Through this program Bayer told me that the students “develop the power skills that can’t be learned in classrooms and earn the real experience it takes to stand out as they seek to springboard their careers.”
Many academics have passed over student entrepreneurs in the debate regarding ‘what makes an entrepreneur?’ describing them as individuals who exploit academic research for financial gain. I’m sure that many student entrepreneurs will agree with me when I say that this simply isn’t true. In fact, my own research points to quite the opposite; student entrepreneurs are creative individuals with a passion for helping others within their own communities, and their start-up businesses do everything from web design, to serving tea and coffee, to the development of pioneering medical technology. Today, I want to share some of my research about the ‘student entrepreneur’ with you, in the hope that we can better understand this fascinating subset of entrepreneurs, their needs, and their goals.
Let’s get one thing straight from the get-go. Student entrepreneurs are not driven by money. Sure, there are plenty who would be keen to see some financial gain at the end of running their businesses, but this isn’t their goal. The next generation of entrepreneurs are, instead, driven by the potential to do things better, to create value for society, and to help people in need. As one student entrepreneur I interviewed told me, it is about “trying to make a difference in the world.”
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