Eastern Michigan University’s Center for Entrepreneurship (CFE) in Ypsilanti is hosting its latest Executive Certificate in Entrepreneurship (ECE) program starting Sept. 30.
ECE is an eight-week hybrid program that offers business instruction, professional coaching, mentorship, and networking, led by Sanjib Chowdhury, director of the Center for Entrepreneurship EMU.
The event ends with the Executive Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Venture Challenge where participants can win a $25,000 business expense fund.
Established in 1986, CFE was created to create and sustain a culture of entrepreneurship in the EMU community by supporting a strong entrepreneurship curriculum and offering a variety of co-curricular programs. The CFE also encourages local entrepreneurship by engaging EMU students and faculty in business creation and growth in southeast Michigan.
The Executive Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Venture Challenge got its start back in 2021 thanks to a $150,000 donation to the CFE from GameAbove, an alumni-led philanthropic group that has the goal of advancing academic and athletic programs at the school.
“GameAbove has been a long-time advocate for the Center of Entrepreneurship at EMU,” says Chris Kaufman, advisory board member for GameAbove as well as co-founder of online marketplace and clothing reseller StockX in Detroit. “Dr. Chowdhury and his team are doing a tremendous job. As the executive certificate in entrepreneurship continues to evolve and grow in popularity, GameAbove will continue to add resources and give our time to ensure its success.”
Since its start, Kaufman and other GameAbove advisory board members — John Tuttle, vice chairman of NYSE Group; and Zach Wigal, founder of Gamers Outreach in Saline — have participated as guest speakers, mentors, and judges, as well as sponsor participants.
“We cannot be more grateful for GameAbove’s support and confidence in this certificate program,” says Chowdhury. “The group has been instrumental behind the scenes. This certificate program has expanded the EMU College of Business entrepreneurship platform. We have amazing faculty, and our graduate entrepreneurship program is ranked among the top 50 in the nation by The Princeton Review. EMU has all the resources to help entrepreneurs be successful.”
Aspiring entrepreneurs with scalable business ideas and high growth potential can apply for the next cohort beginning Sept. 30. The application deadline is Sept. 6. For more information or to apply, visit here.
