Founders

There are over 140 founders at present, and many more are graciously joining the group. This is the key difference between BYU's entrepreneurship program and others. Entrepreneur Founders provide donations and successful entrepreneurial experience in the classroom.

To support the Center for Entrepreneurship in teaching and mentoring students, providing research opportunities and funding the Center's activities, guided by the three privileges to LEARN, EARN, RETURN™. To support this mission, the Founders will:

In life, we have three opportunities — Learn, Earn, Return. The privilege to return, to help others, is usually the most rewarding of all. Who could be better to help teach, educate, and mentor students in entrepreneurship than real-life entrepreneurs, themselves? With this in mind, the Entrepreneur Founder group was formed to help support the Center for Entrepreneurship.

We invite you to become an Entrepreneur Founder, and join this exciting program. The financial commitments are an initial contribution of $15,000, and an annual sustaining donation of $5,000. All contributions qualify towards membership in the President’s Club, and as a partner in the Marriott School’s Leadership Alliance.

The financial support of the Entrepreneur Founders is the reason this program exists. Besides funding the annual operating costs of the program, Founders have helped build an endowment, the earnings of which help fund scholarships, library holdings, curriculum developments, research support, and many other needed materials for the Center. We invite your interest in this rapidly growing nationally recognized program which supports Brigham Young University in a most satisfying way.

Teaching in the Classroom.

As practicing entrepreneurs, some Founders choose to teach in the classroom, where they can share their experiences and insights. These outstanding business people serve as role models for students. They are people students would like to emulate. Together with a dedicated faculty, Entrepreneur Founders provide students with classroom instruction which combines theories and principles with real-life applications. Case studies based on their experiences are combined with academic studies to bring the principles to life. Presentations in the Entrepreneur Lecture Series help students understand the practical realities of becoming an entrepreneur and how it has benefited the Founders' lives. Literally hundreds of visits by Founders to campus each year bring the real world into the classroom. Their continuing evaluation of the curriculum and suggestions where it can better respond to today's needs are invaluable. The quality of learning and depth of experience is greatly increased when Founders participate.

Founders Conference. Twice a year, Founders and their spouses gather together on campus for educational and spiritual programs with guest speakers. Social affairs such as dinners, golf, museum tours, and football games at Founders Conference are a popular means of networking with other Founders. Students also get the opportunity to interact with the Founders personally, as mentors, discussing various aspects of owning and growing successful businesses. They present their business plans for feedback and evaluation from these successful entrepreneurs.