KU entrepreneurship program nabs award
October 6, 2015 | Bobby Burch
The University of Kansas’ entrepreneurial education program recently earned a national award.
The University Economic Development Association awarded the Entrepreneurs@KU program its “Award of Excellence in Innovation & Entrepreneurship.”
The commendation recognizes programs that accelerate economic development by supporting startups, high-growth companies and clusters within a region, and converting talent into wealth through innovation and entrepreneurship.
“We’re excited and honored to receive this award recognizing a program that is another great example of how KU is driving economic development in our region,” Julie Nagel, interim associate vice chancellor for innovation and entrepreneurship, said in a release. “It’s great to get national recognition for programs that help turn KU discoveries into jobs and companies.”
The Entrepreneurs@KU program offers students and faculty tools to launch a business, including access to the “Startup School@KU,” proof-of-concept funds and licensing terms. The program is a result of work among KU Innovation & Collaboration, the KU School of Business’ Center for Entrepreneurship and the Bioscience & Technology Business Center at KU. KU Innovation and Collaboration manages KU’s intellectual property, licensing and startup company activities.
KU beat out several universities for the award, including finalists at the University of New Mexico, Penn State University and the University of Southern Indiana. It’s the second time that KU was recognized by the University Economic Development Association, which in 2013 named KU a national finalist with the Bioscience & Technology Business Center in the Community-Connected Campus category.

2015 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Planned serendipity: Endeavor Heartland’s launch aims to put founders in the right place at the right time
A global nonprofit that supports high-impact entrepreneurs is gearing up for its March 6 regional selection panel in Kansas City — the organization’s next big step in establishing a KC footprint, said Shawn Morris. “This will double as our launch into the Kansas City market and our commitment to our office expanding there,” said Morris,…
Why this KC social entrepreneur pivoted from drilling wells with Matt Damon to tapping micro-loans for water projects
Identifying unmet needs is just as critical for social entrepreneurs as their counterparts at more traditional for-profit ventures, said Gary White, explaining how Water.org needed to find its missing piece to truly tap the non-profit’s potential. “Go after those unique insights at the intersection of a great social gain and a market,” said White, offering…
Newly relaunched PR platform connects small brands to freelance journalists eager to tell their stories
Blish Mize Connor and Allison Hogan are working to change the landscape of the public relations game, they shared, starting with firing themselves. The PR veterans — with a combined 35 years of experience — have launched DeskSides, a dual-sided digital hub to connect brands with journalists/freelancers. “We were tired of traveling and schlepping goods…
US company lands on the moon: Here’s how a KC firm helped boost its flames of innovation
For the first time ever, a commercial spacecraft has touched down on the moon and Kansas City-based Burns & McDonnell provided innovation that helped to make it possible for Intuitive Machines and its Odysseus IM-1 lander, shared Brittney Swartz. The local engineering, construction and architecture firm served as the designer and builder of Intuitive Machines’…
