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Welcome to the Center for Entrepreneurship
Center for Entrepreneurship
Welcome to the MSU Denver Center for Entrepreneurship!
The Center’s primary goal is to provide our MSU Denver students with an outstanding education that fosters an entrepreneurial mindset and prepares students to solve problems and launch successful ventures through our Bachelor of Arts in Entrepreneurship Degree Program. We also support our student entrepreneurs and the entrepreneurs and small business owners in our community through our programmatic activities and help our colleagues across campus incorporate entrepreneurship into their own curricula.
An entrepreneurial mindset helps individuals see problems as opportunities, engenders creativity and a growth mindset, and increases one’s ability to be adaptable and flexible in the face of uncertain and changing circumstances. This mindset sets people up to be entrepreneurial: to start or lead a business, and to be intrapreneurial: to bring these much sought after skills to bear within a corporate setting. And, it does so much more. It promotes confidence, self-efficacy, proactivity, and personal responsibility, lifelong learning, an understanding of how to build and maintain professional relationships and connections within your community, and so much more.
Whether students are looking to set themselves up to tackle the world’s biggest problems or create their own economic engine and change their economic trajectory, look no further. A major in Entrepreneurship can do just that.
In addition to acquiring a strong foundation in general business classes such as accounting, management, marketing, and finance, you will also hone knowledge and skills specifically related to launching and leading your own enterprise. The entrepreneurship program focuses on experiential learning. Of course, you’ll learn theory. And, importantly, you’ll actually put that theory into practice through internships, case studies, projects, and simulations all while being connected to Denver businesses and a university culture that inspires and supports entrepreneurship.
Questions? Want to get involved? Contact us.
Launch Denver
Calling all Denver area entrepreneurs!
We support and develop entrepreneurs and small businesses in the Denver area by providing access to business loans, business development services and networking opportunities.
Center for Entrepreneurship Advisory Council
The Advisory Council consists of community members who are experienced in the field of entrepreneurship and are willing to spend time and energy providing assistance to the Center and our students. They bring a broad range of experience and expertise to the Center. If you’re interested in joining, please contact our Center Director, Adam Melnick.
Community and Student Events
The Center hosts a number of community and student events to enhance entrepreneurship in the community and support our burgeoning student entrepreneurs. Events include things like guest speakers and entrepreneur interviews, entrepreneurs on campus, alumni networking and peer support groups, and student pitch competitions.
Center Programs
The Center offers several entrepreneurship related programs.
Launch Denver
Launch Denver is our flagship community-based entrepreneurship program and helps students and community members evaluate business ideas and plan for business launch or growth over the course of 10 weeks.
Small Business Loan Program
Our Small Business Loan Program offers MSU Denver students, faculty, alumni, staff, and graduates of Launch Denver the opportunity to apply for loans ranging from $5,000 – $50,000 and utilizes a character based underwriting process that makes funds available to a wider range of individuals.
Peer-to-peer Mentoring
Beginning in Fall of 2025, the Center will offer a peer to peer mentoring program that will bring business owners from the community together to share their experiences and collectively tackle challenges in an effort to support each other on their entrepreneurial journeys.
Future Programs
In the future, we intend to run a platform that exclusively sells products made by MSU Denver students as well as programming related entrepreneurship through acquisition.
Curriculum
Study Entrepreneurship with our Innovative Curriculum
Below, you’ll find more information on our curriculum options. Or click on these links to go to the catalog:
- Major in Entrepreneurship
- Entrepreneurship concentration within the Major in Management
- Certificate in Entrepreneurship
In addition to offering you a strong foundation in general business classes such as accounting, management, marketing, and finance, you will also acquire in-class and in-person knowledge and skills specifically related to launching your own enterprise.
Through internships, case studies, projects that connect you to Denver businesses, and a university culture that inspires entrepreneurship, our programs will give you the tools to run with your ideas.
JOIN LAUNCH DENVER
FREE 10-WEEK BUSINESS STARTUP WORKSHOP
Because we know how important it is for you to succeed in business, let us help guide you through the startup process.
