Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Olin’s Center for Experiential Learning links the classroom with the world of business. With faculty support and guidance, talented Olin students apply leading-edge practices and practical management solutions to business challenges.

In this course from Skandalaris Center for Interdisciplinary Innovation and Entrepreneurship at WashU, students pursue their own business idea or support community entrepreneurs. They work in the St. Louis area to create a program that caters to individuals mostly in the St. Louis area. Over half of the ventures launched have taken place in the St. Louis area with over two-thirds of the program still taking place. They have created over a hundred jobs in the St. Louis area.

IdeaBounce® is an online platform and event from the Skandalaris Center for Interdisciplinary Innovation and Entrepreneurship where anyone in St. Louis can pitch an idea, get feedback, and network with other entrepreneurs and innovators.

WashULaw students in the Entrepreneurship Clinic provide advice and legal assistance to individuals and entities in all entrepreneurship endeavors. The clinic helps with start-ups and small businesses and non-profit organizations.

The CORTEX Innovation Community is a hub of bioscience and technology research, development, and commercialization. The community allows for hundreds of research and technology-based jobs, and industry and biotechnology start-ups in the St. Louis area.

This collaborative effort between the Brown School’s Buder Center with leaders at the St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis Art Museum, Missouri Humanities Council, Missouri History Museum and Lutheran Indian Ministries, is meant to advance Native partnerships and programming. Strengthening collaboration and communication will allow better dissemination of knowledge, stronger programs, and improved outreach.

The Graduate Center, in the Office of the Provost, administers the year-long Pivot 314 Program for mid-career PhD students to enhance their academic journeys through interdisciplinary connections and innovation. Participants apply their academic and research skills in experiential learning opportunities outside and/or alongside of the academy while making valuable connections in the St. Louis community. Through partnerships with the Skandalaris Center for Interdisciplinary Innovation & Entrepreneurship, the Center for Humanities, and the Center for Environment, students will build/expand their network and find an applied academic experience for the summer that will further their research skill development while also making an impact on the St. Louis community.