About E2 Challenge
What is the E2 Challenge?
E2 Challenge is a competitively awarded summer entrepreneurial program which supports teams of WSU students in their efforts to explore the potential of their own start-up company and prepare it for outside investment.
2009 is the inaugural year for the program. Applications were due in mid-March. The program lasts from May 11 until mid August, 2009. We have six teams in the program this year. Information on the teams is found in the MEET THE 2009 TEAMS button to the left.
What is in it for the students?
Teams consist of 1-4 students, and each member is paid $7,500 over the course of the program (minus taxes). Teams receive summer-long mentoring and support for starting their company. The program amounts to the opportunity of a lifetime for student teams to pursue their own startup company for their own benefit, while receiving substantial guidance and assistance via the E2 Challenge program.
What is in it for WSU?
While WSU does not take equity in the teams from their participation in the program, we do benefit in other ways. It is our hope that E2 Challenge teams will share their experiences when they return to classes in the fall and more students will consider the entrepreneurial career path. We hope that the program will nurture the “entrepreneurial spirit” on campus and facilitate the identification and connection of like-minded entrepreneurial students as they apply for and eventually work on E2 Challenge projects.
We also hope that student launched firms will retain talent and create career opportunities in Michigan. Furthermore, E2 Challenge helps us to identify solid entrepreneurs for WSU spinout companies in the future.
If you would like to learn more about the E2 Challenge Program, or would like to find out how you can contribute to this important effort, please contact me:
Eric Stief
Director of Venture Development
Technology Commercialization Office
Wayne State University
5057 Woodward, Suite 6306
Detroit MI, 48202
office: 313-577-5541
fax: 313-577-2814
e-mail: eric.stief@wayne.edu