Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Opportunities to Learn

The entrepreneurial spirit is embraced throughout the University and is woven into the curriculum of courses across all disciplines. Under the guidance of the Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship and their dedicated team of knowledgeable industry experts, our Entrepreneurship Co-op opportunities encourage students to take that drive even further as they gain valuable work experience in established companies and startups and even in launching their own ventures. Those starting or building their own company can be selected to receive a $19,000 scholarship, mentorships, and a dedicated workspace to see their idea come to life. Many students are inspired to pursue entrepreneurship-related careers closely related to their co-op after graduation, bolstered by Drexel's emphasis on the following:

Mindset

Entrepreneurship is part of the Drexel lifestyle, and the proof is in the fact that the Close School is the first independent school of entrepreneurship to offer degrees in the United States. You’ll learn from the best of the best here — not only from our incredible faculty and professional staff but through our wide-reaching company partnerships throughout Philadelphia and beyond — and develop the skills, confidence, resilience, and ethical empathy that will position you to succeed throughout your career. Plus, our three-, four-, and five-year programs provide a customized fit for any academic timeline.

Personas

Drexel students come together to develop their personal entrepreneurial style while collaborating with others — whether it be as a Seeker, Creator, Impacter, Builder, Family, or Careerist — allowing them to more effectively learn and contribute in an environment of idea-sharing and development. 

Sustainability and Impact

In a changing world, entrepreneurship has changed as well. Many Dragons are interested in ensuring their companies can be a force for good, and Drexel supports this in several ways— not only through the affiliations and partnerships we help make, but our Environmental Collaboratory seeks to co-fund, co-design, and co-implement solutions that drive systemic change as related to the climate justice needs of our communities and the developing climate emergency.

There's also the Charles D. Close School's B.S. in Sustainability and Innovation, designed for individuals who are passionate about making the world a better place. Students who are interested in using entrepreneurship and innovation to create impactful solutions to society’s most pressing problems are encouraged to learn more about this unique undergraduate offering.

Innovation Ecosystem

The city of Philadelphia and our surrounding region is a growing hotbed of innovation, inspiring all within it to continue to push boundaries and test the limits of what we can achieve. Drexel has an incredible variety of assets to help you develop as an entrepreneur, including Startup Fest, our APP Lab for those interested in mobile app development; the Innovation Center (ic@3401), where you can collaborate with other dragons and more; and the ExCITe Center, where incubation is focused on supporting research, education, and civic engagement.

Here are just some of the entrepreneurship and innovation resources available at Drexel:

• Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship
• Baiada Institute for Entrepreneurship
• StartupTree
• ExCITe Center
• Startup Fest
• Innovation Center @3401 (ic@3401)
• APP Lab
• Drexel Applied Innovation
• Coulter-Drexel Translational Research Partnership Program

Students from any of our programs are invited — and encouraged — to take courses in entrepreneurship and embrace their individual innovative spirit. At Drexel University, entrepreneurship can't wait.