Resources to help you launch as an entrepreneur

As career counselors, we’re often asked about resources for students who want to start their own businesses or begin their entrepreneurship journey.

Not every student yearns for a traditional, predesigned career path or job. Even after graduating from college, you might find yourself still exploring and searching for your passions and clarifying career interests, which is more common than you think and perfectly okay!

“YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE JUST ONE THING. You can be many things, multiple things, all the things, all at once. […] You don’t have to choose. You don’t have to be just one thing in your life. You are allowed to be all of it. You are allowed to WANT all of it. […] What this makes you is interesting and wild and textured and rich and full.” — Ash Ambirge, author

During times of economic uncertainty, some may think now is not the best time to start your own business. However, this article by the Financial Post provides some guidance on thinking creatively about new needs and thriving enterprises among other factors to be successful. 

We’ve collected some resources at Columbia and beyond to support students with the entrepreneurial spirit. 

Columbia resources for Entrepreneurs

  • Review CCE resources in the Startup Industry guide followed by carefully reviewing the Vault guide to Entrepreneurship. These provide a wonderful starting point and highlight professional associations to support your endeavors.
  • Look into Columbia Entrepreneurship Innovation and Design to stay connected with the university’s community of entrepreneurs. 
  •  CORE, or the Columbia Organization of Rising Entrepreneurs, runs an annual program called Alma Works which is Columbia’s startup accelerator and includes an eight-week development program.
    • We recommend that you join their mailing list and consider joining this student organization as they host a myriad or events and opportunities.
  • Furthermore, did you know that CC and SEAS students can live alongside other entrepreneurs through Res Inc.?

REsources beyond Columbia

  • Hisham Faruk, CEO of Grant Thorton provides some guidance on how startups can navigate the current pandemic crisis. 
  • Small Business Administration or SBA provides significant information for entrepreneurs including support for financing and counseling services. 
  • National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) supports women in developing their own small business. 
  • Consider joining Enactus,  which supports students and future leaders with their projects to meet the mission of creating a better and more sustainable world. 
  • If podcasts are your thing,  then check out Fast Co’s reporting on McKinsey & Company’s The First Step Podcast providing lessons learned to launch a new business.