Entrepreneurship@DU gives students the freedom and the space to explore their interests, passions and purpose. We encourage our students and provide the support to think big, disrupt, solve problems and make an impact.
Academics
Inspiration starts with the cross-disciplinary entrepreneurship curriculum. The entrepreneurship minor can complement any DU major, and entrepreneurship classes are available to every graduate and undergraduate student at the University.
Outside the Classroom
Students across campus can gain inspiration and learn about entrepreneurship by taking part in E@DU events, programs and experiences. The topics and formats are diverse, and we support students in exploring their passions.
Microgrants
E@DU is excited to introduce new $1,000 microgrants! These funds are available to DU students from any full-time program to support new and early-stage business ideas, helping students take their ideas from concept to reality.
Watch Entrepreneurship's year in review video
See What Makes Our Program So Distinctive
See what makes our program so distinctive
A Hub for Entrepreneurial Energy
Both on and off campus, we immerse students in the startup world with activities and resources such as:
- 4impact—a pitch competition for students to get funding and feedback on their business plans
- DO U (Entrepreneurship Club)—a student-led club open to all students interested in exploring entrepreneurship with peers
- Women Innovators—events to inspire, encourage and provide support for female entrepreneurs and other aspiring business-minded individuals
- Harry Trueblood Innovation Collaboratory—an exciting opportunity for students to receive funding and coaching from Daniels entrepreneurial experts to think, innovate, build and validate—and take their product and services to market.
- Entrepreneurship Week—a jam-packed week of festivities celebrating the entrepreneurial community at DU
- Pioneer Venture Group (PVG)—the University of Denver’s first venture capital fund entirely run and managed by a team of students
- DU Pitch Competition—a pitch competition open to all DU students, where undergraduate and graduate students go head to head
- BASE Camp—a 5-week program for student startups that want to grow and accelerate their business idea, find market fit and create value.
- Pop Up Palooza—a student-led market featuring DU students showcasing their business/product and ideas with free food and live music!
New Businesses Start Here
The ideas developed in the entrepreneurship program at DU don’t stay ideas. They become start-ups and thriving businesses. Here are a sampling of some student ventures that received financial support from Entrepreneurship@DU:
- Buonaforma—Combines the timelessness of ceramic form and the innovation of modern technology to compose functional luxury art for any space.
- ChaiGo—The ChaiGo chai latte is a ready-to-drink canned, oat-milk chai latte. It is purpose brewed with Assam black tea and whole spices for the richest of flavors.
- GoodLove Foods—A Gluten-Free line of Frozen, Ready-to-Bake goods so delicious, you may check the ingredients list again!
- Helio—Offers a wide range of sustainable and unique outdoor apparel to brighten up your outdoor adventures.
- Illegal Oats—Ento-granola that embraces the most sustainable and healthiest source of protein by including ento-powder in each recipe.
- MyCogito—A comprehensive, intelligent, and secure digital phenotyping platform for your wellbeing.
- Nomad Joe—Designs and develops products such as the Voyager Kettle, an electric, collapsible kettle designed to make coffee or tea while traveling.
- One Kind Cup—Dedicated to reducing plastic waste from soft drinks by developing a cost efficient, environmentally friendly cup solution.
- PocketChange—Platform enabling users to take action on causes they care about, by donating $0.25–$2 in just one click.
SlopeThreads—Ski clothing rental service, delivering name-brand ski and snowboarding gear right to your doorstep. - Vino Everywhere– A wine straw perfect for any occasion.
Entrepreneurship on Instagram
New Podcast Episode out now!!
Join Joshua Ross in this episode of Entrepreneurship at DU podcast, as Stephen Adele and Zach Lewis share insights from their book, Ready, Set Scale. Learn from the inspiring journey of two DU alumni who scaled their businesses without compromising their values. Take your business to the next level with their wisdom.
