Miami University: No. 7 Entrepreneurship Program in the World

For the 16th year in a row, the Miami University John W. Altman Institute for Entrepreneurship is ranked in the Top 10 among public undergraduate institutions by Princeton Review and Entrepreneur Magazine!

This is the Altman Institutes highest ranking yet, which we believes emphasizes the exceptional value of their approach, and the supportive atmosphere that fosters the entrepreneurial spirit within the Miami University ecosystem.

What was once a single entrepreneurship course offered in 1992 now includes today: 50+ courses; 12 co-curricular programs; the John W. Altman Institute for Entrepreneurship; three Entrepreneurship Centers (the Page Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, the Center for Social Entrepreneurship, and the Center for L.I.F.E.); two student-led investment funds; a funded internship program; a startup accelerator program; World Creativity & Innovation Week/Day (WCIW/D); and many others.

Impact of the Program:

• 4,164 = Total number of undergraduate students taking entrepreneurship class offerings in 2022-23.

• 530 = # of students enrolled as a co-major, co-minor or completing a certificate in 2022-23.

• 116 = number of undergraduate majors represented in the program.

• 400+ = students placed in internships in more than 100 companies, across 17 states, and three countries.

• 571 = # of unique students who have developed an actionable business plan while at Miami University.

• 155 = # of companies started by graduates in the last five years.

• 820 = # of mentors who worked with students through a school sponsored program.

• 12+ = the number of alumni startups to reach unicorn status.

• 1 = the only university integrating Techstars® Startup Weekend into the curriculum.

• 1 = the only university in Ohio to have a Venture Capital Investment Team, one of six selected teams in the midwest to compete, finishing Top three among 100 top business schools in five of the past six years.

• 1 = the only university to be home to World Creativity Day/Week, the largest university-led celebration of creativity and innovation in the world, celebrated annually.

Click Here to See the Rankings!

LP Meeting Week Highlights

What a phenomenal week in Oxford!

The main event was the 1809 Capital annual Limited Partner meeting. Miami University President Greg Crawford kicked the meeting off with a warm welcome, and we had a packed agenda that included venture capital market and 1809 Capital business updates; an expert panel on investment opportunities in the area of artificial intelligence; CEO presentations from three 1809 portfolio companies; and program updates from Tim Holcomb, Chair of the Miami University Department of Entrepreneurship; Dr. Beena Sukumaran, Dean of the College of Engineering and Computing, and the announcement of 1809 Capital’s supporting role in the launch of College@Elm Innovation and Workforce Development Center.

A big highlight was Jim Ryan’s shout out to the amazing accomplishments of all the Miami student entrepreneurs, and the post-meeting reception that 1809 Capital hosted along with with the Farmer School Business Advisory Council, and The Altman Entrepreneurship Advisory Board.

In addition to the 1809 Capital LP Meeting, our team was also busy in Oxford at other points in the week as we hosted a reception with the Miami University Foundation Board and then conducted the first (but not last!) Speed #Mentoring Day, an event that brought together 1809 Capital LPs and partners with students and faculty for a day of learning, networking, and mentorship. Last (but not least) 1809 Capital also collaborated with Glynn Capitalfrom Silicon Valley to produce an engaging Founder and Investor Summit at Cintrifuse Capital’s Union Hall innovation center in Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine neighborhood.

Here’s to a week of connection, learning, and impact at Miami University!

Speed Mentoring Day Highlights

We are thrilled to bring you the highlights from the inaugural Speed Mentoring Day, a collaborative initiative between 1809 Capital and Redhawk Ventures, hosted at Fisher Innovation College@Elm!

The entire day was charged with an undeniable vibrancy as students and mentors immersed themselves in focused 15 minute conversations receiving feedback and insights while making connections for future engagement.

We want to extend a special shoutout to the students who embraced the opportunity, with some dedicating their entire day to engage with every mentor available, and a majority participating in 3 enriching sessions. Your energy and talent is nothing short of inspiring!

35 participants arrived prepared and ready, bringing everything from prototypes to slide shows, all in a bid to elevate their ventures to new heights. They sought advice on a wide array of topics, ranging from business development strategies to making meaningful connections within the startup ecosystem.

Mentors included the 1809 Capital General Partners, Miami Aspire Director Chris Lawson, Max Dworin from Cintrifuse, Kevin Gusweiler from eGateway Capital, Laura Sandstrom from Book + Street and Phil Shea from New Valley Labs.

Flexibility became the order of the day as we seamlessly adapted to accommodate walk-ins and reshuffled schedules on the fly, ensuring that every participant had the opportunity to connect, engage, and learn.

Miami President Crawford graced us with a special appearance taking time from a demanding schedule to observe and contribute to the student (and alumni) experience.

Special thanks to the Redhawk Ventures student team for their crucial role in facilitating connections between students and mentors, and for actively participating and seeking advice themselves. Your collaborative spirit was indispensable to the success of this event!

Here's to a day filled with learning, networking, and boundless inspiration. We are reminded that our community is rich with bright and determined individuals, and we can't wait to see what the future holds. Until next time!