If you are interested in Entrepreneurship, Purdue is a great place to be. As a leading academic and research institution, technologies invented at Purdue have improved lives around the world. Whether you want to take classes on entrepreneurship, participate in business plan competitions, network with entrepreneurs, or start your own company, there are myriad opportunities on campus and within the Lafayette/West Lafayette communities.
Campus Resources
The Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship is an interdisciplinary entrepreneurship research center located on Purdue’s campus (1201 W. State Street, West Lafayette). The center sponsors several programs, including a Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, a Technology Realization Program and the Entrepreneurship Leadership Academy. In addition, the center also sponsors an annual Business Plan Competition and elevator pitch competition.
Discovery Park is a research and learning complex consisting of eight core centers, including the Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship (see below). Discovery Park was founded in 2001 and has attracted more than $550M in sponsored research opportunities for Purdue since its inception. Within Discovery Park, you will find over 100,000 square feet of laboratory space, and 90,000 of office space. Over 4,000 students and faculty members are utilizing Discovery Park’s interdisciplinary approach to solve our society’s greatest challenges. Projects range from improving cancer treatments to discovering new technologies to boost Indiana’s manufacturing economy.
Purdue Research Park is a great place to start or grow your high-tech company. The West Lafayette Center is home to the largest cluster of technology companies in the state and is the largest university-affiliated business incubation complex in the country. Residents of the park have access to Purdue University resources, as well as low/no cost professional services, child care services and a fitness center.
Located in the Herman and Heddy Kurz Purdue Technology Center in the Purdue Research Park, the Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization helps entrepreneurs understand their options with regards to patenting and licensing their innovations. In some cases, OTC works with entrepreneurs to form startup companies and may help identify investors and members of the organization’s leadership team. In 2015, OTC reported 241 deals finalized to 131 entities, issued 178 U.S. and global patents and helped create 25 startup companies founded on Purdue University innovations.
The Business Technology and Entrepreneurship Club exists to foster a passion for technology and entrepreneurship amongst students and faculty within the Krannert community. The club was started by Purdue MBA students, but many of its events are open to the public. The organization hosts networking sessions with technology companies, participates in entrepreneurship competitions (including the Burton D. Morgan Business Plan competition) and participated in the first Startup Weekend in Lafayette.
The innovation and Entrepreneurship landing page provides resources for entrepreneurs at any level. Guidance on starting a company to funding an innovation to learning about entrepreneurship can be found here.
Community Resources
The Greater Lafayette community is a safe, convenient and vibrant place to study or to launch a business. Both the cities of Lafayette and West Lafayette have a variety of resources for entrepreneurs, including:
The Anvil is a co-working space at Purdue University that serves the unique needs of passionate students, acting as the center of creative culture in West Lafayette. The Anvil focuses on providing local and student-run startups affordable office space as well as access to some of the best engineering talent in the country.
Verge is a meetup group for entrepreneurs in the Greater Lafayette community. Entrepreneurs and investors are encouraged to participate in monthly meetings. There is no cost to attend.