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STARTUP WU
In 2012, the Skandalaris Center developed a program in conjunction
with the First Year Center as part of the Pre-Orientation initiative.
Originally entitled I.D.E.A., this program underwent significant changes
in 2015 to become Startup WU. This hybrid model is based on the 3Day Startup and Startup Weekend programs and brings together
incoming freshmen from all majors and encourages them to innovate
over the course of three-and-a-half days (before the start of classes).
After workshops, consultation, mentoring, and real world market
validation, student teams develop a venture concept that they present
to a panel of judges.
The program gets students excited about innovation and
entrepreneurship as soon as they arrive on campus; inspires
them to get started early; and connects them to resources at
Wash U and in St. Louis.
Initially a small program
of about 25 students
each year, the program
has grown significantly
since 2015. See graph
at right, which
illustrates the 100%
growth.
Startup WU Participants
45
25
51
30
NEW to Skandalaris in Fall 2016!
The Student Entrepreneurial Program (StEP) started in 1999 as an
outlet for students who wanted to run service-oriented businesses.
Expanding from a laundry service and moving and storage company,
StEP now comprises 12 businesses, owned and operated by 45
students, representing all four undergraduate schools. Eight of the
businesses occupy storefronts in Gregg Hall; the others are operated
digitally. Since 2015, the program has added five new businesses, the
largest growth in a decade. In the fall of 2016, StEP transferred to the
Skandalaris Center, allowing an increased focus on starting new
businesses. Students can get involved by either purchasing shares of
an existing business or by starting a new business. Loans are available
to eligible students who otherwise wouldn’t be able to participate.
SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
2014
2015
2016
2017
Student Feedback:
“I really learned a lot by moving in early and by creating a business
plan from scratch. I also think it was helpful to meet like-minded
people and upperclassmen before school started.”
“This was a wonderful experience in all aspects”
“It was a great experience in the way of learning what the
entrepreneurship world is like and the different factors needed to
consider to start a business.”
Right: a Startup WU
participant pitches her
venture idea to the group
All photos by Shauna Williams
STUDENT ENTREPRENEURIAL PROGRAM (StEP)
Left: a Startup WU team
presents their venture to
a judge
Every summer since 2003, the Skandalaris Center provides a summer
entrepreneurial internship experience for undergraduate students in
all majors. This opportunity allows students to intern for an earlystage startup in the St. Louis area and explore St. Louis’
entrepreneurial community. Students work Monday-Thursday, and
then each Friday they visit a different neighborhood and meet
entrepreneurs and innovators and discover what St. Louis has to
offer. Venture hosts range in industry from biotech to education to
design firms to patent law.
In 2017 there were 32
interns representing all four
undergraduate schools, and
100% of the students would
recommend the program to
a friend. The venture hosts
find equal value in the
program, saying “Our intern
provided real material value
to the company’s goals. He
was working directly on
projects important to the
company.”
Summer interns build terrariums during a visit to
TechArtista, a St. Louis co-working space.
Ventures only pay $1,000 for the
summer, which goes towards programming and administrative costs.
This program wouldn’t succeed without the generosity of individual
and foundation donors who provide the subsidies for the interns’
$5,000 stipends.
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