Institute for Entrepreneurship
New institute promotes entrepreneurship skills
The Broad School recently launched a new Institute for Entrepreneurship to bring together the teaching and research activities of faculty across several disciplines into a more effective, concentrated initiative with strong ties to the business community.
The institute is comprised of two centers that leverage Broad School faculty expertise: a Center for Venture Capital, Private Equity and Entrepreneurial Finance (CVCPE) directed by Finance Professor Zsuzsanna Fluck, and a Center for Entrepreneurial Strategy directed by Roger Calantone, the Eli Broad Chaired University Professor of Business. Both centers fuel the research, teaching and outreach missions of the Broad School in a wide variety of ways.
Research
The institute will publish a research paper series
and a quarterly newsletter of its activities that
will integrate academic and applied research. The
faculty will also host an annual conference on
topics of entrepreneurial strategy and leadership,
new product development, venture capital and
private equity to provide a forum in which
academics and practitioners can exchange ideas
and network with one another.
Teaching
The Broad School currently offers several electives
in the Full-Time MBA Program on private
equity and venture capital, business development
and new business planning. But beginning
in academic year 2007-08, the Broad School
will offer an undergraduate specialization in
entrepreneurship that covers these topics as well.
Courses at both the graduate and undergraduate
level combine traditional lectures, case studies,
and spreadsheet analysis with practicum – handson
projects. In addition, several courses discuss
the social responsibility of entrepreneurs, and
how entrepreneurs have a positive impact on their
communities, their countries and the world.
Outreach
The new initiative will serve as a bridge between
Broad School alumni and university entrepreneurs
in the material and health sciences, human
medicine, agriculture and biomass and the business
and financial community. These connections
should create hands-on entrepreneurial and venture
capital projects for student participation, which
might include student internships; independent
study courses and team projects in venture capital
and private equity investments; new product
development; and commercialization of actual
ventures.
The institute plans to host an entrepreneur-inresidence program to provide students and faculty with access to distinguished practitioners. The program will also emphasize the social values of entrepreneurship: how successful entrepreneurial ventures can raise the level of employment, contribute to human capital development and create vibrant communities.
Institute for Entrepreneurship
Beyond research and education, one of the primary goals of the new Institute for Entrepreneurship is to help stimulate economic development in the State of Michigan and to support the commercialization of Michigan State University’s own innovative ideas based on a wide range of research projects. The Broad School is working closely with the MSU Foundation to develop these ideas and provide real-world learning opportunities for students. The initiative is also supported by a $2 million Robert K. Burgess Faculty Endowment.
Zsuzsanna Fluck
Associate Professor
PhD: Princeton University, Economics
Research: Financial contracting, security
design, mergers and acquisitions, corporate
restructuring, corporate governance, venture
capital and private equity.
Roger Calantone
Eli Broad Chaired University Professor of
Business
Director, Information Technology
Management Program
PhD: University of Massachusetts,
Marketing, Quantitative Methods
Research: Product design and development
processes, decision support and group
decision support systems, technology market
models and international development.
Blake Ashdown
Professor of Practice
Geoffrey Booth
Frederick S. Addy Distinguished Chair in
Finance
Chair, Finance Department
PhD: University of Michigan, Finance
Research: Domestic and international
financial markets; risk and risk management;
and investments.
Michael F. Lobbestael
Professor of Practice