NDSU Center for Entrepreneurship and Family Business

Walk Through the Gates
2025-08-25 10:15 - 11:00 (America/Chicago)
University Gates

Classes begin at 4:00 p.m.
2025-08-25 16:00 - 20:00

First full day of classes
2025-08-26

2025 Great Plains Innovation Week
2025-08-27 - 2025-09-18
This multi-week event series will be hosted across the great plains region, featuring different workshops, networking opportunities, and discussions aimed at fostering innovation in our communities. Most events are free and most will offer both in-person or online attendance options.

Labor Day - No Classes
2025-09-01

Part-Time Jobs Fair
2025-09-04 13:00 - 16:00
All majors – Memorial Union, Oceti Sakowin Ballroom

Meet the Firms Fair
2025-09-09 16:00 - 19:00
Barry Hall, Louise Auditorium
Accounting and Finance majors
Free Student Headshots 4PM-6PM

Day of Service Non-Profit Fair
2025-09-11 10:00 - 14:00
Memorial Union – Main Hallway

"Welcome to Problems to Possibilities" Meeting
2025-09-16 16:00 - 18:00
You’re invited to attend our upcoming “Welcome to Problems to Possibilities” Meeting.

Date: Tuesday, September 16
Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Location: Memorial Union, Nueta Room
Details: This meeting is open to any and all NDSU students interested in participating in Problems to Possibilities. Come learn how the program works, meet potential teammates, and explore big ideas! Whether you’re arriving with a team (no more than three students per team), plan to work independently or are looking to join a team, this is your chance to get connected and start building something impactful.
RSVP: An RSVP is encouraged but not required to attend. Click here.

About the Program: Ready to think differently and make real change? Join a dynamic series of workshops where you’ll dive into a challenge that matters – social, environmental, or economic and explore it through the lens of systems thinking and entrepreneurship.
Work solo or in teams of 2–3 as you:

Select a problem that sparks your curiosity

Uncover the hidden forces behind it: events, trends, structures, and mental models

Build a visual systems map that reveals how everything connects

Craft a compelling poster presentation to showcase your insights and ideas

Your journey culminates at the Possibilities Pitch Event, where you’ll present your work, share your vision, and compete for prize money and a chance to join the P2P Social Entrepreneurship Fellowship. This isn’t just a class project, it’s a launchpad for changemakers! See attached flyer or visit thinkp2p.org for more details.

Note: P2P is operating as a fall semester opportunity only this year. There are no specific “team leader” or “team participant” applications. You will not apply to participate, rather all students who attend the September 16 meeting will have an opportunity to participate. Scholarships will only be awarded in the form of “prize money” for the winners of the competition held on December 8th (see attached flyer). This opportunity is only open to NDSU students.
Questions: Please contact Program Coordinator, Jennifer Schillinger at jennifer.schillinger@ndsu.edu.

Don’t forget to RSVP to the meeting on Sept. 16! Click here.

Fall Career Expo
2025-09-17 11:00 - 15:00
All majors, 250+ employers, FargoDome, Free student headshots 11am – 2pm.

Marketing and Sales Hiring Fair
2025-09-24 09:00 - 12:00
Barry Hall, Louise Auditorium
Marketing, Sales, Business, Communication positions

NDSU Entrepreneurship Club: NDeavor Tech Park Tour
2025-10-07 17:00 - 18:00
🚀 NDSU Entrepreneurship Club: NDeavor Tech Park Tour
Open to all students – no club membership required! If you’re curious about startups, innovation, or entrepreneurship, this is for YOU!
Join us for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of NDeavor Barry D. Batcheller Tech Park (formerly the NDSU Research & Technology Park). You’ll explore prototyping labs, catch a live laser demo, and discover resources available in the startup incubator. It’s a great opportunity to connect with fellow innovators and get inspired!
📍 Location: NDeavor Tech Park
📅 Date & Time: Tuesday, Oct. 7 | 5:00 – 6:00 PM
🎯 Who Should Attend: Any NDSU student interested in entrepreneurship, innovation, or building something bold.
RSVP – myNDSU: https://myndsu.ndsu.edu/event/11687617

Prairie Capital Summit
2025-10-08
This one-day event is designed to spark powerful conversations and build lasting connections between entrepreneurs, investors, students, and resource partners.

