Entrepreneurship: Becoming A Game-Changer
This hands-on course will guide students to see that entrepreneurship is everywhere and for everyone. Students will be given frameworks to think about creating something new that solves a problem in the world, such as a product, a business, a nonprofit, or any new kind of organization.
Working in teams, students will then begin implementing their ideas. We will cover all stages of the entrepreneurial process, from gathering intel in the “real world” to pitching ideas and working with mentors to finding sources of funding. You will learn about local resources that are available to develop your enterprise, including the UMass 3D printing lab, as well as local incubators and accelerators such as Valley Venture Mentors and TechSpring in Springfield, MA.
This course is offered at the UMass Amherst campus as a residential program. Local students may apply to attend as a commuter.
During our time together, we'll explore four key areas:
- Entrepreneurial Mindset develops a growth mindset that embraces challenges and transforms setbacks into stepping stones while mastering problem-solving and pitch presentation skills, including the art of the 1-minute pitch.
- Venture Creation teaches students to generate innovative business ideas, craft compelling pitches, and leverage AI technology to bring concepts to reality while exploring cutting-edge tools like 3D printing and emerging technologies.
- Strategic Entrepreneurship & Growth builds scalable business models through Food Truck Business Simulation, covering marketing, budgeting, and customer service essentials from concept to operation.
- Social Entrepreneurship empowers students to create ventures with positive social impact, addressing real challenges through innovative solutions while working in teams to discover how businesses can drive positive change.
Pre-Requisites
There are no pre-requisites for this program.
Materials
In class workbook, books, articles, videos and other supporting content will be provided in Canvas, and from the UMass Amherst library.
The course aims to achieve the following learning outcomes:
- Comprehend and apply entrepreneurial theory and utilizing lean startup principles
- Recognize and evaluate business opportunities
- Develop practical solutions to problems and identify opportunities
- Spearhead the establishment of a new venture
Students will also:
- Examine the broader social and economic impact of entrepreneurship
- Enhance communication skills to effectively articulate business value to diverse stakeholders
- Sharpen critical thinking abilities to creatively solve real-world business challenges
- Develop a comprehensive business model canvas for a new business opportunity
- Analyze and interpret financial data within the context of business financial statements
This course equips students with essential skills for college success including communication excellence, high-performance teamwork, creative problem-solving, cross-cultural collaboration, and leadership skills to grab opportunities and take charge of their future.
Class time is Monday-Friday from 9 am - 4 pm.
|
Time |
Activity |
|
9:00-10:00 AM |
Daily entrepreneurship activity / exercise |
|
10:00-11:00 AM |
Idea Jam |
| 11:00 AM - 12:00pm |
Team Formation |
|
12:00-1:00 PM |
Lunch Break |
|
1:00-2:00 PM |
Intro to Lean Launchpad |
|
2:00-3:00 PM |
How to do customer discovery |
| 3:00-4:00 pm |
Group project time |
In the evenings and on weekends resident counselors will run a series of social activities. Students are encouraged to join in, relax and have fun with new friends! With social events on campus and in the surrounding Amherst area, and access to the UMass Recreation & Wellness Center, there's something for everyone to enjoy.
Learn more about student life at UMass Amherst Summer Pre-College