So you want to start a business?
There is a unique startup story behind every entrepreneur, and numerous paths you could take when it comes to starting your own business. For future entrepreneurs, CU Boulder offers plenty of opportunities to gain the skills and experience you need to achieve your goals. Here are a few ways to get started.
Get involved
There are many student startups at CU! Joining a student organization or group can help you meet others who are interested in entrepreneurship. You can bounce ideas off each other and work together to make them a reality. Getting involved also allows you to develop the time management skills you’ll need with untraditional working hours.
Also, take advantage of leadership opportunities in your organization. These can help you practice problem solving and making decisions. If you’re not sure where to start, stop by the Center for Student Involvement for help.
Make connections
Successful entrepreneurs are always meeting new people, networking with other entrepreneurs and seeking advice from other businesses. It’s never too early to start building your network. Review these five tips to get a start, and find more ways to make these connections with Career Services.
Use your resources
There are many resources on campus to help get your business up and running:
- Check out the Idea Forge or Startup Hub and start using their services.
- Every year, the New Venture Challenge (NVC) connects the CU Boulder campus with the Boulder community to develop and fund entrepreneurial ideas. Participants attend year-round events, network and collaborate with mentors to refine their ideas and form teams before pitching for funding (up to $200,000!) at the NVC Championships.
- Catalyze CU is a summer-long startup accelerator designed for CU students, faculty and staff. Catalyze combines world class mentorship, funding, and dedicated co-working space to help the most promising ventures from across campus reach escape velocity—without taking any equity.
Explore majors
There are many majors and programs that can help you prepare for a future in business. These include:
Talk with your advisor about how these programs could fit into your academic journey.