How the New Campus Startup Hub Got Sparked
Quite often, weÌýwalkÌýalongÌýfamiliar streets and suddenly notice a new storefront, restaurant, or business.Ìý It's as if these things magically appear out of nowhere.Ìý ButÌýas entrepreneurs, we know that's not how it works.Ìý Nothing "suddenly appears".Ìý Undoubetdly, itÌýtakes weeks, months, even years of planning, sweat, anxiety, problem solving, fundraising, negotiating, and manuevering to get ideas into the world.Ìý
We want to tell you the story of how the new campus startup hub came to be because one thing's for sure, it didn't happen overnight, andÌýwe are beyond thrilled to host people in the space and watch what unfolds.Ìý
ForÌýcontext, the space is co-operated by Housing & Dining Services and the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative, and it isÌýintended to convene, educate, and build community around innovation and entrepreneurship. ÌýThe current focus of the space is three-fold:Ìý
Coworking and community building: Students desire a place where they can go anytime and work on their entrepreneurial ideas or find like-minded individuals with various degrees of experience. ÌýThe Global Entrepreneurs in Residence will be based here and community mentors will be scheduled to provide 1:1 feedback. Ìý
Co-curricular events and programs: In evenings and on weekends, workshops, speakers, and other events will be scheduled to provide co-curricular experiences.
Mini-makerspace: For pretotyping and lite prototyping, the space will have equipment such as 3D printers, design software, a virtual reality station,Ìýsewing machines, and other hand tools to support early prototyping.
Here's how it started: