College Entrepreneurs

[niks1737]

Hi,
I am doing a research project where I am trying to compile a list of businesses that were started by students in college (such as in MBA programs). Does anyone know what the best way to compile this list is and if any such list already exists?

Thanks!

[jasaunders]

Sure, there are many sources to look into.

First, Business Week does an annual piece on the top 25 entrepreneurs under 25 and America's Best Young Entrepreneurs.

The second way, which will require quite a bit more time, is to contact the entrepreneurship centers at schools and ask them if they have any of this information, or contact professors directly. I know Dr. Harold Welsch, the founder of the Coleman Entrepreneurship Center in Chicago, devotes most of his time to entrepreneurship research, so contacting the center or one of the research assistants might prove valuable.

But any school with a top entrepreneurship program should be able to give you some idea of the number of student run businesses. Many programs poll their students.

Lastly, look to business plan competitions, especially school sponsored ones. There are a number of large business plan competitions that offer prizes of $100k+ and churn out successful businesses. The first one that comes to mind is University of Texas, which has one of the most widley recognized competitions in the world. In fact, here's a link to a list of the companies that have been spawned by the competition: Moot Corp Competition - McCombs School of Business - The University of Texas at Austin