Entrepreneurship

Being entrepreneurial is a mindset, a way of thinking. The CIEC supports members of the Smith community who are attracted to opportunities, innovation and value creation and those who are calculated risk takers and thrive in an ambiguous environment. If you have a great idea for a business, product or service, or even if you don't, we invite you to participate in our hands-on activities and learning workshops throughout the year and practice.

Develop Skills

Through curricular and co-curricular initiatives, students delve into a range of subjects and develop specific skills such as leadership, resiliency, self-reflection, selling, managing people and communication.

Work Together

We partner with academic and other departments on campus, as well as visiting experts, to infuse entrepreneurial practices and perspectives throughout the college.

Test Ideas

We offer opportunities for the Smith community to generate, share, test and refine their ideas through a variety of activities, including competitions, challenges, pitch contests, business model workshops, start-a-thon and trade shows.

Online Office Hours

Monica Dean, Conway Center Director, is available to meet with teams needing assistance with defining value propositions and identifying customer segments, market size estimates and finacial projections for launching and scaling ventures.

Special Events

S mithVent

Live Q&A conversation with members of the SmithVent team on Tuesday, October 6, 6-7pm.

FastCompany magazine called the SmithVent project “a master class in designing for the COVID-19 era.” Take advantage of this opportunity to learn from Smithies about what it was like to rapidly and collaboratively design a winning solution to one of our world's pressing needs.

A Collaborative Design-a-Thon

For a better and more just post COVID-19 world!

A 36-hour virtual weekend event October 24 - 25, 2020
If...

You’re curious what design thinking, entrepreneurship, and/or collaborative change-making and leadership might look or feel like;

You want to get started with proactive problem-solving but don’t know where to start;
You’re interested in a fun, interactive challenge to tackle with other Smithies on a weekend.

Then bring at least one Smithie friend, or more. And if you are looking for a teammate, don’t worry - let us know and we can match you up with another curious, creative soul.

Because this is a chance to dive into a guided rapid co-design process and get constructive feedback from professionals. It’s also a launch pad for taking your ideas further.

Annual Elevator Pitch Contest

90 seconds is all the time each contestant has to present a business, product or service idea to their peers, local entrepreneurs and a panel of judges. Up to $1,000 in cash & prizes will be given away.

Contestants must upload a 90-second pitch video by Friday, November 20.

To come

Workshops

Shark Tank

All teams who have submitted applications for the 2021 Draper Competition have an opportunity to practice their 90-second pitch. Mentors will be on hand to provide feedback. Cash prizes will be distributed to those with the best pitches of the evening.

A Closer Look

Profiles of Women Entrepreneurship Week 2017 participants (3:54)

Women Entrepreneurship Week 2017 Participants

Valley Venture Mentors help Smith Student Entrepreneurs (2:02)

Valley Venture Mentors Collegiate Accelerator participants (2:34)

Draper Competition

The annual Draper Competition for Collegiate Women Entrepreneurs is an on-ramp for undergraduate women seeking access to entrepreneurship opportunties, capital and networks.

LEARN MORE