A new opportunity for student entrepreneurs is arriving at North Dakota State University with the launch of Student-Made NDSU, an initiative designed to help students turn their creativity, talents and business ideas into real-world entrepreneurial experiences.
The Student-Made NDSU online marketplace will officially launch on Monday, Sept. 28, giving students a platform to showcase and sell products they have created while connecting with customers both on and beyond campus.
The celebration will continue during Homecoming week with the first-ever Student-Made NDSU Pop-Up Shop on Friday, Oct. 2, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at Churchill Field. The event will provide an opportunity for the campus community, alumni and Homecoming visitors to shop student-created products, meet the entrepreneurs behind the businesses and support the launch of NDSU’s newest entrepreneurial initiative.
Student-Made NDSU is supported by the NDSU Center for Entrepreneurship and Family Business and is open to students from every college and major across campus. The program provides students with opportunities to create, market and sell their own products while gaining valuable experience in entrepreneurship, leadership, customer engagement and business operations.
Through Student-Made NDSU, students are able to test business ideas in a supportive environment while building confidence and developing practical skills that complement their classroom learning. Participants retain ownership of their products and gain firsthand experience managing inventory, marketing their brands and interacting with customers.
In addition to supporting student creators, the program also provides leadership opportunities for students who help manage the online marketplace and events. Student managers gain hands-on experience in areas such as e-commerce, marketing, event planning, partnerships and customer engagement while helping creators succeed.
“As a new manager, I am just so excited to see all the hard work every manager and creator has put in pay off once the store opens,” said Abygehl Schuman, a freshman majoring in Business Analytics and Student-Made’s website manager. “I am hoping to gain more skills on the technology side and learn how to run a business.”
“Student-Made NDSU is about giving students a place to learn by doing,” said Ryan McCollum, program coordinator for the NDSU Center for Entrepreneurship and Family Business. “Whether a student is interested in starting a business, exploring a creative passion or simply gaining professional experience, this program provides opportunities to develop skills that will benefit them long after graduation.”
For Kierston Wheat, a senior studying Business Administration and Management, the opportunity to take on a leadership role was driven by a desire to gain practical experience while supporting fellow students.
“I wanted to join Student-Made to broaden my perspective on event planning and partnerships,” Wheat said. “I also wanted to strengthen my skills, gain more hands-on experience and learn from the people around me.”
Wheat believes the program stands apart because it allows students to see their work create a direct impact.
“Student-Made is very hands-on, and you get to actually see your ideas and work come to life,” she said. “You are not just planning things behind the scenes. You get to be involved and work with a great team while creating real experiences for students and student-owned businesses.”
The launch marks a significant step in expanding entrepreneurial opportunities for students at NDSU. By providing both an online storefront and in-person sales events, Student-Made NDSU creates a platform where students can gain real-world experience while sharing their products with the broader community.
The Homecoming pop-up shop will feature products created by NDSU students and serve as the public debut of the marketplace. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet student creators, learn about their businesses and purchase a variety of unique, student-made products.
Community members, alumni, faculty, staff and students are encouraged to support the program by visiting the online marketplace beginning Sept. 28 and attending the launch event on Oct. 2. For Wheat, that support plays a critical role in helping student entrepreneurs turn ideas into reality.
“The world is built on entrepreneurs and people who are willing to take an idea and turn it into something real,” she said. “Having support from the NDSU community gives student entrepreneurs the opportunity to grow, gain experience and build their businesses while they are still in college.”
For many students, a single purchase represents more than a sale. It is an investment in hands-on learning, entrepreneurial growth and the next generation of innovators at NDSU.
