LIVE with active and aspiring student entrepreneurs
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 are outlined in detail below.
Living Community
All entering Hinman CEOs students are eligible to live with the Hinman CEOs participants in South Campus Commons. This provides maximum exposure to on-site mentors and instructors, as well as fellow students in the Hinman CEOs Program. Students have access to a board room, seminar room, and other co-working facilities. While residency is encouraged for all program students, it is not required.
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 students' career in the Program, all students develop a business idea and write a business plan.
On-Demand Coaching & 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 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. Awards are made per year, with future donations planned for replenishing the fund.
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.
