BUERK CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP
MENTORING
NETWORKS
IDEAS
STRATEGY
RESOURCES ENGAGEMENT
We’re in the BUSINESS of ideas
BY THE NUMBERS 3,000 UW students enrolled across all entrepreneurship courses offered in 2019-2020.
160+ mentors The Buerk Center is deeply connected to Seattle’s thriving entrepreneurial community. Since 1991, our students have received exclusive access to serial entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, angel investors, startup legal firms, marketing and public relations firms, and more. Our mentors have an average of over 20+ years of experience.
$300,000+ Seed funding awarded annually to student startup ventures.
1,009 Companies started by students and alumni (2010-2019) based on limited survey results.
58 of 69 (84%) Student led startups that are still in business after completing the Jones + Foster Accelerator hosted by the Buerk Center.
HOW WE WORK The path of the entrepreneur is seldom linear. Like the stars in a constellation, the pattern depends on your perspective, creativity, and passion. A curious mind leads us to look up, and in doing so, see things that others have not. Ultimately, the entrepreneur chooses to explore new territory in search of new solutions. For this kind of journey, having the right travelling party is key. The engagement of serial entrepreneurs and the investment community is what makes the Buerk Center work. We are successful because of broad support from across the innovation ecosystem. Our goal is to inspire students from all majors and disciplines across campus to pursue their entrepreneurial passions. The best student teams—and not coincidentally, startups—are the ones that synthesize diverse technical and business skill sets. Innovation is experimental and we believe students need proving grounds that test their assumptions, add to their experience, and lead them toward asking the right questions. We provide a core curriculum focused on entrepreneurial strategy, finance, and marketing, and bring together students from disciplines across campus— in addition to business students. Add in extracurricular events, and hands-on innovation and startup competitions and students are started down the path from idea to launch.
CELEBRATING THE UNIQUE PATH OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP Today’s students benefit from successful alumni, engaged donors, and mentors who once embarked on similar journeys. They learn that ultimately, success isn’t about one moment or one company.
Mackenzie Andrews, Allisa Song & Jennifer Steger
Peter Keckemet & Sam Tanner
(Bioengineering, Biology, Pharmacology)
As friends and fraternity brothers, this pair created a nationally-recognized startup Joe Chocolate Co. after competing with earlier ventures. From global sales to a chocolate shop at the world-famous Pike Place Market, they’ve built a caffeine buzz to power their JOURNEY.
The trio of female founders iterated, competed, and grew an eyedrop adaptor idea as students into a thriving business called Nanodropper— and a Forbes 30 under 30 in Healthcare recognition as part of their JOURNEY.
David Coven (Mechanical Engineering) From engineering, the Lavin Entrepreneurship Program, and early ventures like UW Hyperloop to President & CEO of Scholarship Junkies and Buerk Center Advisory Board Member— David has accelerated his JOURNEY.
(Business Administration)
Amin Shaykho, Marwan El-Rukby & Dani Shaykho (Computer Science, Finance) The founders of Kadama left high school with an idea and took it to the top of the app charts with a tutoring-focused spin on the gig economy. Their JOURNEY evolved with the help of the Buerk Center.
THE NORTH STAR FOR NW ENTREPRENEURSHIP Today’s students benefit from successful alumni, engaged donors, and mentors who once embarked on similar journeys. They learn that ultimately, success isn’t about one moment or one company. Our students embrace both success and failure. They learn when to pivot, when to double down, and when to exit. The entrepreneurial community, our staff, and our faculty help set the JOURNEY in motion and change the trajectory of student entrepreneurs from idea to launch.
Entrepreneurship / Innovation Ecosystem
SEATTLE ECOSYSTEM Class speakers Mentors Judges Networking Sponsors Donors
Entrepreneurship Minor Entrepreneurship Option
Entrepreneurship Certificate for MBA, PhD
Master of Science in Entrepreneurship
ENGAGE EDUCATE / CLASSES
Publicize Impact Startup Job Fair
Virtual and In-Person Events
Alumni Network
EXPERIENCE Lavin Entrepreneurship Program
INCUBATE / ACCELERATE
Fellowships Events & Networking
Creating a Company Course Alaska Airlines Environmental Innovation Challenge
Competitions
Student Club Activities
startup.uw.edu
Hollomon Health Innovation Challenge
Jones + Foster Accelerator Program Dempsey Startup Competition Commercialization / UW CoMotion
BUERK CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP
HELP US SET THE NEXT GENERATION IN MOTION Get involved with the Buerk Center and impact entrepreneurial growth at the University of Washington and across the Pacific Northwest. Judge a competition. Join us on a panel or as a guest speaker. Share your journey with our students. Sponsor Buerk Center events and programs. Join us and be an expert resource. Or tell us your passion and we’ll help you find a fit. If you’re a student, talk to us about how we can help you on your entrepreneurial journey—from idea to launch.
startup.uw.edu
@uwbuerk /uwbuerk /uwbuerkcenter
BUERK CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP
University of Washington Michael G. Foster School of Business 227 Dempsey Hall, Box 353223 Seattle, WA 98195 Tel: 206-616-0734 Email: uwbuerk@uw.edu