StartUp Learning Community residents studying together in a lounge

StartUp Learning Community

How to Join

  1. Sign your University Residence Halls contract and submit your advance payment in My UW Housing
  2. Select the StartUp Learning Community as your top choice when you submit your hall preferences in My UW Housing
  3. Prioritize learning communities over residence halls when you submit your hall preferences in My UW Housing
  4. Receive your room assignment

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Being a part of StartUp enabled me to attend exclusive events and meet the people who have done what I can’t wait to do.

Nathan E., StartUp Resident

Seminar

ERLC residents studying in Sellery Hall

New Ventures in Business, the Arts & Social Entrepreneurship
Management & Human Resources 321 | 3 credits

StartUp residents have the opportunity to enroll in a cutting-edge, three-credit course on entrepreneurship designed specifically for StartUp residents. This class will help residents gain conceptual frameworks as a world citizen for exploring entrepreneurship in society. Students will also gain practical tools for being entrepreneurial in managing and shaping their career. Coursework will allow students to practice creating and recognizing opportunities, enlisting others, finding funds, and pursuing vision. Because this course offers insight into entrepreneurial careers in business, arts, science, engineering, and law, residents will also be able to meet top-ranked UW-Madison professors in similar fields to discuss their work and successes.

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Programming

Community Goals

  • Teach students to put their ideas into action through innovative thinking, analysis, and planning
  • Assist with harnessing key resources to make students’ ideas reality
  • Stress the importance of learning by doing
  • Help students create new sources of value (profit/nonprofit, private/social good)

StartUp has acted as a springboard for many young entrepreneurs on campus. Thanks to the resources and education the community provides to residents, many have already started successful start-ups in the Madison area during their undergraduate experience. If you have an idea that you would like to see come to life, be sure to take advantage of access to funding for research opportunities with faculty from across campus, as well as Dream Big grants.

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Events & Activities

The 100-Hour Challenge is one of the most popular community highlights of the year. Challenging the inventiveness, resourcefulness, and creativity of students as they are required to create and pitch a valuable, innovative, or socially beneficial product or service using materials from UW-Madison SWAP, in only 100 hour’s time participants must upload either a digital photo or video of their invention for judging.

StartUp also offers many other ways for residents to get involved by providing a forum for making connections and learning from others willing to share their experiences and guidance. Some have even spawned entrepreneurial ideas for residents that have led to using funds allocated within StartUp to assist students in creating their own business ventures. Other yearly signature events include:

  • Dream Big grants
  • Monthly community dinners with members of the Madison-area entrepreneurial community
  • Resume and elevator pitch workshops
  • Site visits to area entrepreneurship venues

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Resources

INSITE Entrepreneurship Guide

The most authoritative source on campus for entrepreneurship resources.

StartUp Campus Partners

StartUp is connected to a campus network of entrepreneurial seminars, classes, and events. Visit some of these sites to get a feel for some of the campus partners we will be working with when you arrive:

Our E-ship community includes faculty, students, business leaders, and campus partners. You can have access to our rich professional network by joining StartUp.

Law & Entrepreneurship Clinic

The UW-Madison Law School’s Law & Entrepreneurship Clinic provides free legal services to help entrepreneurs and small business owners realize their potential.

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StartUp Professional Staff

Paige Harris

Position title: Residence Life Coordinator

Sari Judge

Position title: Residence Life Program Manager

Scott Seyforth

Credentials: PhD

Position title: Residence Life Assistant Director

John Surdyk

Position title: Faculty Director of StartUp
Faculty Associate of School of Business