Center for Advancement of Entrepreneurship
Founded in 2008, the Center for the Advancement of Entrepreneurship is led by Jeffrey Hornsby, professor of management and the Jack Vanier Chair of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the College of Business Administration.
The mission of our award-winning center is to promote entrepreneurship among all academic disciplines at Kansas State University.
Curriculum
The center offers a major and a minor in entrepreneurship under the college's department of management. Both programs are open to students in all majors across the K-State Manhattan campus.
Experience
The NEXT Big Thing
Started in 2010, The NEXT Big Thing is an annual entrepreneurship idea competition that awards more than $20,000 in prize money. The competition is open to undergraduate and graduate students in the K-State Manhattan campus. Learn more.
Entrepreneurship Speaker Series
Brings entrepreneurial leaders to campus to share their experiences and encourage students to consider entrepreneurship as a career option in their respective disciplines.
HMD/Entreprenuership Speakers Series
The HMD/Entrepreneurship Speaker Series invites local entrepreneurs to share their experiences and expertise. The series is sponsored by K-State Entrepreneurship and the Department of Hospitality Management and Dietetics.
CEO
Collegiate Entrepreneurship Organization is a student organization in the College of Business Administration. The students are advised by the center's staff. Link to CEO.
Venture Launch
Venture Accelerator
The Venture Accelerator is located at 914 and 918 N. Manhattan Avenue directly across from the K-State campus.
Venture Incubator
Provides business services and space to promising student ventures in the early development stages. The Incubator is designed to take learning beyond the walls of the classroom and allows students to combine their knowledge and passion to create businesses. It supports traditional, social, and corporate entrepreneurial ventures, and it is open to students from all majors, and focuses on closing the gap between writing business plans and venture launch.
Wildcat Venture Fund
Entrepreneurship students have the opportunity to start their new venture in the Venture Accelerator with funding from the Wildcat Venture Fund, which is fully managed by investment management students.
Investment management students conduct due diligence, analysis, and make investment recommendations on student businesses applying for funding and space in the Venture Accelerator. These students will also be responsible for helping student entrepreneurs create the financial portion of their business plans, work with entrepreneurs to help grow their businesses, and provide other venture capital related functions such as bringing in accounting, marketing, and management expertise (other students) as necessary. A board of K-State linked venture capitalists provide oversight.
Entrepreneurship Mentoring
Connecting entrepreneurship students with alumni who provide student-specific guidance in their individual area of entrepreneurship interest. This experience further enhances the student's entrepreneurship knowledge and potential for business success.
Venture Kansas
Advisory Boards
External Advisory Board
- Dave Dreiling, Founder, GTM Sportswear
Chair - John Graham,Executive in Residence, College of Business Administration; Former CEO,
Kansas Farm Bureau
Vice Chair - Amy Button Renz,President and CEO, K-State Alumni Association
- Bob DeBruyn, Founder and Owner, Master Teacher,
- Mark Dobbins, Executive Vice President, Cereal Food Processors
- Kent Glasscock, President and CEO, NISTAC
- Tim Grant;Director of Development, College of Business Administration
- Kevin Lockett; Manager, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation; Deputy Director, Urban Entrepreneur Partnership (UEP)
- Jan Marks; CEO, Varney and Associates
- Earl McVicker; Chairman, President, and CEO, Central Bank and Trust Co.
- Chris Miller; Co-owner, Rocking M Radio
- Toby Rush; Co-founder, President, and CEO, Rush Tracking Systems
- Bill Sanford; Chairman, President, and CEO, Symark, LLC
- Paul Stephenson;Owner, PDS Company
- William Trenkle Jr.;Attorney-at-Law and Senior Partner, Foulston Siefkin, LLP
- Jack Vanier; President and Owner, Western Star Ag Resources; Former President, Kansas Livestock Association
- Lee Young; Founder, Vortex Valves
Internal Advisory Board
- Betsy Barrett, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Hospitality Management and Dietetics College of Human Ecology - Jim Bloodgood, Ph.D.
Professor, Management Department, College of Business Administration - Deborah Canter, Ph.D.
Professor and Department Head, Department of Hospitality Management and Dietetics, College of Human Ecology - Gary Clark, P.D.
Senior Associate Dean, College of Engineering - Anand Desai, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Academic Administration, College of Business Administration - Fred Fairchild, Ph.D.
Professor, Grain Science and Industry, College of Agriculture - Roger Fingland, DVM, MS, MBA, DACVS
Associate Dean, Clinical Programs
Director, KSU Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital
Director, Midwest Veterinary Specialty Hospital - Wayne Goins, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Music
Director, Jazz Ensembles - Allan Hastings, IDSA, SAE
Professor, Interior Architecture and Product Design, College of Architecture, Planning, and Design - Ken Klabunde, Ph.D.
University Distinguished Professor, Chemistry
Founder, Nanoscale Materials - Brad Kramer, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Department Head, Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering Director, Advanced Manufacturing Institute - Dirk Meier, Ph.D.
Department Head, Grain Science and Industry, College of Agriculture - Dave Proctor, Ph.D.
Director, Center for Engagement - Mary Tolar, Ph.D.
Director, School for Leadership Studies - Karin Westman, Ph.D.
Department Head, English, College of Arts and Sciences - Jeff Zacharakis, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Education Leadership, College of Education
The Next Big Thing 2012 Winners
Social Enterprise Division
Rafiki Bags Co.: Kaitlin Long, Logan Gauby
Undergraduate Division
Enviro Feed Bunks: David Heideman, Caleb Wurth, Britni Beck, Grace Bokelman
Graduate Division
Chef Shannon: Shannon Underwood
