The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is a statement as well as a place. The statement is the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship serves as the focal point for encouraging and gathering innovation from across campus and the community. It is also a physical place, where students, faculty and the community can gather and leverage tools to collaboratively solve societal problems.
The Center contributes to developing students into servant-leaders by helping them to discover ways to:
Bring your business concepts before a panel of judges and compete for cash and in-kind prizes. Many Trojan Arena winners such as Allera Tech, Sky Manufacturing, Lucidity Statistical Consulting, Godspeed, Cord Puck, have gone on to establish businesses pre- and post-graduation.
Grow your leadership capabilities by serving as leaders in the IMPACT Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program. This year-long program exposes rising high school juniors and seniors to the ideation, validation, and business planning processes to solve some of societyʼs greatest needs.
Understand the realities of living the life of an entrepreneur by networking with seasoned and successful entrepreneurs and investors, as well as the various support ecosystems and founder communities that exist.
Bring your business concepts before a panel of judges and compete for cash and in-kind prizes. Many Trojan Arena winners such as Allera Tech, Sky Manufacturing, Lucidity Statistical Consulting, Godspeed, Cord Puck, have gone on to establish businesses pre- and post-graduation.
Grow your leadership capabilities by serving as leaders in the IMPACT Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program. This year-long program exposes rising high school juniors and seniors to the ideation, validation, and business planning processes to solve some of societyʼs greatest needs.
Understand the realities of living the life of an entrepreneur by networking with seasoned and successful entrepreneurs and investors, as well as the various support ecosystems and founder communities that exist.
The CIE trains, mentors, and equips Kingdom-class innovators for a lifetime of creative flourishing. Academic programs include:
The Center will soon be in the Vandermeulen Innovation Hub in the Horne Academic Center (now under construction), through a generous donation from longtime alumna and friend of the University Elaine (Brunz ’62) Vandermeulen.
Vandermeulen's late husband, Gordon ’65, owned Grand Rapids Bolt & Nut Company/Great Lakes Fasteners for 40 years. He was an entrepreneur who grew many businesses and was involved in several business and community organizations, and also a longtime supporter of Taylor University.
He died in 2019 after a lifetime of faithful service.
This space will create a common location for students to work on their ideas, meet with visiting entrepreneurial professionals, and build connections.
