It may take a village to raise a child, but it can also take a village to build a startup. ASU’s new Startup Village is the perfect collaborative space to hone in on your creativity.
Startup Village is a diverse residential community of thinkers and doers who can rely on one another’s expertise, energy and ideas to collaborate and propel innovative business ideas. The mission is to provide students of all majors with an immersive residential opportunity that will support the launch of their startup ideas while they work toward a university degree.
No need to fret if you don’t have an existing business – Startup Village residents are not required to have already started a business, but they are expected to both leverage the unique resources of the community, contribute to entrepreneurship efforts at ASU and they will be given numerous resources at their fingertips.
The benefits during their stay include:
- Intensive training on entrepreneurship programs and opportunities through ASU Changemaker Central.
- Weekly meetings to touch base and to receive business mentoring and guidance from entrepreneurship faculty and experts.
- Access to a community spaces, including a community house, which residents can use as extra work space, to hold meetings and for informal gatherings.
Mitzi Montoya, Vice President and University Dean for Entrepreneurship and Innovation said, “ASU established Startup Village to create a physical home for student entrepreneurs to collaborate, network and advance their ideas. Because being an entrepreneur is a twenty-four seven commitment, Startup Village gives student entrepreneurs the access to the community they need, when they need it, to launch their ventures. It is our goal to establish a Startup Village on every ASU campus to bring this innovative residential model to more ASU students.”
All Startup Village residents will pay a $50 residential community fee each semester and fees are applied toward programming for the community. Interested students should apply as soon as possible for fall housing; applications will continue to be accepted until the community is filled. ASU students of any major who are in good academic standing are eligible and should be of sophomore standing or greater by Fall 2014.
For updates and more info, follow @PolySchoolASU
For AZTB’s coverage of University Advancement click here