The U-Guide is a new student guide to the University and surrounding area, to replace the hundreds of  fliers distributed by University organizations at the start of each school year. By working in close connection with University of Minnesota housing officials, the students were able to guarantee that the free guide was placed on 7,000 beds in University residence halls.

The students managed all aspects of the publishing process, including building a relationship with a print vendor to selling advertisements. Revenue was generated by advertisements from local and national businesses seeking to reach the new students upon their arrival on campus.

The students were one of two teams in a year-long class, developed by the Carlson School’s Center of Entrepreneurial Studies, which provides undergraduates with the opportunity to conceive, plan, launch, and operate a business. 

“This is what we’ve been talking about for three years, and we’re finally experiencing it firsthand,” said Reed Robinson, ’06 BSB, who was one of the first-year class members who worked on another class project.

All funds financing the businesses were structured as loans, to be paid back on completion of the project. Thanks to the profits turned by the program, these students are already giving back. Last spring, they endowed a $50,000 scholarship for future entrepreneurial students.