Building a new generation of bold entrepreneurial thinkers
Advancing leading-edge entrepreneurial research ideas
Supporting a strong and connected entrepreneurial ecosystem

We’re here to inspire

Welcome to the Center for Entrepreneurship and Family Business! We consider entrepreneurship to be a broad set of actions intended not only to create wealth but also to bring about new states in economic, social, institutional and cultural environments. Here at the Center, we are working to inspire the next generation, next research idea, and next community connection.

Students
The Center for Entrepreneurship and Family Business provides students with opportunities to put into practice what they learn in the classroom.
Research
The Center for Entrepreneurship and Family Business provides substantial support for faculty members working on entrepreneurship research projects.
Community
The Center for Entrepreneurship and Family Business’ mission is to promote collisions between entrepreneurially-minded students, alumni, and community members.
Resources
The Center for Entrepreneurship and Family Business works closely with other entities in the community to support and provide the resources entrepreneurs and family businesses need.

Students

Our Center is a learning laboratory designed to inspire the next generation to question assumptions and value new ideas. With support from generous donors and in partnership with various campus organizations, the Center for Entrepreneurship and Family Business provides students with opportunities to put into practice what they learn in the classroom. In shaping the leaders of tomorrow, we are ourselves inspired by the energy and passion contained within our students.

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Research

Research, both theoretical and practitio​ner focused, is the cornerstone of scholarly activities. The Center for Entrepreneurship and Family Business provides substantial support for faculty members working on entrepreneurship research projects. Funds, visiting scholars, consultations, and workshops are available for research projects. The Center also provides opportunities for students to get involved in research. Funds, scholarships, assistantships, and training are available for students interested in getting involved in research.

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Community

Engagement with the community is a key focus of The Center for Entrepreneurship and Family Business. We strive to provide outreach activities that enhance student-business engagement and encourage entrepreneurial actions within the broader community. We also want to further the understanding, growth and development of family-owned businesses in order to support the continued success of the family businesses that make our communities and our state so great.

Resources

The Center for Entrepreneurship and Family Business works closely with other entities in the community to support and provide the resources entrepreneurs and family businesses need. 

Built to Inspire

Problems to Possibilities is an initiative designed to change the conversation in social impact education — moving from an overemphasis on the ‘heropreneur’ and new ‘solutions’ — toward a focus on a deep understanding of complex problems as the foundation for driving transformational change. Unlike business plan or pitch competitions, where participants are rewarded for their solution ideas, this program promotes students developing an in-depth understanding of a challenge, their understanding of what solution efforts are already being tried, and their identification of gaps or opportunities for increased impact. The competition challenges participants to use systems thinking as a guiding approach to understanding some of the most complex issues the world faces today. This program works with the Skoll Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Oxford and uses their Map the System programming and materials.

Recent News

President Jim Ozbun Scholarship Winners

President Jim Ozbun Scholarship Winners

Students who received the President Jim Ozbun Scholarship were honored at the NDSU College of Business Scholarship Ceremony. The scholarship is named after former NDSU President...

Possibility Fellows Celebrated

Possibility Fellows Celebrated

The Center for Entrepreneurship and Family Business celebrated their 2023-2024 Possibility Fellows with a reception at the President’s House on Wednesday, October 11th. The...

Possibility Fellowship Launched

Possibility Fellowship Launched

FARGO, N.D. - NDSU’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Family Business has announced the launch of its Possibility Fellowship, a one-year premier entrepreneurial program.  The...

Alumni Story — Daniella Jasper

Alumni Story — Daniella Jasper

Congratulations to Daniella Jasper, an NDSU graduate who is launching her new business, The Brdge! It is a web-based platform that serves as a central hub for ethnic food and...

Alumni Story – Hannah Lange

Alumni Story – Hannah Lange

Venture Financing Manager at North Dakota Dept. of Commerce Hannah was another one of our first students to receive the NDSU Entrepreneurship minor. Her curiosity, love of...

Alumni Story – Nathan Marcotte

Alumni Story – Nathan Marcotte

Nathan was a part of our very first cohort of students to graduate with our Entrepreneurship minor. He is an entrepreneurial-minded computer science graduate who thrives on...

Alumni Story – Dieumerci Christel

Alumni Story – Dieumerci Christel

Dieumerci’s story is inspiring. He was born in a refugee camp in Tanzania, and luckily at age 13, his family immigrated to America. However, in school in America he experienced a...

Student Story – Olivia Krepp 

Student Story – Olivia Krepp 

Mechanical Engineering student Olivia is from Sauk Rapids, MN. In 2022, she is graduating from NDSU’s Mechanical Engineering program with a minor in Entrepreneurship. Olivia...

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