Launch Denver is a 10-week Business Startup workshop that is free for faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members. The program is designed to guide you through the process of entrepreneurship, starting and growing a business. This powerful program is taught by a variety of professors, alumni and community partners, including The World Trade Center Denver.
- Who is invited? Open to students, faculty, staff, and the community.
- Perks to joining? Business coaching, networking with other entrepreneurs, turning your passion into profits.
- How is it structured? 10-week workshop, 2-hour classes, one-day a week, from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. A combination of in-person and on Zoom
New cohort starting soon!
Spring 2024 Launch Denver
Dr. Lynn Hoffman (second) and Becky Prater (third) with Launch Denver Participants
Dr. Lynn Hoffman (second) and Becky Prater (third) with Launch Denver Participants
Becky Prater, Kieshon Davis and Dr. Adam Melnick
Pitch Fest Winners – April 27, 2023
$2,000 – Precious “Kieshon” Davis: Divine Dream Design
Other Award Winner:
$500 – Lillian Many Goats: Natice Glam Model & Talent (no photo)
Dr. Adam Melnick, Erick Lopez, Becky Prater
$1,000 – Erick Lopez: Mobile Car Detailing
Dr. Adam Melnick, Erick Lopez, Becky Prater
Amber Burr and Becky Prater
$500 – Amber Burr: Daddy’s Homemade Best Syrup
Amber Burr and Becky Prater
Revathy Sukumaran and daughter
$500 – Ravathy Sukumaran: Culture & Cuisine
Revathy Sukumaran and daughter
Amar Alimaa (alumni, World Trade Center), Dr. Debbie Gilliard (Department of Management Chair), Becky Prater (Instructor of Entrepreneurship/Launch Denver), and Dr. Lynn Hoffman.
Amar Alimaa (alumni, World Trade Center), Dr. Debbie Gilliard (Department of Management Chair), Becky Prater (Instructor of Entrepreneurship/Launch Denver), and Dr. Lynn Hoffman.
Dr. Adam Melnick, Zach Martinucci (Rebel Bread), Dr. Ann Murphy (Dean, College of Business)
Dr. Adam Melnick, Zach Martinucci (Rebel Bread), Dr. Ann Murphy (Dean, College of Business)
Women Entrepreneurs Series
MSU Denver and the Center for Entrepreneurship presents Haileigh Grinkmeyer. She shares her story of being a fashion content creator and social media strategist.
MSU Denver and The Center for Entrepreneurship presents Women Entrepreneurs Week featuring Nikkin Hazamy of Corner Beet. Rooted Heart Yoga and Apothecary tells her story of building strong corporate culture, motivating employees, and running her vegetarian restaurant in Denver.
The College of Business and The Center for Entrepreneurship presents Caroline Rusher, co-founder of Kava Culture. Florida-based Kava bar collective shares her story of entrepreneurship starting with passion projects and landing on plant-based Kava bars.
MSU Denver and The Center for Entrepreneurship proudly presents Chebet Mutai of Wazawazi Leather Goods. She shares her story of producing luxury leather goods in Kenya and selling them to the US market.
Nikola Slizova of Construction Claim Supplements shared her entrepreneurial story from immigrating to America, joining a construction company, buying a roofing company, building and selling a multi-million dollar construction company to starting a new business in construction claim supplements.
Griet Depypere, owner of LaSenda Eco-Resort and Cala Luna Boutique Hotel in Costa Rica shares her entrepreneurial journey.
Jaime Foster, founder of Impact to Income Business Coaching and Wellness Business Collective, spoke to us about Leaning into Your Superpower.
Rebeccah Silence, relationship coach, author of Coming Back to Life, radio host, and entrepreneur, inspires us to be our best selves by asking, “What brings you the most alive? Are you the best version of you?”.
Sandy Priester, founder of Lifespark Cancer Resources, shares her entrepreneurial story, the challenges and her passion for starting and growing a leading-edge non-profit wellness organization that serves cancer patients.
Amy Lee is the Founder of Artistic Interiors which is a High-end Interior Design Firm.
Meet Our Faculty
Adam Melnick
Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Assistant Professor
[email protected] 303-605-7208