entrepreneurial learning community incubation and experiential learning workgroup participants:

Entrepreneurial Learning Community

Incubation andExperiential Learning

Workgroup Participants:Brent Case (MMIC) – [email protected] – 989-839-2334 Harry Leaver (SVSU) - [email protected] - 989-964-4047Ron Steiner (The Starting Block) - [email protected] - 231-873-6841Chuck Fitzpatrick (CMU) - [email protected] - 989-774-3270Chris Krieger (Duperon Education) - [email protected] - Massoud Tavakoli (Kettering) - [email protected] - 810-762-7922Peter Scott (Formerly w/Kettering) – current contact info not available

Incubation and Experiential Learning

National Business Incubation Association (NBIA):

“Business incubation is a business support process that acceleratesthe successful development of start-up and fledgling companies by providing entrepreneurs with an array of targeted resources and services.”


"Tell me and I will forget.Show me and I may remember.Involve me and I will understand." ~Ancient Chinese Proverb (translated)

Association for Experiential Education (AEE)

“Experiential education is a philosophy and methodology in which educators purposefully engage with learners in direct experience and focused reflection in order to increase knowledge, develop skills and clarify values.”

Incubation and Experiential LearningGoals:

1.Define what differentiates an “Entrepreneurial Internship” from traditional internships/co-ops.

2.Develop “best practices” for a regional “Entrepreneurial Internship Program” that can be used across Mid-Michigan for college students and/or others interested in gaining knowledge regarding entrepreneurship through experiential learning.

3.Involve area incubators/accelerators and their tenant companies in the program

4. Secure funding to implement a pilot “Entrepreneurial Internship Program” throughout Mid-Michigan

Incubation and Experiential LearningObjectives:

1.Evaluate current internship/co-op processes in which college students engage businesses for academic credit (for participating universities)

2.Research other exemplary Entrepreneurial Internship programs and understand their processes.

3.Provide businesses based in incubators preference for top student interns.

4.Consider practices to assist student businesses and accelerate their growth and success.

5.Improve preparation for students seeking entrepreneurial internships through formal entrepreneurial training (Duperon Education Curriculum)


Definition: •An Entrepreneurial Internship goes beyond a traditional internship or co-op in that there is more involvement and oversight by the University internship coordinator and student interns receive practical training from true entrepreneurs.

•Employers are more carefully selected to ensure they meet the criteria of an “Entrepreneurial” company and can provide a meaningful experience for the student interns.

•Students are more carefully selected to ensure they are prepared and have the proper skills to meet the employer’s expectations.

•Goals and objectives for the Entrepreneurial internship must be outlined in advance and the experience is monitored by an intern coordinator throughout the entire intern engagement.


Definition (continued) : • Entrepreneurial Interns are exposed to multiple aspects of owning and operating a business and do not spend their time focused on just one operational area of a business.

•Employers and students evaluate the internship experience during the internship and at the conclusion of the engagement. Also, the intern coordinator maintains communication with employers and students throughout the internship.

•Students must prepare and provide a presentation and/or report to the employer and intern coordinator summarizing the experience and describe how goals and objectives outlined at the beginning of the experience, were or weren’t accomplished.


Definition of an IDEAL Entrepreneurial Company: •Company must be less than 3-4 years old (true start-up)

•Revenues under $2 million

•Less than 20 employees

•Consider “Intra-preneurial” experiences with larger/older companies that have an entrepreneurial philosophy

•All companies must be willing to provide student with meaningful experience (not just administrative)

•Company must be willing to provide student access to top management/business owner


Other recommendations/suggestions from workgroup:

•Provide students mentors, either from within the organization they are doing the internship with, or an external mentor

•Provide Duperon Education training to students prior to entering internship program (pre-requisite)

•Connect student businesses or gifted students with Duperon Education’s E-Fund, a group of investors looking to connect talented and/or aspiring entrepreneurs with promising business opportunities seeking leadership


Recommendations/suggestions from workgroup (cont’d): •Provide companies some level of stipend to hire entrepreneurial interns, as many start-up companies cannot afford to do so during their early stages of company development.

•Current incubator tenants (and possibly virtual tenants of MMIC) should have preference to hire entrepreneurial interns

•Once demand has been met for incubator companies, other qualified small businesses would be eligible to hire entrepreneurial interns


Current Status: •Currently placing students without stipend

•Have drafted a pilot program involving MMIC, CMU and SVSU

•Provide $2,000 stipend to entrepreneurial businesses hosting interns

•Select best student with skills that match employer needs from CMU or SVSU

•Establish goals and objectives for internship

•Intern coordinators from each university monitor ongoing process

•Report out at end regarding experience


Next steps: •Approach foundations for support

• Kauffman Foundation• Edward Lowe Foundation • Mott Foundation• Ford Foundation• Possibly EDA• Rural Development

• Document process and get CMU and SVSU programs ready to start once funded

entrepreneurial learning community incubation and experiential learning workgroup participants:

Documents