EMU Today

YPSILANTI – With funds raised from EMU alumni and community partners, the Center for Entrepreneurship at Eastern Michigan University is launching its third installation of the Executive Certificate in Entrepreneurship program to help aspiring entrepreneurs jumpstart their ideas. The eight-week in-person and online hybrid program offers business instruction, professional coaching, mentorship, networking, and the chance for participants to pitch their startup ideas for a $25,000 business expense fund.

“Entrepreneurship is challenging, especially at the very early stage,” said Sanjib Chowdhury, director of the Center for Entrepreneurship at Eastern. "We are thrilled to offer this incredible program for passionate Michigan entrepreneurs and help them move their ideas forward.”

Also interacting with the participants will be Chris Kaufman, co-founder of StockX. “As an entrepreneur and EMU graduate, I understand the impact a program like this will have on budding entrepreneurs. I look forward to working with the participants and helping them develop their ideas.”

The Executive Certificate in Entrepreneurship will include additional industry experts, professional coaches, mentors, and startup investors. It was developed for aspiring entrepreneurs with growth-oriented and scalable business ideas and executives looking to expand their entrepreneurial mindset. The program will consist of eight modules with topics including:

• Value Proposition

• Customer Discovery

• Market Position and Branding

• Organizing your Startup and Legal Issues

• Financial Modeling and P&L Projections

The program will include a venture challenge among program participants for business expense funding. One winner will be chosen from 20 participants at the final Venture Challenge. Established investors and entrepreneurs from Michigan will serve as professional coaches, mentors, and judges throughout the eight-week program.

“This business training experience provided me with the knowledge and skills that I needed to move forward with my startup,” said Snehal Patel, founder of HeloGenika, and challenge participant. “EMU helped me connect with business mentors in the community. The didactics were excellent," he added. 

"The EMU Executive Certificate in Entrepreneurship was exactly what I was missing in my business journey,” said Shelly Watts, founder of Muirneen Equestrian and a challenge participant winner.

“It helped redefine and strategize around all aspects of my company and made me a better small business owner." 

Several scholarships are available to participants. The application deadline for the program is Jan. 12, 2023. For more information and to apply, visit the Executive Certificate in Entrepreneurship program website.

About the Center for Entrepreneurship
Established in 1986, EMU's Center for Entrepreneurship (CFE) strives to enhance a culture of entrepreneurship in the EMU community by supporting a strong entrepreneurship curriculum and offering a variety of co-curricular programs. The CFE also encourages local entrepreneurship by engaging EMU students and faculty in innovation, business creation and growth in southeast Michigan.

About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 14,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and its graduate school. National publications regularly recognize EMU for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. Visit the University’s rankings and points of pride websites to learn more. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website. To stay up to date on University news, activities and announcements, visit EMU Today.