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The Hinman CEOs Program encompasses innovative and unique activities, resources, and facilities designed to provide a rich and supportive environment for learning about and practicing entrepreneurship. Key program aspects and features include the living community, experiential learning, on-demand coaching and mentoring, a seed fund, entrepreneurial internships, and the emphasis on undergraduate students.
Living Community – As the nation’s first living-learning entrepreneurship program, the unique living environment, where all members live together on-campus, is the cornerstone of Hinman CEOs. Roommates become co-founders and classmates serve as confidants and advisors. Students have exclusive access to a board room, seminar room, copying and printing facilities, and related incubator-style resources. This technology environment includes wireless Internet access, modern computing facilities, and state-of-the-art software tools. The living community and its resources uniquely positions Hinman CEOs to cultivate their entrepreneurial passions as well as launch and manage their new ventures.
Experiential Learning – Through student-owned companies, courses, seminars, workshops, competitions, and volunteerism, Hinman CEOs are part of a special experiential learning model. Approximately 25 percent of students start companies while in the Program. While providing entrepreneurship education and helping teams to start and operate ventures are important, a continuum of hands-on mentoring is provided to help students not yet engaged in founding and managing start-ups fully develop their entrepreneurial skills. From an academic perspective, there are four courses totaling twelve credits that Hinman CEOs complete. There are also optional entrepreneurship courses offered as electives. Over the course of the student’s career in the Program, all students develop a business idea and write a business plan. Hinman CEOs may also compete in the University’s $50K Business Plan Competition, attend the Technology Start-up Boot Camp each fall, and volunteer through Hinman CEOs managed activities.
On-demand Coaching and Mentoring – The valuable residential experience is complemented with the on-site offices of Hinman CEOs staff. In this way, students can walk down the hall to staff offices to discuss their latest new venture idea or to tackle a tough legal, financial or ethical question. The program director and executives-in-residence are seasoned entrepreneurs pairing practical experience with MBA educations to coach teams and individually mentor students.
Seed Fund – A $250,000 seed fund is available for students of the Hinman CEOs Program. Funds are provided as grants to students, with no payback or equity requirement. Funds are to be used for R&D or working capital for student ventures. Approximately $50,000 in total awards are made per year, with future donations planned for replenishing the fund.
Entrepreneurial Internships – Internships play an important role in the Hinman CEOs experience. Students learn hands-on with area start-ups, in the offices of venture capitalists, and in faculty laboratories. Select students extend their internships into part-time roles during the school term. Applying their experience in these environments amplifies their learning, in turn, bringing energy and expertise back to their fellow Hinman CEOs.
Undergraduate Emphasis – In contrast to many entrepreneurship programs that are aimed at graduate students, the Hinman CEOs Program is specifically designed for undergraduates. When entrepreneurship is introduced early, the knowledge gained significantly impacts direction towards more entrepreneurial careers. This knowledge combines with the community to create a dynamic hub for entrepreneurial skills building and student venturing.
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