Dreaming about being an entrepreneur?
What’s it all about, anyway?What does it take to be an
entrepreneur?What do they do?
Are there things here at Illinois I can do?
Prof. Laura L. Hollis, Esq.Dr. Pete Dragic
iFoundry launch, August 22, 2009
What do entrepreneurs do?
• Entrepreneurs find OPPORTUNITIES in PROBLEMS
• They develop SOLUTIONS to those problems
• They build an ENTERPRISE, a BUSINESS or a VENTURE around those solutions
• They assemble RESOURCES, like PEOPLE and CAPITAL
• They are willing to take CALCULATED, EDUCATED RISKS
• They learn from FAILURE, and ADAPT
Could I be an entrepreneur?
• Entrepreneurs are made, not born• Serious work ethic!• Autonomous • Motivated by PASSION to SOLVE
PROBLEMS • Not greed!• High sense of self-efficacy• Confidence (comes from
EXPERIENCE)• Tolerance for RISK
What’s available here at Illinois?
• Guest lectures (designmatters)• Classes• Certificate programs• Competitions (I2P, Cozad, Lemelson)• Student Organizations (IEN, EWBs,
SIFE)• Technology Entrepreneur Center
(Engineering)• Academy for Entrepreneurial
Leadership (Business)