The 2024 Think Like an Entrepreneur Summer Academy welcomed a record number of in-person attendees, bringing together 90 students from four states. These students collaborated in groups to generate innovative ideas for businesses and non-profits, each addressing one of the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Throughout the program, groups were tasked with developing an idea, creating a prototype, and presenting their pitch to judges on the final day.

Students' creativity flourished through collaborative activities and brainstorming sessions. They also took advantage of on-campus resources such as the Studio 231 makerspace and the Creatives 230 experiential learning lab. Participants attended the academy at no cost and earned three college credits upon completion, thanks to the program's sponsor, TD Charitable Foundation.

The program concluded with a competition to select the winning project. Ideas ranged from mobile health clinics providing care to underserved communities to eco-friendly crop fertilizers promoting organic resources. According to Assistant Director of the RCIE, Jessica Vattima, “This generation is passionate about worldly issues, and they want to make a meaningful impact."

The first-place winner was Just Future, which proposed a platform to enhance government transparency and simplify civic engagement. The team consisted of students from Kingsway Regional, Pequannock Township High School, Lenape High School, Gloucester County Institute of Technology, and Camden County Technical School.

To learn more about the academy and the innovative student ideas, click here.

Accelerate South Jersey

Accelerate South Jersey aims to empower individuals in Camden and Gloucester counties facing economic hardships to start and grow their own businesses. The 12-month program focuses on fostering new ventures, supporting disadvantaged small business owners, and developing both the entrepreneur and their business.

Click here to learn more and apply by August 10th.

2024 Innovation & Entrepreneurship Faculty Certificate Program

RCIE is pleased to announce the 2024 cohort of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Faculty Certificate Program. In this program, Rowan University faculty members will discover experiential tools to foster an entrepreneurial mindset, inspire creativity, and drive innovation within the classroom.

Space is extremely limited. Click here to learn more and apply by August 18th.

Danielle McManus (Entrepreneurship '25) represented Rowan University at the 2024 ICSB Academy in Berlin, Germany. The academy gathers students from around the world to explore Berlin's entrepreneurial ecosystem, participate in workshops, and collaborate on new business ideas. McManus and her team won second place and the "Youth Choice Award" for their innovative idea, CycloClothCo. Read more about her experience here.

Anna DeMasi '24, founder of Lunch Box Cards, was featured in NJ Biz following her win at the 2024 New Venture Competition. Her business aims to support children's mental health and well-being through educational and inspirational cards included in school lunches. Read the full story here.

At the International Council for Small Business (ICSB) conference, Dr. Mike Dominik, in collaboration with Dr. Eric Liguori from Florida State University and Dr. II Lusci from Washington University, hosted the workshop "AACSB Accreditation and Interdisciplinary Collaboration in Contemporary Entrepreneurship Education," which received the Best Workshop Award.

The Rowan Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship was named one of five finalists from North and South America among universities nominated for the “America's Most Impactful Initiative of the Year” award at the 2024 Triple E Awards. Read more here.