startups and existing businesses. Learn More
  • Arts Entrepreneurship
    EMA classes are consistently filled with like-minded peers who want to both network and work together. Learn More
  • Certificate in Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Entrepreneurship
    The Undergraduate Certificate in Interdisciplinary Entrepreneurship allows students to explore and develop their entrepreneurial pathways through meeting and working with students from across NC State. These opportunities are designed to help students identify what their entrepreneurial path may look like; how to build a successful interdisciplinary entrepreneurial team; how to identify, research and test entrepreneurial ideas; and how to learn and apply critical and creative thinking tools as they start their journey. Learn More
  • Engineering Entrepreneurs Program 
    The Engineering Entrepreneurs Program is an alternative to senior design for engineering students. The two-semester program challenges students to solve engineering problems by forming entrepreneurial ventures and inventing new products or services. Learn More
  • Entrepreneurship Clinic (eClinic)
    The Entrepreneurship Clinic serves as a platform for student interaction with startups and corporations through practical projects. The classes are held at the Entrepreneurship Clinic located in HQ Raleigh, the biggest startup hub in the area. Learn More
  • Computer Science Entrepreneurship Track
    NC State and CSC provide several ways undergraduate students can engage in entrepreneurship as part of their coursework and in a broader entrepreneurial community. Students can customize the CSC Restricted and Other Restricted Electives as part of the CSC major to start working on their entrepreneurial ideas as part of their degree. Learn More
  • Office of Research Commercialization
    ORC provides a connection to the local entrepreneurial ecosystem through its various partnerships with other groups. ORC also has a monthly Executives-in-Residence program available to NC State IP-based groups who desire feedback from seasoned executives and entrepreneurs. Additionally, ORC manages NC State’s NSF I-Corps Site, which provides technology teams the opportunity and funding for customer discovery and market validation. Learn More
  • Poole College of Management Business Sustainability Collaborative
    Opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to work on real-world experiential learning projects with local companies driving social and environmental impact through the B Corp Clinic. Learn More
  • Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Program
    TEC uses actual technologies/intellectual property from source like the UNC university system, U.S. Navy, NASA and National Security Agency to provide any graduate student(s) with experience in creating technology-based high growth new business startups. Our students have the possibility as a founder of the company. We learn entrepreneurship through new business startup. Learn More

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Live

For students who are interested in living in a residential community with other student entrepreneurs.

  • Albright Entrepreneurs Village
    We are the living-learning option for NC State student entrepreneurs (and those who want to learn more about entrepreneurial thinking). We provide experiences that help students explore their interests in a supportive community that is built to develop skills and help them launch their ideas. Learn More

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Create

For students with entrepreneurial ideas who need access to tools and resources to help develop a minimum viable product.

  • Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program
    Through 3 experiential courses, the program goes from learning to identify a promising idea to create value, to learning the tools to develop a new agribusiness venture or a new product, to being part of problem-solving teams in the clinical environment of startups and existing businesses. Learn More
  • Arts Entrepreneurship
    EMA classes are consistently filled with like-minded peers who want to both network and work together. Learn More
  • Entrepreneurship Garage
    The Garage is here to create collisions. Have ideas? We can help. Need resources? We can direct. Want to learn the basics? Come talk with us! Learn More
  • NCSU Libraries
    The NCSU Libraries provides a wealth of resources and support for the entrepreneurial process, including tools and materials for prototyping, research support, and hard-to-find data on markets and industries. Learn More
  • Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation
    The Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program, supported through the Institute for Nonprofits, supports campus and community social entrepreneurs and the creation of social enterprises. Learn More

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Launch

For students who are ready to receive feedback on their ideas/ventures through hands-on experiences and real-world learning opportunities that will help them scale.

