200+ Universities Across the Country Celebrate EntrepreneurshipWeek USA.

Activities and Events to Educate and Inspire the Next Generation of Innovators

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- More than 200 universities will engage students to think entrepreneurially during EntrepreneurshipWeek USA and inspire them to take on their big ideas. The weeklong celebration of entrepreneurship will encourage students to think about how they can apply creative and innovative thinking in their college work today and as they move into their careers.

During EntrepreneurshipWeek USA, from Feb. 24 to March 3, 2007, entrepreneurs, educators, community leaders and students across the United States will celebrate the power of entrepreneurship within their campuses and classrooms. Colleges and universities involved in this national effort range from Stanford University, Purdue University, University of Nebraska, the University Systems of New Hampshire and Texas, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Northeastern University to hundreds more. A large number of community colleges also are planning events for their students and local communities.

The higher education events include "Venture Capital Speed Dating" at Stanford University, in which students will have five minutes to pitch their ideas to local venture capitalists and receive feedback. The university will also have a full week of events that focus on social entrepreneurship, innovation and risk-taking. Other institutions are inviting entrepreneurs and political figures to participate in events. Throughout the country, universities will hold forums, seminars and business-plan competitions for a variety of academic areas, including technology, engineering, fine arts and culinary studies

"EntrepreneurshipWeek USA will ignite the entrepreneurial spark for thousands of young Americans," said Carl Schramm, president and CEO of the Kauffman Foundation. "We are proud to be a part of this celebration and support the next generation of entrepreneurs."

EntrepreneurshipWeek USA events will reach out to thousands of students, no matter what their field of study. Young people will have opportunities to interpret what entrepreneurship means to them and follow their passions outside the academic world. The University of Illinois-Champaign-Urbana, for example, is involving schools from across the campus in different activities during the week, ranging from artistic competitions to marketplace simulation games to idea pitch contests.

"As educators, we are interested in expanding entrepreneurial thinking beyond the business school to programs throughout the university," said Tina Seelig from Stanford University's School of Engineering. "EntrepreneurshipWeek USA is a great stimulus, encouraging students from across the entire campus, regardless of their field of study, to participate in entrepreneurial activities."

With the theme, "What's Your Big Idea? Take it On!," the EntrepreneurshipWeek USA initiative is designed to serve as an inspiration for young people to think creatively and to turn their ideas into action - whether that means starting a new business, developing an innovation for an existing company or solving a problem that makes society better. Local and national events are being planned in cities across the country, including a series of events in Washington, D.C., where the focus will be on the importance of policy to the nation's entrepreneurs.

EntrepreneurshipWeek USA is sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation with national sponsors including The New York Times and INC. magazine. More than 600 partners are participating in events across the country.

For more information on events and activities across the country as well as how to engage your organization and encourage young people to get involved in EntrepreneurshipWeek USA, please visit www.EntrepreneurshipWeekUSA.com. Click on specific college names to learn more about the activities and events being planned on each campus.