Entrepreneurship Week at Duke University and Global Entrepreneurship Week 2008

Duke is holding it's inaugural Entrepreneurship Week, December 3 - December 8, and will be a part of the next official iteration of Entrepreneurship Week - Global Entrepreneurship Week, November 17-23, 2008.

For it's inaugural Entrepreneurship Week, Duke University has planned a series of events to engage students in various dimensions of entrepreneurship. Each day will feature a different theme, such as Industry, Social, Technology, Undergraduate and others. Events will include presentations by prestigious speakers; roundtable discussions; a mixer venture capitalists (VCs), students and entrepreneurs; VC/student "speed dating" allowing students to pitch their ideas; a start-up job fair; and a technology showcase of some of Duke University's most interesting research.

The Week is being co-hosted by groups across campus.  As of November 5, 2007 the co-hosts are:

The Co-Chairs are:

  • Kimberly Jenkins
  • Jeff Clark
  • Howie Rhee
  • Larry Boyd
  • Kaycee Shoemaker
  • Jeremy Welch

And the Executive Commitee members are:

(in alphabetical order)

  • Jon Fjeld
  • Brad Fox
  • Jeff Glass
  • Bob Markley
  • Barry Myers
  • Matt Nash
  • Rose Ritts
  • Melda Uzbil
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who can attend Entrepreneurship Week events?
For the most part, events are open to all Duke students, alumni, parents, staff, and faculty. Members of the entrepreneurial community and the general public can attend the week for $99 ($89 if paid before the pre-registration deadline of Nov 29th). Students from other colleges do not have to pay the fee.

Some events, like the High School Entrepreneurship Pitch event, require an RSVP to the event chairperson. Only Duke students can present business pitches during VC Speed-Dating, though anyone can attend the reception following the formal pitches.

Do I need to register or RSVP?
We encourage everyone to register for the week.

Some events are closed to invited guests only. See details on the website for each event to get more information. Seating for all events is first come, first served, so plan to get there early! Duke students must apply in advance to make a formal pitch during the VC Speed-Dating event

EntrepreneurshipWeek USA 2007 

The 21st Century will belong to innovators who can turn ideas into action. This applies more than ever to today's students, who need to be self-starters and possess an entrepreneurial spirit to succeed in a world that is increasingly "flat." The House of Representatives recently noted the importance of entrepreneurship by enacting a Resolution (HR 699) in support of a national entrepreneurship week. To that end, February 24 - March 3, 2007 was designated as EntrepreneurshipWeek USA, a national effort by hundreds of organizations to inspire and encourage entrepreneurship in young people and to celebrate America's unique culture of innovation.

With the theme, "What's Your Big Idea? Take it On!" communities across the country, EntrepreneurshipWeek USA conducted events and activities to ignite the nation's consciousness around the importance of being entrepreneurial - whether that means starting a new business, developing an innovation for an existing company or solving a societal problem. EntrepreneurshipWeek USA was sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the New York Times, and Inc. magazine, as well as government, not-for-profit organizations and businesses.