The mission of Carlson Ventures Enterprise is to support our sponsors with high quality strategic advice and to provide our students with a unique educational experience. Through a combination of real-world experience and complementary coursework, Ventures Enterprise associates learn how to analyze and shape business opportunities, to understand what investors look for in new ventures, and to collaborate on innovative solutions. We strive to enhance skills critical to those who seek a career in entrepreneurship, business development, venture capital, investment banking or strategic consulting.

The Ventures Enterprise offers a dynamic, hands-on environment where students are challenged to think out-of-the-box to address the multiple challenges that face new ventures. Our associates practice critical thinking to provide strategic advice to the entrepreneurs and business development professionals we support. With the quickening pace of innovation, entrepreneurs need to keep a finger on the pulse of the market. Our associates assist in anticipating and identifying trends that can fuel rapid growth.

We look for students that approach the world with an inventive but skeptical eye. While Ventures Enterprise associates came from diverse career and educational experiences, they share a tolerance for uncertainty and risk. A sampling of the backgrounds of some recent associates includes mechanical, electrical and chemical engineering, education, nonprofit management, sales, software, medicine, finance, technology integration, and of course, entrepreneurship. Carlson Ventures Enterprise is the right choice for students looking to cap their education with the opportunity to venture into often-uncharted territory.

Coursework and projects are supported by the Lab, a high-energy environment that fosters a sense of community. Associates have access to industry journals, an entrepreneurial library, and technology support. It is also home to the program’s professional staff, enhancing the opportunity for serendipitous learning and ensures that students have access to advisors when needed.