UNIVERSITY OF PORTLAND CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP E-Scholars
Program Finalist - Outstanding Specialty Entrepreneurship
Program
Slide 2
Purpose of E-Scholars E-Scholars gives Students from any major
on campus an opportunity to design, implement, and lead a business
enterprise that aims to be the best of its kind in the world
Slide 3
Comprehensive Program Objectives E-Scholars develop their
entrepreneurial mindset Learn how to come up with innovative ideas
Develop innovative realistic business plans Learn how to do
business anywhere in the world Domestic and International Travel It
is the responsibility of the students to identify and contact
people they think will be helpful in the development of their ideas
Learn to set up their own business meetings with international and
domestic contacts
Slide 4
Comprehensive Students Served Any undergraduate major is
eligible to apply Each E-Scholar class is made up of 20 students
Approximately 50% Business Majors Remaining 50% being from other
schools of Engineering, Nursing, Education, or College of Arts and
Sciences Typically students begin the program the Fall semester of
their junior year In some cases students begin the program their
senior year
Slide 5
The Faces of E-Scholars
Slide 6
Innovative Program Event Timeline October/November- Idea
Bash/Business Pitch E-scholars Fall Break NYC Best Practices and
Hypotheses Validation February Invention to Venture Event Late
February/Early March E-scholar Student Consortium Spring Break
International Business Trip April-$100K Business Plan
Competition
Slide 7
Unique Program Description The E-Scholars program utilizes
unique learning strategies in a three course sequence Goals: To
enhance the creative potential of each student To develop mindsets
and skill sets which enable the students to successfully implement
their innovations
Slide 8
Effective Successful Outcome This strategy has proven
successful Demonstrated by: The success of alumni in efforts
ranging from innovations that assist disabled people, to new art
therapies that build self- esteem in homeless children Placement in
fast growing, VC backed local ventures Development of serial
entrepreneurs Nike, Adidas, Intel
Slide 9
E-Scholars Curriculum Fall 2011 Spring 2012 BUS481
Entrepreneurship Apprenticeship (3) Venture Launch/Prototyping
Entrepreneurial Internships Projects BUS480 World-Class Venture
Creation (3) Ideation/Opp. Assess. Feasibility Analysis BUS482
Global Entrepreneurship (3) Business Models Intl. Aspects/Culture
Business Plan & Pitch
Slide 10
The Role of the Educator Remove barriers that limit or prevent
learning Provide rapid assessment Provide feedback Provide access
to expertise and to qualified mentors Create an environment and
learning system that accelerates student learning
Slide 11
Skills gained in Global Entrepreneurship Business Model
Development International Aspects of New Business Cultural
Competencies Getting Outside Your Comfort Zone Intentional Research
and Learning Global Opportunities & Power Shifts
Slide 12
Unique Program Aspects Program tailored for todays business
realities Instill entrepreneurial environmental awareness and
thinking, and offer various paths for entrepreneurial students to
take E-Scholars are challenged to actually conduct business on
their own, as undergraduates Students investigate the international
aspects of their intended opportunity Students travel to one of
several international destinations chosen for the program each year
E-Scholars all compete in our annual Launch Pad $100K Business Plan
Competition
Slide 13
Support Program Funding Total expenses for the 20 students in
the program each year= $8000/student or $160,000 total Students pay
a fee of $4000 and are each matched with a $4000 scholarship
Primary Program Costs include: Travel (domestic/international)
Program materials Conference and event fees Center for
Entrepreneurship staff
Slide 14
Impact $100K Business Plan Competition Annual competition that
all E-Scholars compete in Provides an investment into investor
ready student businesses Up to $50,000 annually in funds and
$50,000 in-kind services to students willing to execute their
opportunity
Slide 15
Impact Program Benefits Core catalyst for students across
campus developing their entrepreneurial mindset Fostered the
development of many beneficial partnerships Students develop skills
to compete in the global business environment Student interact with
top entrepreneurs Students get the opportunity to design,
implement, and lead a business project
Slide 16
Impact Program Outcomes 230 graduates (since the first class of
E-Scholars in 1999) Nearly all E-Scholar alumni are regular
contributors to the Center for Entrepreneurship Many have started
businesses since leaving/ continued the business started in the
program UP Hive The E-Scholar program is now in its 12 th year at
the University of Portland
Slide 17
Continuous Innovation Other schools have successfully launched
and customized their E-scholars programs College of St.
Benedicts/St. Johns University Minnesota St. Marys University San
Antonio, Texas Holloway/Sebastiao driving new approaches to
means-driven entrepreneurship - workshop leaders of concurrent
session at this conference Entrepreneurship faculty continue to
research and integrate changes and best practices in the field