About Us

Founded in 2004, the Center for Entrepreneurship is a resource for students, alumni, and the general public. The Center offers training workshops, mentor sessions, guest lectures, competitions, support for new ventures, and so much more. Located at One Beacon, the Center provides a central workspace where students, alumni, faculty, and business owners can collaborate.

Students from the Center standing at a table and smiling at the camera
Students from the ENT250 Entrepreneurial Mindset class meet with innovators at the LearnLaunch Accelerator in Boston to talk edtech and venture funding.

Entrance to the Center for Entrepreneurship is located on the mezzanine level of One Beacon. Front doors can be accessed via Somerset Street.

Our History

Over the past decade, Entrepreneurship at Suffolk University’s Sawyer Business School has grown from fewer than 30 majors and 10 courses to nearly 500 majors and minors and 40 courses offered today. The timeline below highlights critical milestones accomplished the history of the Center for Entrepreneurship.

2016-2017: Crowdfunding the Venture is Launched

"Crowdfunding the Venture" is launched. Fourteen campaigns (six startups) were launched with more than $57,000 pledged and nearly $40,000 collected with Kickstarter and Indiegogo. Two launched campaigns also received interest from potential investors. The Entrepreneurship Clinic (E-Clinic) completed its implementation with 16 highly immersive consulting engagements with 13 client organizations.

2015-2016: Center Moves to One Beacon Street

The revised major and minor in Entrepreneurship is launched as well as four concentrations: Corporate Entrepreneurship, Launching a New Venture, Family Entrepreneurship, and Social Entrepreneurship. The Center for Entrepreneurship, as well as the entire entrepreneurship academic program move into their new location at One Beacon Street. Two new CI courses titled “Sustainable Solutions” and “Building the Dream Team” are launched.

2014-2015: 2000 Students Enrolled in Entrepreneurship Courses

More than 2000 students are enrolled in entrepreneurship courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Plans are being developed to expand the physical presence of the Center for Entrepreneurship to expand academic and community programming. Suffolk University enters into a five-year partnership and scholarship with BUILD.org, a national high school organization that leverages entrepreneurship for the advancement to higher education or career opportunities. The new entrepreneurship major and minor is approved. A new CI course titled “The Entrepreneur’s Cocktail: Human Innovation” is launched.

2013-2014: 400 Major/Minor Milestone

Entrepreneurship reaches the milestone of 400 majors and minors. More than 1,000 students are enrolled in entrepreneurship courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Entrepreneurship collaborates with the graphic design capstone at the New England School of Art and Design. A new elective, "Launching and Managing the Restaurant" is created. The Sawyer Business School faculty approve a new undergraduate curriculum, BSBA2020, that includes the requirement that all SBS freshmen will complete "Entrepreneurship 101—Business Foundations," as well as a course in Creativity and Innovation (CI). Entrepreneurship develops two new CI courses: "The End of Global Poverty: Is Entrepreneurship a Solution?" and "Failing Successfully." The next Five-Year Plan is presented bringing Suffolk Entrepreneurship from the classroom to the world.

2012-2013: 300 Major/Minor Milestone

Entrepreneurship reaches the milestone of 300 majors and minors. The Entrepreneurship Trade Show is launched where nearly 100 entrepreneurship ideas are presented to nearly 500 guests. The Center for Entrepreneurship partners with the newly-launched Intellectual Property and Entrepreneurship Center at Suffolk Law School. Entrepreneurship teams up with the engineering department in the College of Arts and Sciences.

2011-2012: Entrepreneurship Week is Launched

The Pitch and Twitch Competitions are launched, as well as Entrepreneurship Week. A new Entrepreneurship Program Coordinator position is added. Two new undergraduate electives are added: "Launching the E-Business" and "Entrepreneurial Law." The joint practicum with Suffolk Law School continues with a municipal incubator project for the City of Newton’s Economic Development Commission.

2010-2011: 200 Major/Minor Milestone

Entrepreneurship reaches the milestone of 200 majors and minors. The Entrepreneurship Resource Center opens on the 4th floor of the Sawyer Building. Three new undergraduate electives are added: Global Entrepreneurship, Bootstrapping the Startup, and Launching New Products are created. Problem Solving for Small Business and Entrepreneurship at the Bottom of the Pyramid are added at the graduate level. Entrepreneurship global travel seminars to Italy and Israel are added.

2009-2010: Entrepreneurship MBA Concentration Overhauled

The Entrepreneurship Program presents its Five-Year Plan with ambitious growth goals and a mission of becoming part of the University’s DNA, as well as a resource to the Suffolk, Boston, national and global entrepreneurial communities. The MBA concentration is overhauled to include a corporate entrepreneurship focus. Green and Sustainable Business is added as an undergraduate entrepreneurship elective. Social Entrepreneurship, Corporate Entrepreneurship, Green and Sustainable Business, and Global Product Innovation are added as MBA electives for the entrepreneurship concentration. Entrepreneurship joins Suffolk Law School in a new interdisciplinary, co-taught experiential course: Emerging Companies/Small Business Practicum.

2008-2009: Princeton Review Top 25 Ranking

Suffolk University is ranked in The Princeton Review and "Entrepreneurship" Magazine as a Top 25 undergraduate entrepreneurship program. Two new electives: "Do You Want to Start a Business?" and "Social Entrepreneurship" are created. More than 500 students are enrolled in undergraduate and graduate courses. George G. Moker is named Director of Entrepreneurship Programs.

2007-2008: 100 Major/Minor Milestone

Entrepreneurship reaches the milestone of 100 majors and minors. Additional electives are offered.

2006-2007: Dr. Sushil Bhatia's Competition is Launched

The Dr. Sushil Bhatia Competition for Innovative Ideas (formerly the New Product Innovation Competition) is launched with a prize pool of $5,000 (cash and in-kind services). The prize pool has since increased to $100,000.

2004-2005: Entrepreneurship Major and Minor is Launched

The Entrepreneurship major and minor are launched. The Center for Entrepreneurship is created. Professor Suzyn Ornstein is named Director of Entrepreneurship Academic Programs and Professor Kevin Krauss is named Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship.