Entrepreneurship

• CLIMB (Collaboration, Leadership and Innovation for Missouri Business)

  • CLIMBis an MBA-led student initiative by the MU Office of Research to promote and grow entrepreneurial efforts on campus. Students, faculty and community members from all disciplines throughout the University of Missouri have been collaborating and participating to build this effort.  CLIMB was recently awarded a $33,000 grant by the prestigious Kauffmann Foundation to promote this endeavor.
    

• MU Entrepreneurs

  • MU Entrepreneurs is a multidisciplinary organization devoted to promoting the open discussion of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial ideas, while providing its members with the experience and skills relevant to becoming an entrepreneur.
    

• Student Angel Capital Group (SACP)

  • SACP is a cross-disciplinary, student-managed angel investment fund that allows undergraduate and graduate students of the University of Missouri the opportunity to learn angel and venture capital investment strategies through first-hand experience of investing in high-growth Missouri start-up companies.  They are backed by the Trulaske College of Business and have been endorsed with $50, 000 Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation that gave them the initial seed money to launch the “real world” endeavor.
    

• Mid-Missouri Entrepreneurial Summit

  • Mid-Missouri Entrepreneurial Summit held its first annual event February 4, 2011 on the University of Missouri campus.  It was established to help shape Columbia’s future as an Entrepreneurial Community and included a competition, workshops and networking with campus and community entrepreneurs.
    

• Missouri Innovation Center (MIC)

  • MIC's mission is economic development and the overall objective is to form a technology industry cluster in mid-Missouri. They accomplish this by creating and attracting new technology ventures that in turn create high-paying jobs and attract capital investment. MIC offers coaching sessions in various stages of the business growth cycle to provide opportunity assessment and business plan development.  Four MU Crosby MBA students serve as Entrepreneurial Scholars at MIC's high-tech business incubator on campus and have the opportunity to interact and consult with real startup ventures.  A number of students have gone on to join or create their own ventures as a result of the experience gained while working at the MIC.
    

• University Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (UCIE)

  • UCIE is funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) as a catalyst to bring a wide variety of entrepreneurial and economic development resources together in one easy-to-access location.  Three MU Crosby MBA students serve as graduate assistants and provide support and consulting for UCIE clients.  Partnered with the University of Missouri Extension and the MU College of Engineering, UCIE provides assistance through programs such as the Missouri Small Business and Technology Development Center (MO SBTDC).  In fiscal year 2010, MO SBTDC staff successfully assisted more than 3,000 clients, resulting in 6,819 jobs created or retained and $514 million in increased sales.
    

• The Office of Technology Management and Industry Relations (OTMIR)

  • OTMIR works to identify, assess, protect and market commercially viable intellectual property developed at the University of Missouri. The OTMIR evaluates new technologies, obtains patent protection where needed, identifies licensees and negotiates all intellectual property agreements.  The OTMIR offers support and guidance to new ventures formed to commercialize viable University technologies.
    

This only scratches the surface of the vast opportunity of resources.  There is also the ability to compete in the local Show-Me Business Plan Competition, various idea pitch competitions, and even be sponsored to participate in national competitions such as the Rice Business Plan Competition.  As a Crosby MBA student, the level of involvement and immersion is up to you.  Recent graduates have gone on to join or create new start-up ventures upon graduation.  The entrepreneurial opportunities on campus are limitless and the choice is yours.  Choose to thrive!