  • Albright Entrepreneurs Village
    We are the living-learning option for NC State student entrepreneurs (and those who want to learn more about entrepreneurial thinking). We provide experiences that help students explore their interests in a supportive community that is built to develop skills and help them launch their ideas. Learn More
  • Certificate in Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Entrepreneurship
    The Undergraduate Certificate in Interdisciplinary Entrepreneurship allows students to explore and develop their entrepreneurial pathways through meeting and working with students from across NC State. These opportunities are designed to help students identify what their entrepreneurial path may look like; how to build a successful interdisciplinary entrepreneurial team; how to identify, research and test entrepreneurial ideas; and how to learn and apply critical and creative thinking tools as they start their journey. Learn More
  • Entrepreneurship Garage
    The Garage is here to create collisions. Have ideas? We can help. Need resources? We can direct. Want to learn the basics? Come talk with us! Learn More
  • Entrepreneurship Clinic (eClinic)
    The Entrepreneurship Clinic located downtown Raleigh gives our students a locus of interaction beyond the traditional college setting. Allowing our students to take advantage of dedicated space and Raleigh’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Learn More
  • Miller Fellowship
    The Miller Fellowship provides a monthly stipend for recent graduates who has earned a bachelor’s degree to pursue their startup full-time after graduation. Fellows receive guidance, mentorship and continued access to university resources. Learn More
  • Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation
    The Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program, supported through the Institute for Nonprofits, supports campus and community social entrepreneurs and the creation of social enterprises. Learn More
  • Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Program
    TEC uses actual technologies/intellectual property from source like the UNC university system, U.S. Navy, NASA and National Security Agency to provide any graduate student(s) with experience in creating technology-based high growth new business startups. Our students have the possibility as a founder of the company. We learn entrepreneurship through new business startup. Learn More
  • The Incubator @ Centennial Campus
    We offer co-working, office, and lab space to start-ups in the area. No connection with campus is needed. Learn More

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Funding

For students, faculty, staff alumni and friends of the university to receive financial support and investment for their ventures.

  • Miller Fellowship
    The Miller Fellowship provides a monthly stipend for recent grads to pursue their startup full-time after graduation. In addition to the stipend, fellows receive guidance and mentorship from the NC State Entrepreneurship team and entrepreneurs in the community. Learn More
  • Wolfpack Investor Network
    The Wolfpack Investor Network is a 100+ group of alumni and friends of the university interested in investing in NC State-related startups and high growth companies. Members pay an annual fee in return for reviewing curated investment opportunities. Learn More
  • Entrepreneurship Clinic (eClinic)
    The Entrepreneurship Clinic hosts the Andrews Launch Accelerator every summer. Giving selected students and recent graduates the opportunity to receive grant money for their startups. The Accelerator offers participant startups a launchpad to pitch the top investors in the area at the end of the program. Learn More
  • Chancellor’s Innovation Fund
    Established in 2010 by NC State with the support of Chancellor William R. (Randy) Woodson, the Chancellor’s Innovation Fund (CIF) awards up to $75,000 to support short-term commercially-focused research projects. Learn More

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Outreach

For the entrepreneurship community at-large to experience NC State Entrepreneurship through a variety of programs and activities.

  • Alumni Entrepreneurs
    Alumni Entrepreneurs is an organization for current or previous business founders looking to become more deeply involved with entrepreneurship at NC State. We offer programming and events throughout the year connecting participants to each other as well as the university. Learn More
  • Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology and Sciences
    The Kenan Institute for ETS (KIETS) Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership provides public school K-12 teachers with opportunities for connecting with industry, university, government and non-profit partners to build relationships that will provide teachers with enhanced content knowledge in STEM disciplines and also relevant applied learning experiences for their students. In addition, the KIETS support the Apex Friendship High School Entrepreneurship Program with various NC State Entrepreneurship alliance programs to enable outreach with talented high school students studying entrepreneurship. Learn More
  • Entrepreneurship Clinic (eClinic)
    The Entrepreneurship Clinic gives startups and corporate partners the opportunity to engage with top NC State talent via projects. Learn More
  • Office of Research Commercialization
    ORC provides a connection to the local entrepreneurial ecosystem through its various partnerships with other groups. ORC also has a monthly Executives-in-Residence program available to NC State IP-based groups who desire feedback from seasoned executives and entrepreneurs. Additionally, ORC manages NC State’s NSF I-Corps Site, which provides technology teams the opportunity and funding for customer discovery and market validation. Learn More
  • Poole College of Management Business Sustainability Collaborative
    Opportunity for entrepreneurship community to connect with the local and global community of leading businesses driving social and environmental change, B Corps. Learn More
  • Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation
    The Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program, supported through the Institute for Nonprofits, supports campus and community social entrepreneurs and the creation of social enterprises. Learn More
  • Mentors Program
    An important and imperative aspect to foster engaged and embedded entrepreneurial students is a well-organized and valuable mentoring and advisor network. The goal of the Mentors Program is to accelerate the growth of our clinicians and provide mentors and advisors access to our students. Learn More
  • Wolfpack Investor Network
    The Wolfpack Investor Network is a 100+ group of alumni and friends of the university interested in investing in NC State-related startups and high growth companies. Members pay an annual fee in return for reviewing curated investment opportunities. Learn More

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International

For students who are interested in experiencing entrepreneurship abroad and/or collaborating with international entrepreneurship programs.

  • Poole College of Management Business Sustainability Collaborative
    Opportunity for graduate students to participate in Summer Study Abroad to Brazil to study ventures driving social and environmental impact in emerging markets. Learn More

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