Weatherford E-Team Workshop and Seed Fund

Oregon State University, 2005 - $32,000

Oregon State University's Austin Entrepreneurship Program, launched in 2004, includes an entrepreneurship minor for non-business majors and a residential program at Weatherford Hall. OSU faculty are now developing an E-Team a workshop and seed fund to introduce students to the concepts of innovation and problem-solving and encourage them to convert their ideas into viable business concepts. Beginning in fall 2005, OSU will offer eight free evening workshops, facilitated by an OSU business professor and open to any enrolled student. Students in the workshops will learn how to work as a team to develop a startup idea in several business areas. They will be taught and mentored by industry professionals, who, together with OSU faculty, will guide the students through the process of creating a business plan and applying for seed funding. Through a competitive process successful E-Teams will be awarded seed funds averaging $2,000 each, and will use the funds to advance their early-stage business ideas through market research, prototype development, and patent filing.