Arun Rai’s Post

18 George Mason University programs are ranked as the best in Virginia in a new report by EduRank that focuses on performance in research. Topping the list is Mason’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, which for the second consecutive year was ranked No. 1 among all public institutions and No. 2 among all institutions nationally. That research is supported by entities such as the Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact, which has overall responsibility for Mason’s research enterprise and support of entrepreneurship and innovation. And, the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship - George Mason at the George Mason University – Costello College of Business lets students dig into entrepreneurship, from the theoretical to the experimental. That environment of research, discovery, and innovation is a main contributor to Mason’s R1 designation from the Carnegie Classification of Higher Education as one of the nation’s top research universities. #CostelloMeansBusiness #research #innovation #entrepreneurship #MasonNation #ChooseMason

Start-Up Guidebook by University of Toronto: The University of Toronto is renowned not just for academic excellence but also for fostering an innovative and entrepreneurial spirit. The latest edition of their Start-Up Guidebook is a testament to this, providing an invaluable resource for faculty, staff, and students embarking on entrepreneurial ventures. Essential Steps for Launching a Start-Up: 1) Idea Validation: Engage with the Innovations & Partnerships Office (IPO) early to discuss your invention, protect intellectual property, and explore commercial viability. 2) Market and Planning: Develop a comprehensive understanding of your target market, competition, and financial needs. Formulate a business plan that outlines the path to revenue and growth. 3) Securing Rights: Work with the IPO to secure the appropriate licenses or options agreements for your technology, ensuring you have the legal backing to proceed. 4) Funding Strategies: Identify and engage with potential investors, including venture capitalists and angel investors. Leverage the University’s network to access funding and support services. 5) Building the Team: Assemble a skilled management team that can navigate the start-up phase and beyond, focusing on scaling the business and enhancing innovation. PS. check out 🔔 for a winning pitch deck the template created by Silicon Valley legend, Peter Thiel https://lnkd.in/ejp-Bhnu

This morning I’ve been thinking about a critical yet often overlooked aspect of academic entrepreneurship: the vital role university faculty play in nurturing successful startup spin-outs. Sadly, this is done poorly more than it is done well—to the detriment of researchers and societal benefit from new discoveries. Universities are more than just repositories of knowledge; they are vibrant hubs where ideas have the potential to evolve into impactful enterprises. However, transforming academic concepts into successful business ventures is a complex process, heavily reliant on the guidance and support provided by university faculty. The question then arises—how can we better prepare and train university faculty to mentor and support emerging entrepreneurs, or become them themselves? This discussion opens up several avenues for exploration. Firstly, we need to consider what specific training or resources faculty members require to effectively nurture or train into entrepreneurs. It's essential to develop faculty development programs that equip educators with the necessary skills and knowledge to create a path in their entrepreneurial pursuits. Furthermore, an interdisciplinary approach is crucial. We must encourage faculty to blend academic rigor with practical business acumen, preparing them to transform theoretical knowledge into real-world applications. Additionally, strengthening industry-academia linkages can significantly benefit faculty, enhancing their ability to provide and receive relevant and practical mentorship. US research institutions are dramatically underindexing on startup spin-outs and this must be addressed. Training faculty and students to embrace, support, and step into this world is a major key for future prosperity that we all will share in. #AcademicInnovation #FacultyDevelopment #EntrepreneurshipEducation #UniversityStartups #IndustryAcademia #InnovationEcosystem AUTM #Startups

I got to chat with two leaders from Indiana University Bloomington and the Carlsen Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship who are leading the charge in regional economic development by investing in valuable resources for student entrepreneurs. In a recent webinar, Julie Heath and Cameron R. Law shared their insights on how universities can offer a unique platform for long-term ecosystem building. 🏫 As Julie pointed out, “If you are developing a new material or method for solving a complex problem, to go from hunch to first customer might take 10 or 11 years. A university is one of the few organizations that can operate on that extended timeline and play the long game.” Building bridges between university resources and external entities can enhance the flow of knowledge, funding, and support, which all adds up to a more cohesive and effective ecosystem. But the real magic? It’s found through storytelling. By communicating success stories and showcasing data-driven impacts, we can inspire stakeholders - from entrepreneurs to policymakers - to rally behind ecosystem building. Check out my recap here: #EcosystemIntelligence #Entrepreneurship #EconomicDevelopment #Students 

Welcome back Auburn University students to the first day of class! Here’s a suggestion for those of you interested in entrepreneurship or innovation as we start the Fall 2024 semester…. You should consider adding the Entrepreneurship and Family Business (ENFB) minor to your major for a couple of reasons. 1.    It offers interesting and relevant coursework. Along with offering classes that discuss innovative thinking and startup processes, the minor has electives focused on cool technologies (like virtual reality and cryptocurrencies) and skill building (like resilience and leadership skills). Students taking the minor can also earn three hours of college internship credit in ENFB 4920 for launching and growing their startup businesses. 2.    It provides foundational knowledge for participating in world class, co-curricular entrepreneurship activities. Auburn University offers pitch and business idea competitions throughout the year that reward students with over $100,000 in non-dilutive startup funding. The New Venture Accelerator also provides students with office space and mentorship to help grow their startups. Students don’t need to be ENFB minors to take advantage of these opportunities, but ENFB courses focus on building skills and learning concepts that students can directly apply when participating in these co-curricular activities. 3.    It’s not just for Auburn University Harbert College of Business majors. The ENFB minor is open to all undergraduate Auburn students, regardless of major. In fact, the number of non-Business majors taking the minor has tripled the past few years. Students in the Auburn University College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM) can even take MATH, BIOL, and GEOG courses as electives for the minor. DM me or see https://bit.ly/AUEnt for more information. Be an #Aubiepreneur! #entrepreneurship #innovation #startups #funding #studententrepreneurship #InspiringBusiness

