INSTITUTE FOR INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
PUTTING IDEAS IN MOTION
The Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IIE) is a driver of scholastic, educational, and professional development opportunities for creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship. IIE has a multidisciplinary focus and seeks to advance the University's strategy by fostering cross-college learning and embedding entrepreneurial thinking in Villanova's culture.
GET INVOLVED
Inspires creativity amongst first-year Villanova students through a multicurricular pitch competition.
Villanova Student Entrepreneurship Competition (VSEC)
A semester-long, interdisciplinary, and extracurricular entrepreneurship competition. The competition culminates on Pitch Day where finalists pitch their venture for the top prize of $10,000.
Created and endowed in 2009 by Patrick Meyer ’74 VSB in honor of the Meyer family to recognize Villanova student, faculty, and staff creators and innovators.
Each year, the most promising student venture team from each BIG EAST Conference school pitches to judges for big prizes.
Villanova Social Impact Competition
Student teams propose solutions to a problem faced by a regional nonprofit organization.
In partnership with the College of Engineering Multidisciplinary Design Lab, IIE hosts an annual Holiday Ornament Competition to encourage creativity and spice up the winter season.
IIE hosts video challenges with various departments, centers, and institutes to inspire creativity around challenge topics.
Created to support Villanovans who are interested in taking the leap into an entrepreneurial venture with grant funding up to $5,000.
IIE Investment Fellows Program
An opportunity for students to get a taste for entrepreneurship from the investment side by giving feedback on applications for the IIE Innovation Fund.
Fund students to attend events/happenings in the Philadelphia entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Villanova Entrepreneurial Society
A student group that educates and creates opportunities for the Villanova community in entrepreneurship and new ventures.
An informal weekly gathering of innovators from all corners of campus.
Business Model Canvas Library Resource
Databases, articles, and other materials specifically curated to help you develop your business model canvas.
Provides students from across Villanova's campus the opportunity to engage with the innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem of Silicon Valley.
Villanova at the European Innovation Academy
A four-week-long multidisciplinary, multicultural summer abroad experience for any Villanova student.
Undergraduate Minor Programs in Entrepreneurship
IIE supports two undergraduate minor programs in entrepreneurship through the College of Engineering and a minor in entrepreneurship in the College of Professional Studies.
Entrepreneurship Major in the College of Professional Studies
The College of Professional Studies partnered with IIE to offer an entrepreneurship major option within the Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies degree.
Explore courses on innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship throughout the University.
NEWS AND EVENTS
IDEA CHALLENGE FINALS: 11/13/2023
Check out first-year Villanovans' incredible ideas at the Idea Challenge Finals.
Take your ideas to the next level with funding from $250 - $5,000. We revamped our Build Phase application to the Incubator Phase and it now comes with mentorship and up to $2,000!
VILLANOVA IN THE VALLEY APPLICATION DEADLINE: 10/8/2023
Don't miss out on this year's trip to the Silicon Valley. We have some amazing visits scheduled including Nvidia, Kleiner Perkins, and Equator Coffees.
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IMPACT BY THE NUMBERS
150
VILLANOVANS ATTENDED IIE WORKSHOPS
$70,150
in funding provided to Villanovan's ventures
28
VILLANOVA VENTURES RECEIVED MENTORSHIP AND WERE AWARDED FUNDING
(Numbers from 2022-2023 academic year.)
