Entrepreneurship at John Carroll

Hustle humbly. Build your future, on your terms.

No “perfect idea” required. If you’re curious, you’re in the right place.

Explore the Minor See the Programs
Our Why

We inspire action to explore possibilities.

— Entrepreneurship at JCU
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No tests or textbooks

Hands-on learning from day one

LaunchNET Startup Accelerator

Taught by real entrepreneurs

Well-funded support for ideas

A tight-knit builder community

By the Numbers

Real scale. Real impact.

$2M+
Invested

Raised to fund student ideas, projects, and programs.

7,000+
JCU Students

Served through the minor and our programs.

5,000+
High Schoolers

Reached through bootcamps, competitions, and outreach.

Find Your Path

There’s a path here for you.

Three ways to plug in. Pick where you are. Move when you’re ready.

01 / Academic

Entrepreneurship Minor

A mastery-based program built around real projects with real companies. No busywork. Every class builds your portfolio of evidence.

Explore the Minor
02 / Co-Curricular

LaunchNET

A free accelerator for students, alumni, faculty, and staff with a spark of an idea. Coaching, pitch competitions, and access to local resources.

Explore LaunchNET
03 / Community

Cleveland Impact

Partner with real organizations to create measurable impact. Entrepreneurship at JCU isn’t just startups, it’s leadership and service.

See Community Projects
Meet The Team

The people behind the work.

Builders, educators, and operators. Reach out directly, we’re easy to find.

Doan Winkel

Doan Winkel

Director, Entrepreneurship Program
Kahl Endowed Chair · Founding Director, Donnelly School
Jamey Polak

Jamey Polak

Program Director, LaunchNET
Coaching students, alumni, faculty, and staff
Gabriela Beni

Gabriela Beni

Associate Director of Programs
Cleveland Entrepreneurship Bootcamp & community partnerships
Lisa Heckman

Lisa Heckman

Assistant to the Boler Chairs
Events, visits, and program logistics
The Minor

A launchpad. For ideas. For careers. For living your purpose.

Build the mindset and skillset to spot opportunities, solve real problems, and lead, no matter your major. Employers want problem solvers who think and act entrepreneurially.

  • Learn by building
  • Fit it around your major
  • Projects you can show employers
Explore the Minor

Well-funded opportunities

Resources that let you test ideas, build prototypes, and learn faster, without guessing alone.

Taught by real entrepreneurs

Every course is taught by people who build and lead real businesses, so you learn what actually works.

Hands-on, always

Leave with experience building projects, making pitches, and creating results for real organizations.

Hands-on Learning

You’ll build real things. Starting now.

Validating ideas. Solving problems for real people. Learning how to move from “what if” to “what’s next.”

01

Idea-to-Action Projects

Turn curiosity into a tested concept. Ship something you can point to.

02

Pitch + Feedback

Learn how to communicate, defend your thinking, and lead a room.

03

Customer Discovery

Talk to real people. Get real insights. Stop guessing from your desk.

04

Portfolio Outcomes

Graduate with proof of what you can do. Not a GPA. Actual artifacts.

LaunchNET

Spark of an idea? Let’s build it.

LaunchNET at John Carroll University is a FREE program for students, alumni, staff, and faculty to promote:

  • Entrepreneurial thinking
  • Innovative mindset
  • Creative collaboration
  • Venture creation

Through advising, events, and connections to the greater Northeast Ohio community.

Explore LaunchNET
Building
Cleveland.
Built Here
Entrepreneurship in Cleveland

Build your future by helping others build theirs.

Entrepreneurship at JCU isn’t just startups. It’s leadership, service, and problem-solving. Through community involvement, you’ll partner with organizations and businesses to create measurable results and real impact.

  • Community partnerships
  • Real clients, real outcomes
  • Experiences that stand out in job interviews
See Community Projects
Our tight-knit community

Your people are here.

When you join JCU Entrepreneurship, you’re stepping into a crew of builders and creators who support each other, challenge each other, and share opportunities.

  • Access to mentors and entrepreneurs
  • Collaboration with students who “get it”
  • Confidence from doing, not just dreaming
  • A community other students don’t have access to
At JCU entrepreneurship events, expect 1) a warm welcome as if you are meeting an old friend, 2) openness of each attendee to say hello and chat (students included), and 3) meaningful conversations with incredibly interesting people in Cleveland and at JCU.
— Marissa Burkhardt, Class of 2012
Outcomes & Stories

What students gain here is momentum.

Students leave with confidence, clarity, connections, and a track record of doing hard things.

H

Hunter Cooper

Class of 2026

“The entrepreneurship program was such a great opportunity because it gave me perspective from people who have already ‘made it.’ They are already successful and as a student entrepreneur, I’ve found that the most growth comes from learning from people who have already done what you want to do.”

Student Entrepreneur
K

Katie O’Connell

Class of 2019

“The entrepreneurship program helped me unlock my potential and engineer my future. The courses and mentors helped me feel comfortable with who I am and what I am passionate about. My professors helped me put that passion into words and complete projects that have altered my career and life trajectory.”

Alumna
M

Mark Knight

Class of 1991

“The JCU entrepreneurship program is where students and professionals can interact and share their life experiences with one another. The students can learn from the professionals and the professionals can learn what the next generation wants in an employer.”

Alumnus
J

Dr. Jeffrey Stamp

Inventor of Lay’s Baked Potato Chips

“The entrepreneurship program at John Carroll sets itself apart by asking the students to think out loud and ask the question, what can I do to make a difference? Then the program provides the creative experiences and skills to help students take the first step in making that happen.”

External Voice
D

Doan Winkel

Director, JCU Entrepreneurship Program

“Our graduates stand out in corporate America, in main street small businesses, and in the startup world because they can confidently work with big ideas, with uncertainty, and with possibility.”

Program Director
Contact Us

Don’t wait to become the person you want to be.

If you want to find your passion, build real skills, and create a future on your terms, this is your place. Questions about the Minor, LaunchNET, or how to get involved? Reach out.

entrepreneurship@jcu.edu
Minor · Alumni · Donors
Doan Winkel
Director, Entrepreneurship Program · Kahl Endowed Chair · Founding Director, Donnelly School
LaunchNET
Jamey Polak
Program Director, LaunchNET
Community
Gabi Beni
Associate Director of Programs
Events
Lisa Heckman
Assistant to the Boler Chairs
FAQ

Questions, answered.

No. Most students start with curiosity, then discover what they care about and build from there.
Not at all. Entrepreneurship fits every major because every field needs innovators and leaders who think and act entrepreneurially.
We’re well-resourced, taught by real entrepreneurs, built around hands-on learning, and anchored in a tight-knit community with unique access.
Start with the minor, attend an event, or explore LaunchNET. There’s no wrong first step.