As a student at Indiana University, you’re part of a university-wide entrepreneurial ecosystem where you can find the support and resources to make your ideas a reality. From degree and certificate programs to startup incubators, we have what you need to become a successful entrepreneur.
Calling all aspiring entrepreneurs
Find a degree or certificate program
IU offers entrepreneurship degree and certificate programs at IU Bloomington, IUPUI, several regional campuses, and through IU Online.
Explore entrepreneurship programsIU Bloomington
Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Kelley School of Business
The Johnson Center is a world leader in entrepreneurship education. The center’s programs give students a wide range of experiences and classroom opportunities designed to develop their entrepreneurial perspective.
Learn about the Johnson CenterShoemaker Innovation Center, School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering
Open to all IU students, Shoemaker Innovation Center in Luddy Hall 2150 provides work space and hosts classes, workshops, and events with entrepreneurs.
Learn about the Shoemaker CenterMentoring
- Shoemaker entrepreneurship mentoring sessions (School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering)
- Ice Miller startup law advisory sessions (School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering)
To schedule a mentoring or advisory session, email sicesic@indiana.edu.
Coaching
Startup business coaches (Kelley School of Business)
- Hoosier Hatchery (Kelley School of Business)
- The Shoebox (School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering)
Shoemaker Center events
- Shoemaker Technology Inventor and Entrepreneur Speaker Series (School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering)
- Shoemaker Skills Development Workshops (School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering)
Bloomington events
- Cheng Wu Innovation Challenge (School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering)
- Clapp IDEA Competition (Kelley School of Business)
Scholarships
- Glaubinger Entrepreneurship Scholarships (Kelley School of Business)
- Shoemaker Scholars (School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering)
Fellowships
Cheng Wu Innovation Fellowship (School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering)
Internships
- Chambers Internship (Kelley School of Business)
- Indiana InternNet
- IU Bloomington Career Development Center
Externships
IUPUI
Are you a student looking to start your own entrepreneurial venture or develop an innovative new product? IUPUI’s JagStart Student Entrepreneurs program offers you coaching and mentoring support.
If you are interested in participating in this program, you may self-enroll through IU’s Canvas system. Once you've enrolled, you will receive updates and notices about upcoming opportunities and will be able to reach out to other students.
This is an informational program only. There is no grading or credit, and it does not appear on your transcript.
Who should participate?
Any IUPUI student (or team that includes an IUPUI student as an inventor or co-founder) with an innovative idea for a new product or venture who would like to work on developing the idea with the guidance of an experienced mentor or who is looking for coaching and networking to advance a potential new venture (both conventional and social ventures eligible).
What are the rules and guidelines?
- Any student who is currently enrolled in one of the IUPUI schools (including undergraduate, graduate, and professional students) is eligible.
- There is no limit to the number of team members, but a student can be on only one team.
- Teams may seek assistance from other university or external resources.
- The idea and work must be your own, and you will maintain ownership of your innovation.
How does it work?
JagStart program leaders and business mentors will provide teams with guidance. Typically, students enter the program through the Mentoring Track and participate in a series of coaching sessions designed to provide feedback on their ideas. Each team will be expected to participate actively in these sessions and may apply to proceed to either the Product Design/Development track or the Business Planning Track as appropriate.
Mentoring Track
- Idea analysis and evaluation
- Product concept Documentation
Product Design/Development Track
- Resources and support for development of working prototypes
- Customer discovery and performance validation projects
Business Planning Track
- Market research
- Production planning
- Resource allocation and funding needs
Contact
For more information about the program, contact Karen White at 317-274-1083 or kfwhite@iupui.edu.
IUPUI’s JagStart Elevator Pitch Competition is an annual event that pits student contestants against the clock as they pitch their original ideas to a panel of judges. You can enter the competition to showcase your ideas for innovative new products, new business ventures, or compelling solutions to social challenges.
The 2019 competition took place in February. Information about the 2020 competition will be available during the fall 2019 semester.
What’s an elevator pitch?
An elevator pitch is a (very) short story describing your idea for a novel product or venture as you would in a real-world scenario, such as talking to a potential investor in an elevator. JagStart rewards students who have the best ideas—and the best pitches—with cash prizes.
Who can participate?
JagStart is open to all students (undergraduate, graduate, and professional) who are enrolled and in good standing, full or part time, in a degree program in any of the Indiana University or Purdue University schools at either IUPUI or IUPUC.
Why should I participate?
The JagStart Elevator Pitch competition offers:
- A chance to learn valuable skills
- Coaching, feedback, and the opportunity to build connections to entrepreneurs and business professionals from the local community
- Experience promoting your idea to a live audience
- Prizes, including:
- First place: $2,500
- Second place: $1,500
- Third place: $750
- Audience Choice Awards (Two awards of $500 each, selected on basis of audience ballot)
Contact
For more information about the competition, contact Karen White at 317-274-1083 or kfwhite@iupui.edu.
Watch past competitions
SOURCE River West is an IUPUI-supported entrepreneurship center in Indianapolis’s Near West neighborhood. Its services, which include free workshops and coaching, are available to IUPUI students.
Learn about SOURCE River WestJoin one of IUPUI’s entrepreneurship-related student organizations.
Student startup spotlight
The Bee Corp.
The Bee Corp., founded by IU alumni Ellie Symes, Simon Kuntz, and Wyatt Wells, improves bee health and hive management practices by using data to develop new tools for monitoring hives.
Vemity
IUPUI students Brandon Boynton and Zachary Balda founded Vemity to help businesses use the data they collect to find new revenue and increase competitiveness. Vemity was acquired by Indianapolis-based company Rover180 in 2019.