Listen to the full episode, link in bio➡️
🔥Last night’s inaugural 4impact Challenge (formerly the Madden Challenge) was a blast—literally! Just as we were wrapping up, the fire alarm 🚨 joined the celebration, so we took the awards outside for a star-lit ceremony. A huge congrats to our top three teams for their adaptability and amazing ideas:
1st Place: RootED
2nd Place: PetPulse
3rd Place: FitPrint
Thank you to everyone who went with the flow and kept the energy (safely) on fire!👏
#Entrepreneurship #E@DU #4impactchallenge #universityofdenver #innovation
Profile 4impact Judge Spotlight
Luke Beatty is an experienced investor and media executive. He founded Associated Content, which was acquired by Yahoo. He became the President of Media Brands at Verizon/AOL and founded Brandfolder, which was acquired by Smartsheet. Luke coaches high school lacrosse and fly fishing and holds degrees from Connecticut College and Harvard University.
Profile 4impact Judge Spotlight
Meet Akila Copeland: a nonprofit leader with 8+ years strengthening communities through collaboration and creative problem-solving. Formerly of Caring for Denver Foundation, Akila is currently with Social Venture Partners Denver.🌟 Passionate about mental health, she’s served on boards like One Colorado and Caring for Denver Foundation. Outside work, she’s training for races or baking gluten-free treats! 🏃♀️
Profile 4impact Judge Spotlight:
Alisa Chalakhian is an entrepreneur and consultant specializing in early-stage startups and business validation. Pursuing a Doctorate in Business Admin at PennState, she researches decision-making processes in high-risk startup environments. Alisa has founded and funded startups in SaaS, marketplace, and fintech industries. She coaches over 250 entrepreneurs and creates innovative programs for aspiring founders. Her passion lies in helping entrepreneurs transform ideas into viable ventures through strategic guidance and mentorship.
✨4impact Challenge Judge Spotlight✨
Bill Powell, Co-founder & Managing Partner of Anthropy Partners, supports early and mid-stage companies advancing innovations in physiology, materials science, and neuroscience. He helps businesses navigate growth from early to mid-stages and has a decade of experience shaping global investment strategies.🚀📱
🔥 Do you know about BASE Camp? 🔥
If you`re an entrepreneur or small business owner looking for support, then join us for a virtual session to discover how BASE Camp can help grow your business!
Learn about the application process and eligibility, and get your questions answered in a live Q&A. Whether you`re ready to apply or just curious, this is your chance to learn more!
#Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #BASECampSupport #GrowYourBusiness #JoinTheJourney
🎉 Last week on October 22nd, we hosted the quarterly E@DU Entrepreneurship Dinner! 🍽️
It was a fun night bringing together DU’s entrepreneurial students, faculty, and alumni for an evening filled with networking and idea-sharing!
Our keynote speaker, Mairi-Jane Fox, shared valuable insights on the role of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) in today’s business world, inspiring students to build purpose-driven ventures.
#EntrepreneurshipDinner #ESG #Collaboration #Networking #EntrepreneurialSpirit
🚀 After over a decade as the Madden Challenge, we’re thrilled to launch the newly named 4impact Challenge—a fresh approach for the Daniels College of Business, inspired by the Fourth Industrial Revolution and DU’s 4D student experience!
Join us Wednesday, Nov. 13, at 6 p.m. in the DU Community Commons for an inspiring night of student pitches, networking, and innovation. Don’t miss this chance to connect and see the future in action! 🌐✨ #4impactChallenge #DUInnovation #4DExperience
Entrepreneurship Newsroom
Exploring Creativity, One Stitch at a Time
New 4impact Challenge Showcases the Future of the 4th Industrial Revolution
Navigating the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: Insights from Professor John Sebesta
Entrepreneurs Kickstart Their Creativity at BASE Camp 2024
The Garage: Hub for Innovation, Collaboration and Entrepreneurial Growth
Alumna Supports Athletes at the Paralympics
An MBA Helps ‘Wound Wizard’ Build a Health Care Empire
E Week Highlights Entrepreneurship in Denver
