As Faculty Director of the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, I have the pleasure of considering any student at Michigan State University as a current or future student of our programming. From our academic Minor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation to our Venture Creation program, helping students start and grow their own businesses, we have something for everyone interested in developing an entrepreneurial mindset.
While our academic programming targets undergraduate students, graduate and undergraduate students can join our business incubator programs at The Hatch – our off-campus student workspace where business mentors and Burgess Institute staff are regularly available for a quick question or a more in-depth consultation.
For students with business ideas requiring a commercial kitchen space to experiment with that new menu recipe, food packaging, or cosmetics, the Venture Kitchen in the Union provides a dedicated space to hone their craft. Students with existing businesses can sell their products on our new Student Made online store, getting them in front of MSU students, faculty, and staff across campus and beyond.
For students interested in entrepreneurship and innovation but don’t know where to start, I suggest attending a student club meeting for the MSU Entrepreneurship Association (Instagram: @msu.ea), the Women in Entrepreneurship (Instagram: @msu_we), or the MBA Entrepreneurship Association. Other Burgess Institute events, such as Innovate State and the Emerging Leaders speaker series, are another great way to test the waters and meet others interested in entrepreneurship. For those ready to dive deeper into the world of venture creation, a 2DAY Venture event allows students to work through a business idea in an accelerated format while building new skills and new friendships.
We invite the entire campus community to join us this fall as the Burgess Institute celebrates the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation at the Venture Summit:From Grand River to Grand Futures, September 15–16. The Summit will feature opportunities to learn from Spartan alums, network with top student venturers and members of the local entrepreneurial ecosystem, and recognize student scholarship recipients.
There are many ways to engage with the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Keep an eye out for our ESIP pop-ups around campus offering free coffee, donuts, and friendly faces excited to answer any questions about all we offer. You can also stop by the Burgess Institute offices on Grand River Ave.
Have an amazing semester, Spartans! Go Green!