The Alumni Magazine for Worcester Polytechnic Institute. (WPI)
Issue link: http://wpialumnimag.epubxp.com/i/114745
"ENTREPRENEURSHIP HAS TAKEN OFF, IT'S ALL AROUND CAMPUS," SAYS CHON. "I THINK STUDENTS SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING AND SAY, 'I WANT TO BE PART OF IT.'" "WHAT THE GROUP DOES IS BRING A DOSE OF REALITY TO PROJECTS," SAYS FITZGERALD. lems they don't anticipate. DeSantis says Campus Libre's TAN leader, Mark Quinlivan '81, had plenty of insight on how to build on the venture's initial success. "He has helped us anywhere from the basics, such as how to determine your market Ƃt and how to create Ƃnancial models, all the way up to dealing with investors, raising capital, and hiring employees." Beyond advising and supporting individual projects, TAN reƃects the Business School's emphasis on building working relationships among students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the business community in support of individual entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial networks. With invention and innovation driving so much business, today's entrepreneurs seem to be taking on a role similar to that of FOR ABERDALE, TAN IS PART OF A POSITIVE SHIFT IN DIRECTION FOR WPI. philosophers in ancient Greece, of painters and sculptors during the Renaissance, and of jazz musicians during the 1920s. Entrepreneurs are deƂning communities and cultures in part because the focus has shifted from single shots of success to broader, deeper, and more inclusive achievement. "Entrepreneurs want to see things better, and they act on that," says Morgan. "Whether it's working in energy conservation, creating a new technology for stem cell therapy, or setting up a network for students to buy used textbooks, the idea is that you can make a difference." For Aberdale, who also taught operations management for the MBA program at Babson College when the model for entrepreneurship ecosystems was gaining ground, TAN is part of a positive shift in direction for WPI. "Most college graduates want to give something back," he says, adding that Rice's solid leadership is opening up opportunities for alumni and business leaders to help foster the innovation and economic growth that can potentially bolster the entire region. And TAN is already making signiƂcant strides. "We liked what we saw with the Ƃrst set of presentations, but since then we've met twice and the projects are getting better and better," he says. "The last round of presentations was really impressive, and I can see many angel investors, venture capital groups, or individuals being interested in making investments." J Winter 2013 57