The Johnson Entrepreneurship Track builds on the MBA curriculum to support students in development of their business ideas through an immersive 2-year program geared towards helping entrepreneurially-minded MBA students launch new businesses.
Academic Offerings
MBA students at Cornell University have the opportunity to take a number of courses based on their interests. Students interested in the entrepreneurship track can take entrepreneurial-focused courses to compliment their MBA experience. Entrepreneurship offerings include: Designing New Ventures, Entrepreneurial Strategy, Big Red Ventures, etc. Find the full list of entrepreneurship courses here.
Workshops, Events, and Enrichment
MBA students can get inspired, build their network, hone their skills, and make connections to experienced entrepreneurs and funders through a myriad of events. A sample of annual event topics include:
- Licensing university technology
- SBIR application process and funding options for startups
- Finding your initial startup idea
- Merging technology and business
- Growing a team
- Startup tools for managing customer relationships
- What venture capitalists look for in a startup
Entrepreneurs in Residence
The Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) program guides Johnson MBA students in their entrepreneurial pursuits helping them connect with entrepreneurship programs, and funding.
View all of the Entrepreneurs in Residence and request a meeting with an EIR via email at entrepreneurs_in_residence@cornell.edu.
View the full list of EIRs.Johnson Summer Startup Accelerator
Johnson Summer Startup Accelerator is a 10-week summer intensive that will continue the momentum of student startups finishing their spring semester. Supported by the numerous Cornell and Ithaca entrepreneurial resources, teams will participate in weekly workshops and regularly meet with Entrepreneurs in Residence. The summer program is open to all students at Cornell University that want to spend their summer working on a startup.
BioEntrepreneurship Initiative
Cornell’s BioEntrepreneurship initiative offers Johnson MBA students and doctoral life scientists from across Cornell’s campuses the opportunity to immerse themselves in real-world startup creation. Participants receive the tools, training, and connections they need to launch their own life science startups through a certificate program offered by the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management. Learn more about BioEntrepreneurship.
eLab Student Accelerator
eLab is Cornell’s student accelerator that launches 15+ real businesses each year. Teams spend one year evolving their business plan, speaking with potential customers, pitching to investors, and preparing for launch. Learn more about eLab.
Johnson Alumni Entrepreneur Spotlights
Jessica Rolph, MBA ’04
Founder, Lovevery and Happy Family
Happy Family was named the top growing food company by Inc. Magazine. The company was acquired by Group Danone when it was generating gross sales of more than $90 million. Rolph’s newest venture, Loververy, is a play system for kids, tailored to their brain development at every stage.
Pablo Borquez, MBA ’15
Founder, ProducePay
ProducePay was named of the “25 Most Innovative AgTech Startups” by Forbes. The company is a supply chain startup that connects wholesale buyers with produce sellers. The platform fixes cash-flow problems by paying for a product the day after it is shipped, rather than the typical 30-to-25 day waiting period. The company has secured over $12.5 million in funding.
Jason Springs, MBA ’09
Founder, GeneWEAVE
GeneWEAVE is a diagnostic technology to detect drug-resistant bacteria. The company was sold for $425 million to Roche Molecular Diagnostics, the world’s largest biotech company. Spring remains the head of marketing for GeneWEAVE, now a division of Roche Molecular Diagnostics and the company was able to retain all of its employees.