Through design-thinking and market research we help you take your idea to reality.
Learn more
We can assist with business resources and funding opportunities to support your startup.
Learn more
We have a slate of business services from organizational assessments to succession
planning.
Learn more
The Center for Entrepreneurship supports the startup community from pre-seed to early-stage development.
Whether you have an idea, a prototype, or your business is already started - we can help you go further.
Our Programs:
ignitor is a series of entrepreneurial trainings to help you get started and move your business forward.
ignitor 2.0
A dynamic and immersive training designed to equip aspiring and active entrepreneurs
with the necessary tools to embark on their startup ideas and ventures.
Next Sessions:
January 23 - February 20
Tuesdays | 5:30 - 8:00 pm
(With the exception of February 13)
| Program: | Who benefits: | Description: |
|---|---|---|
| ignitor | People in the Wichita area who are within the process of turning a business idea into a profitable venture. | The ignitor accelerator provides a structured support system for community innovators and entrepreneurs, focusing on the ideation pre-seed phase. |
Kansas Family Business Forum |
Family businesses in the Wichita area. | Kansas Family Business Forum brings owners, families and managers together to address issues of ownership and management succession, strategic planning, family dynamics and family governance. |
ARPA Small Business Digital Transformation Program |
Business owners looking to implement new technology and processes. | Learn how to develop a digital mindset, increase customer value, improve efficiencies,
and make your business more resilient for whatever comes next. Supported by City of Wichita ARPA grant and offered through The Office of Innovation and New Ventures. |
| Growing Rural Businesses | Business owners in rural Kansas who are looking to grow their business. | Growing Rural Businesses is an eight-week certificate program customized for rural businesses. GRB provides practical, applied information and examples necessary for rural communities in Kansas. |
| Rural E-Launch | People living in rural areas who have a business idea and/or prototype. | Learn before you launch. This program teaches you to clearly conceptualize how your product can provide real value to customers. |
Our Events:
| Competition: | Who benefits: | Description: |
|---|---|---|
| Shocker New Venture Competition | Students who are working on making their business idea or startup a reality. | The Shocker New Venture Competition gives students the opportunity to win venture money as well as receive valuable feedback on their idea from industry experts. |
| Idea Set Go | Students who are looking to build problem solving and creative skills as they explore the idea of starting a business. | Issuing a challenge to be creative and explore applied problem solving, Idea Set Go is a competition invites WSU students to enter a creative solution to win a cash prize of $500. |
| Clash Build Cash | Students who are looking to hone essential professional skills like strategic decision-making, adaptability, and innovative thinking. | In this competitive multi-player tournament hosted on Venture Valley, students are given a chance to shine, regardless of academic background. |
Tabor tapped to lead Center for Entrepreneurship
The Center for Entrepreneurship at Wichita State University has hired Troy Tabor as its new director, effective Jan. 23.
In his new role at Wichita State, Tabor will build on the Center for Entrepreneurship’s strong history of cross-college collaborations and community partnerships; foster growth by creating new relationships; secure funding for long-term sustainability; and launch meaningful programs to enhance the local entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Read full story
My advice to anyone is to take advantage of your resources. We are fortunate at WSU to have access to people with great experience in the field and to have them be a phone call away. I would reach out to Nancy, Troy and others involved to offer advice and insights about your presentation, pitch, demo, or whatever it may be. This is not the first startup they are involved in, and it won't be the last.
-Grant Johnson, Previous winner of the Shocker New Venture Competition
