Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Driving Future innovation
Creating leaders to identify challenges, ideate solutions and take action.
Building on Northeast Wisconsin's rich history of innovation and entrepreneurship, the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (IEI) will focus on creating community connections to empower you to get unique, hands-on opportunities during college and expand your network. Come and visit us in the Cofrin Library, Room 504!
Join
As a business-minded individual, you know the truth behind "it's who you know." Meet more people and develop skills through events.
Lead
We're here to support your vision. Our entrepreneurship program can help develop your skills so you can achieve your dreams.
Recurring Events
Many successful entrepreneurs start their businesses at the dining room table. In tribute to these entrepreneurs, we’ll be hosting a Kitchen Table Series where a select group of students will be invited to have dinner in the IEI with a regional entrepreneur, around the kitchen table. This is one of a variety of recurring events in development that you can participate in.
- Innovation On-Ramp Course and Competition
- Solving NEW Challenges Business Idea Pitch Competition
- Greater Green Bay Chamber/Urban Hub Build Up! and 1 Million Cups
Get Business Consulting
The Small Business Development Center at UW-Green Bay offers no-cost, confidential consulting and business education across a wide region, primarily serving 12 Wisconsin counties.
Triple Threat
The Institute’s three-tiered, learner-centric programming is designed to develop your entrepreneurial mindset by teaching you to identify challenges, ideate solutions with the confidence and know-how to take action.
Identifying Problems & Creative Thinking
Solutions to important problems first start with the recognition that they exist, followed by lots and lots of unbound creative thinking. You'll learn to recognize root causes and imagine solutions through a variety of experiences including:
- Idea competitions
- Hack-a-thons
- Design thinking workshops
- Problem-solving challenges
Starting & Managing a Business
You'll have entrepreneurial know-how at your fingertips, with access to:
- Well-established, credit-based entrepreneurship programs
- Entrepreneurial speaker series
- Field trips
- Mentor
- Business pitch and business plan competitions
- Non-credit programming with community partners
Professional Acceleration
The Innovation Fellows Program through IEI gives you a unique experience for professional development, connecting you with community partners to work on real-world challenges. You will be partnered with a local organization where you develop your business skills with the support from fellowship supervisors, Institute faculty and staff, and Innovation Fellows peers as you research, analyze and test possible solutions to real-world industry challenges.
Our Mission, Our Vision.
The Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation inspires an innovative mindset to advance the economic vitality and entrepreneurial spirit of northeastern Wisconsin. Our vision is to become the region's premier destination for entrepreneurial education and engagement.
Student Organizations
Join a student organization to further develop your skills, become a leader, learn how to work in a group and open up more opportunities.
DECA
Collegiate DECA is more than competitions, blazers and medallions. Joining Collegiate DECA is the first step you can take towards achieving your goals and realizing your greatest potential. Start your epic journey today!
SRBO
The Student Run Business Organization (SRBO) provides the framework for students to start and run businesses at UW-Green Bay. Students launched and manage a student-run gift shop at the Weidner, selling branded merchandise and pieces from local artists.
Fund Our Future: Thank you Sponsors!
Fuel Northeast Wisconsin's economic engine. 70% of our students stay in the region, so an investment in them is a investment to our local economy. Through your donation, we can provide more life-changing learning opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. Graduates will enter the workforce with a fresh perspective, ready to challenge the status quo. They’ll identify meaningful problems that are both important and relevant and take action in a way that propels our region forward.
Advisory Board
The IEI Advisory Board works to engage people of influence, affluence and potential in the strategic direction, curricular design and programmatic offerings of the Institute. If you’d like to learn more, please contact Madeline VanGroll, our Director of Advancement.
Light the Match
The time is now to invest in the next generation of Northeast Wisconsin leaders, professionals and community members. If you are ready to ignite the future workforce, contact Paul Werner, Assistant Teaching Professor of Entrepreneurship.