Barry Hall Grad Fair
2025-10-28 11:00 - 15:00
Thinking about grad school? Join us in Barry Hall to connect with program advisors, get guidance on how to apply, learn more about admission requirements and enjoy free food, giveaways, and prizes!

Veterans Day - No Classes
2025-11-11

Dragon Lair Business Plan Pitch Competition
2025-11-20
What is the Dragon Lair?
A regional pitch competition, held on November 20, where undergraduate students from regional colleges and universities present entrepreneurial ideas to a panel of business leaders. Teams can win up to $5,000 and gain real-world experience in pitching, problem solving, and innovation.
The competition will begin at 9 a.m. in the Barry Auditorium of the Christianson Alumni Center. Following the one round presentation format, all participants will be provided lunch.
Who can participate?

Any undergraduate student in the region
Teams of 2–5 students

Learn more here: https://news.mnstate.edu/2025/09/dragon-lair/

Thanksgiving - No Classes
2025-11-26 - 2025-11-28

Dead Week
2025-12-08 - 2025-12-12

Finals Week
2025-12-15 - 2025-12-19

Commencement Ceremony
2025-12-19 14:00 - 17:00

Innovate ND Application Open
2026-01-20
Innovate ND is a program dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship within the state by offering up to $50,000 in reimbursable expenses for market research and product validation. This program is managed by the North Dakota Department of Commerce and administered through four entrepreneurial centers, including NDWBC. Learn more here: https://ndwbc.com/innovate-nd/

Spring Career Expo
2026-02-04 11:00 - 15:00
The Spring Career Expo will be at the Fargodome – for more information visit https://career-advising.ndsu.edu/.

Your PR Playbook: From Quiet Credibility to Unstoppable Visibility
2026-02-09 16:00 - 17:30
With nearly three decades of experience in public relations, KJ
Blattenbauer has helped founders, creatives, and experts move from
overlooked to in-demand through strategic, credibility-driven PR. Her
work has earned coverage in outlets including Architectural Digest,
Forbes, and Vogue, and she’s known for cutting through hype to focus
on visibility that leads to trust, authority, and opportunity.
4:00 p.m. – Presentation
5:00 p.m. – Book Signing and Reception
The first 50 attendees will receive a complimentary copy
of Pitchworthy: The No-Fluff Playbook to Publicity That Pays Off.
This event is free and open to all NDSU students, staff, faculty, and
community guests.
RSVP here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSefpJAqcLQe35iT0yiKywD3IGTeu_BAukjQpan-blOQgx8ifA/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=103864836329482314489

Start Something Weekend
2026-03-20 - 2026-03-21
Overview
Got an idea? Bring it to life in one weekend. Build solo or with a team, pitch it, and win cash + resources to keep going.
What You’ll Do
Over the course of the weekend, you’ll:

Meet people who are curious, creative, and action-oriented
Explore ideas (yours or someone else’s)
Form small teams around shared interests
Participate in guided exercises and workshops
Build something from scratch — big or small
Compete for $3,000 in prize money
Learn practical tools you can use again and again

Prizes
Teams will have the opportunity to compete for $3,000 in total prize money, awarded to standout projects that demonstrate creativity, collaboration, and momentum.
This is not about having the “best startup idea” — it’s about showing progress, teamwork, and a willingness to try.
Do I need a business idea to win?
No. Prizes reward creativity, collaboration, and progress — not polish.
Do I have to compete to participate?
Nope! You can fully participate without focusing on the competition.
Learn more here.

NDSU Takeover Day at Startup Brew
2026-04-01 08:00 - 09:30

Possibility Showcase
2026-04-14
More details to come! Save the date!
