Timeline

BELMONT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP OVER THE YEARS



2003

Dr. Jeff Cornwall, the Center’s first Director, comes to Belmont and starts our Entrepreneurship program 

2004

First on-campus businesses, Reverbmedia and Blvd., open in the Center’s retail space on Belmont Blvd. 

2004

After receiving a grant from the Coleman Foundation, the Center’s first co-working space is opened 

2004

Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Major offered



2018

Seventeen Magazine names Belmont the “Best College for Business Majors: Entrepreneurship” 

2018

DECA wins International Team Champion in Entrepreneurship at the International Career Development Conference 

2016

Boulevard Record Shop opens in the on-campus retail space 

2016

House Of opens in the on-campus retail space with support from Nashville Fashion Alliance



2019

Thomas F. Cone Sr. Center for Entrepreneurship endowment is announced

Thomas F. Cone Sr . Center for Entrepreneurship 

2019

1st annual Belmont Entrepreneur Awards

2019 BELMONT

ENTREPRENEUR AWARDS



2020

Ranked by Princeton Review and Entrepreneur Magazine as a Top Undergrad Entrepreneurship Programfor the 11th Time

ENTREPRENEURSHIP RUNS IN THE VEINS OF BELMONT. FROM ADELICIA ACKLEN’S INNOVATIVE SPIRIT TO THE INITIATIVE OF OUR STUDENTS TODAY, IT IS NO SURPRISE THAT BELMONT UNIVERSITY IS HOME TO A TOP 25 ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM. TAKE A LOOK AT SOME PIVOTAL MOMENTS IN THE HISTORY OF THE THOMAS F. CONE SR. CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP.



2005

Feedback Clothing opens in the on-campus retail space 

2008

Belmont becomes the first institution of higher education in the United States to offer an undergraduate major in Social Entrepreneurship 

2010

Buzzy’s Candy Shop opens in the on-campus retail space 

2010

Named by Fortune Magazine as one of “Five Schools for Entrepreneurs”   



2015

Elizabeth Gortmaker comes to Belmont to serve as Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship 

2013

First Entrepreneurship Village 

2012

Belmont Enactus wins the Enactus World Cup with Spring Back



2020

Creation of the Bruin Launch Fund, funded by alumni to support the next generation of Bruin entrepreneurs 

2021

Dr. Greg Jones is named Belmont University’s new president 

2021

Where the Well Things Are opens in the on-campus retail space

NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM

2004 Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top 10 Entrepreneurship Emphasis Program National Award

2005 Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top 10 Entrepreneurship Emphasis Program National Award

2008 Ranked 23rd Entrepreneur Magazine and Princeton Review Top 25 Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Program

2010 Ranked 18th Entrepreneur Magazine and Princeton Review Top 25 Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Program

2011 Ranked 19th Entrepreneur Magazine and Princeton Review Top 25 Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Program

2012 Ranked 19th Entrepreneur Magazine and Princeton Review Top 25 Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Program

2016 Ranked 16th Entrepreneur Magazine and Princeton Review Top 25 Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Program

2017 Ranked 23rd Entrepreneur Magazine and Princeton Review Top 25 Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Program

2019 Ranked 24th Entrepreneur Magazine and Princeton Review Top 25 Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Program

2020 Ranked 20th Entrepreneur Magazine and Princeton Review Top 50 Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Program

2021 Ranked 20th Entrepreneur Magazine and Princeton Review Top 50 Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Program

2022 Ranked 6th Southeast Entrepreneur Magazine and Princeton Review Top Undergraduate Program