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L. William Crotty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership

Turning Big Dreams into Bold Moves

Our L. William Crotty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership provides a distinctive approach to entrepreneurship education. Through the multidisciplinary entrepreneurship major, students have the opportunity to start actual microbusinesses, gain exposure to rapid growth companies, and have regular contact with successful entrepreneurs.

Through the program, UD students have opportunities to gain real-world experience through business consulting, microlending, angel investing, internships, mentorship, and student competitions in commercial real estate and business plans. Regularly scheduled luncheons with highly respected entrepreneurs from the greater Miami Valley area add more opportunities to gain practical insight and make connections.

In alignment with UD's commitment to the common good, we pursue entrepreneurship for the common good. Students learn to create profitable ventures, but more importantly, they learn how to leverage those skills to build community and create positive change.

  • TOP 50

    Entrepreneurship Programs in the Nation - Princeton Review

  • 100%

    of Entrepreneurship Students Start and Run a Business

  • 6TH

    Largest Student-Run Business in the Country with $2.1 Million in Revenue

Entrepreneurial Initiatives

Where Theory Meets Practice

Students don't just watch from the sidelines; they are immersed in the process. They leverage the entrepreneurial mindset through experiential learning opportunities. And they create profitable ventures and take on initiatives that will have a positive impact on the community. Through angel investing, consulting, annual pitch competitions, and the largest student-run business in the nation, you'll gain valuable business insights, experience the spirit of service, and develop valuable connections.

Explore Opportunities and Activities

The Hub Powered by PNC Bank

The Hub Powered by PNC Bank at the Dayton Arcade is an exciting new space for University of Dayton students. The Hub, a joint venture of the University of Dayton and The Entrepreneurs' Center, is among the largest university-anchored innovation hubs in the country. Experience the power of the innovative transdisciplinary approach to launching and learning offered at The Hub.

Explore The Hub

Greater West Dayton Incubator

The Greater West Dayton Incubator (GWDI) brings together entrepreneurs and University of Dayton students, providing students with hands-on learning opportunities in developing new businesses and social ventures while addressing the needs of the Greater West Dayton community. The GWDI is a joint venture between the University of Dayton’s L. William Crotty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and The Entrepreneurs Center’s Entrepreneurial Service Provider (ESP) program.

Explore GWDI

A Vision for the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs

The Crotty Center supports UD's distinctive approach to entrepreneurial education that aligns with the university’s effort to educate for practical wisdom. An effort to provide experiences in and out of the classroom where students can become skilled entrepreneurs, and where we teach and learn at the intersections of profit and purpose. This is done through experiential learning programs, transdisciplinary opportunities, and community engagement.

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News
Business 01.12.24

Stella Hermann's Microbusiness UD Forever Homes captures the essence of UD's student neighborhood and Chapel on campus by allowing students and alums an opportunity to customize canvas items in order to immortalize UD memories in a unique way!

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01.17.24

University of Dayton entrepreneurship students conducted industry research and presented business recommendations to Total Quality Logistics, an Ohio-based third-party logistics company, gaining real-world experience in the classroom.

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A High Quality Education

Flyer Pitch Competition

Now in its 18th year, Flyer Pitch awards more than $150,000 in cash prizes and more than $50,000 on in-kind prizes during the competition. Its legacy includes more than 80 new ventures that have been launched as a result of the competition with over $24 million in follow-on capital raised by those businesses. Over the course of the competition, participants will have the opportunity to enhance their own skills as well as strengthen their venture through training, mentorship, and feedback from expert judges. This is not only intended to help finalists prepare for the pitch but to ultimately provide entrepreneurs with the hands-on support to successfully launch their new venture.

Discover Entrepreneurship Summer Program

High school students attending Dayton Public Schools are invited to apply to the University of Dayton Discover Entrepreneurship Summer Program. Through immersive and interactive experiences at The Hub powered by PNC Bank, students will build their professional skills and learn to apply essential business practices to design their own business plans and compete for attractive scholarships to the University of Dayton in a final pitch competition. Successful completion of the program will allow all students to earn 3 hours of college credit

Student-Run Businesses On Campus

Many University of Dayton students engage in entrepreneurial activity, both for-profit and non-profit, and for curricular as well as co-curricular purposes. The Policy for Student-Run Businesses On Campus allows for entrepreneurial activity among students while still maintaining a reasonable risk profile to protect University assets.

Micro Company Experience

Entrepreneurship students get to create their own teams and launch a micro company funded by the University. Each team gets a $5,000 investment from the University, and students gain a full academic year of learning how to run their business. At the end of the class, the students pay back the original investment and split the profits among the team's members and a social venture of their choice.

CENTER HIGHLIGHTS

Crotty Center 2022/2023 Annual Report

The L. William Crotty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership had a fantastic academic year full of highlights and achievements. To learn more about the center's initiatives and accomplishments, check out the full Annual Report using the link below.

Crotty Center Newsletter

Want to be kept up-to-date with the latest news and updates? Visit our Crotty Center Newsletter articles using the link below!

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Visit Us

Interested in visiting the School of Business Administration and talking with some of our current business students and faculty? The best way to understand our passion, innovation, and community is to experience it yourself. Experience an academic tour by scheduling a Business Visit using the link below. We'd love to meet you!

CONTACT

L. William Crotty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership

The Hub Powered by PNC Bank
31 S. Main Street
Dayton, Ohio 45402
937-229-3127
Email

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