The Entrepreneurship Center at St. Bonaventure University seeks to mold the next generation of innovative, out-of-the-box thinkers and help them find their niche in business and industry.
Operating out of the William E. and Ann L. Swan Business Center on campus, the Entrepreneurship Center welcomes all students across the university, no matter their academic major, who wish to hone their spirit of innovation and invention.
We show you how to turn ideas into action, whether it's to help you lead a business in a new direction or to give you the know-how and confidence to pursue your own business dream.
Created in 2020 with a start-up pledge of $500,000 from Olean philanthropists Jim and Carol Stitt, the Entrepreneurship Center serves not only the university, but the Olean-area community as well. It operates in collaboration with Jamestown Community College and Olean Business Development Corporation.
Our programming gives you the opportunity to:
- Learn from a wide variety of entrepreneurs in the classroom
- Get feedback from mentors on business plans and ideas
- Work with young businesspeople and entrepreneurs in the community, outside the classroom, though the Lane Business Accelerator
- Get real entrepreneurial experience through hands-on instruction and opportunities
Program overview
- Entrepreneurial classes
- Problem and solution discovery, startup building and development
- Innovation nights
- Weekly speaker series: The best of the best in the entrepreneurial world
- Creatathons
- Our popular program to take an idea to reality in a few hours
- Student startup coaching program
- Pitch competitions
- In-house competitions & feedback with School of Business alumni judges
- Regional and state competitions
- Laine Business Accelerator
- A three-month "boot camp" program to attract and quickly grow local businesses
- Selected businesses receive funding, mentorship from top entrepreneurs, coaching, and workshops specifically designed to boost their businesses.
- C4 student consulting organization
- Student consultants work hands-on with local businesses and nonprofits
- Workshops and certifications
- Working with world-class alumni to create deep learning opportunities