🚀 Embracing the Intersection of Education and Entrepreneurship 📚 Morehouse College Emory University - Goizueta Business School In today's rapidly evolving world, the intersection of education and entrepreneurship has never been more crucial. As an entrepreneur and advocate for continuous learning, I firmly believe that an innovative, entrepreneurial mindset is cultivated through education, and that education, in turn, thrives on entrepreneurial spirit. 🎓 Education as the Foundation: Education forms the bedrock of our knowledge and skills, providing us with the necessary tools to navigate the complexities of the modern business landscape. By fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity, education equips individuals with the mindset and capabilities essential for entrepreneurship. 🌱 Cultivating Entrepreneurial Skills: On the flip side, entrepreneurship embodies the application of knowledge acquired through education. It encourages individuals to take calculated risks, think outside the box, and turn ideas into impactful ventures. By integrating real-world experiences and mentorship into educational curricula, we can nurture the entrepreneurial potential within students and professionals alike. 🤝 Bridging the Gap: The synergy between education and entrepreneurship is not just theoretical; it's practical and symbiotic. As entrepreneurs, we have a responsibility to engage with educational institutions, sharing our experiences and insights to inspire the next generation of innovators. Likewise, educators can incorporate elements of entrepreneurial thinking into their teaching, preparing students for the dynamic, ever-changing nature of the global economy. As we embrace this symbiosis, let's champion a culture that celebrates both education and entrepreneurship, recognizing the transformative power they hold when united. Together, we can empower individuals to not only excel in their chosen fields but also to drive meaningful change and innovation in the world. I'm excited to hear your thoughts on this vital intersection and how it has influenced your journey. Let's continue to learn, adapt, and innovate together! #Education #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #LearningMindset #morehouse #goizueta #emory #emoryuniversity #morehousecollege

Celebrating #Global #Entrepreneurship #Week/Global Entrepreneurship Network with daily features from M.Eng. in Technical Entrepreneurship at Lehigh University Tariq Al-Serhan shares: “My TE experience can be summarized in three words, inspiring, daring, and real. I was inspired to create. I was dared to push myself out of the box. And I was real in two ways: 1. Staying real to who I am: background, story, skills and passion when coming up with ideas and creations 2. Sticking to reality with these ideas and creations through the methods of patent/trademark search, prototyping, curating business plans and financial projections, and protecting intellectual property and more."   To learn more about this innovative graduate program, visit https://lnkd.in/eZpXE8Db. Applications being accepted for a July 1 start date. P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science at Lehigh University / Lehigh University #inspiring the #future #makers / #GEW2003 Photo credit: Ryan Hulvat

The most talented and brilliant group with EQ off the charts. I think you arrive at TMU full of GRIT, and you graduate with even more of it. #MadeOfGrit #TMU Toronto Metropolitan University Many will be heading their own ventures here in Canada ( stay tuned), and others are rolling up their sleeves to focus on intrapreneurship and growth within Canadian startups, scaleups, SMEs and Multi-National Enterprises. Reach out to other MEIE instructors or me if you would like to learn more about the investable startups that have been de-risking over the last 16 months Innovation Boost Zone OR - if you would like introductions to talented and experienced #newcomers #newcomerstocanada - engineers; chemists, supply chain analysts, product development leads, advanced manufacturing supervisory candidates, and operational efficiency and finance experts. @MEIE student Alumni - Tag yourselves in this post and share what you are open to!

The U of A was ranked No. 1 in the SEC for its graduate entrepreneurship program, according to the Princeton Review. The rankings analyzed more than 40 data points, including academic offerings, experiential learning opportunities, and career outcomes. #entrepreneurship #UofA #1 https://loom.ly/iDhGNNE

Embarking on the Entrepreneurship Journey In the realm of academic exploration, #entrepreneurship has remained my enduring passion—a spark that was first ignited during my undergraduate journey at International University - VNU HCMC. Pursuing entrepreneurial success led me on a remarkable journey, culminating in creating two published research papers. However, the path to scholarly achievement was far from straightforward. These two papers, which marked my foray into the world of research and constituted my graduation thesis, were faced with obstacles. The first paper encountered rejection from one journal and underwent three rigorous rounds of revisions before acceptance in the Gadjah Mada International Journal of Business - a #ScopusQ4 publication. The second paper encountered eight revisions and underwent numerous rounds of scrutiny from diverse reviewers before getting accepted in the prestigious Taylor & Francis Group Journal, a #ScopusQ2 publication. Yet, in the face of adversity, I persisted. I have been unceasingly reading, learning, and iterative refinement during my post-graduation journey. I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Associate Professor Mai Ngoc Khuong for his steadfast guidance throughout this research expedition. It is indeed an honor to have collaborated with him on these two scholarly contributions. To my fellow #connections embarking on the path of research, I offer my encouragement and admiration. Keep striving, keep contributing to the body of knowledge, and remember that every challenge is an opportunity for growth. Feel free to reference and cite my two papers using the DOI links below if they can be of assistance in your academic journey. Paper 1: The Influence of Entrepreneurial Ecosystems on Entrepreneurs' Perceptions and Business Success - DOI: 10.22146/gamaijb.67416 Paper 2: Entrepreneurial ecosystem affects organisational learning, creativity and success - DOI: