Dreaming about being an entrepreneur

Dreaming about being an entrepreneur?
What’s it all about, anyway?
What does it take to be an entrepreneur?
What do they do?
Are there things here at Illinois I can do?
Prof. Laura L. Hollis, Esq.
Dr. Pete Dragic
iFoundry launch, August 22, 2009

What do entrepreneurs do?
Entrepreneurs find OPPORTUNITIES in PROBLEMS
They develop SOLUTIONS to those problems
They build an ENTERPRISE, a BUSINESS or a VENTURE around those solutions
They assemble RESOURCES, like PEOPLE and CAPITAL
They are willing to take CALCULATED, EDUCATED RISKS
They learn from FAILURE, and ADAPT

Could I be an entrepreneur?

Entrepreneurs are made, not born
Serious work ethic!
Autonomous
Motivated by PASSION to SOLVE PROBLEMS
Not greed!
High sense of self-efficacy
Confidence (comes from EXPERIENCE)
Tolerance for RISK

What’s available here at Illinois?
Guest lectures (designmatters)
Classes
Certificate programs
Competitions (I2P, Cozad, Lemelson)
Student Organizations (IEN, EWBs, SIFE)
Technology Entrepreneur Center (Engineering)
Academy for Entrepreneurial Leadership (Business)