Conference Theme & Tracks:
This year’s theme is "Resiliency and Inclusivity in Innovation." Entrepreneurship is hard, it is an endeavor where founders will be met with challenge of after challenge on their journey. The need to pivot, fail fast and fail forward are not just key aspects of any entrepreneur's journey, they are fundamental experiences. But how can we as entrepreneurship centers support students as they navigate those challenges? Throughout the 2025 conference we aim to explore this further and provide a platform for active discussion and learnings.
In addition, we fundamentally believe that innovation and entrepreneurship should not be the respite of the already privileged. However, the question remains, how can we as an entrepreneurship centers better support diverse founders, considering the intersectionality of the challenges they face?
We invite GCEC members to share their experience and learnings around this theme by submitting a short proposal to lead a conference session. Members can also submit a proposal in the "General Topics" Track.
The deadline for submissions is June 6, 2025.
Conference Tracks: 2025 Theme
Resiliency in Innovation
Entrepreneurship is hard, it is an endeavor where founders will be met with challenge of after challenge on their journey. The need to pivot, fail fast and fail forward are not just key aspects of any entrepreneur's journey, they are fundamental experiences. But how can we as entrepreneurship centers support students as they navigate those challenges?
Inclusivity in Innovation
Inclusivity in entrepreneurship education is vital in creating opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds to engage in the entrepreneurial process. By promoting inclusivity, entrepreneurship programs can empower people of all genders, races, abilities, and socioeconomic statuses to develop their ideas, driving innovations that are more representative, relevant, and impactful for a global society. This theme track aims to provide an opportunity for discussions around how we as entrepreneurship centers can better support diverse founders, considering the intersectionality of the challenges they face to ensure diverse perspectives and experiences are incorporated into the creative process?
Conference Tracks: General Topics
Entrepreneurship Teaching and Learning
- Innovative Entrepreneurship Courses
- Learning Outcomes and Measurement Tools for Entrepreneurship Courses
- Best Practices for Center Leaders (Non-Faculty) Teaching
- Measuring/teaching the entrepreneurial mindset
Tech
- AI Tools for Teaching & Operations
- AI Inside or Outside the Classroom
- Best in Class Vendors, Resources, Tech Stack
Co-Curricular or Extra-Curricular Programming
- Incubators and Accelerators: Student-Focused and Non-Student Focused
- Competitions – global and campus-centric
- Summer Programming
- Startup Internship Programs
- New and Novel Center Programming
Center Operations and Leadership
- Funding Models: Philanthropy, Revenue Generating Programs, Grant Funding, Etc
- Operations: Human Capital, Teams, Center Structure, etc
- Marketing, Communications and External Relations
- Placemaking: Spaces, Co-Working
Engaging the Community
- Managing the Community: Mentor Networks, Alumni Volunteers, Corporate Partners
- Ecosystem Building on Campus and in Your Community
- Government and/or Regional Partnerships
Startup Capital
- Angel Investor Networks
- Venture Funds (Dilutive Funding)
- Grants and Awards for Entrepreneurs (Non-Dilutive Funding)
Global Entrepreneurship
- Teaching Global Mindset
- Study Abroad Opportunities
- Global Collaborations between Centers
Research
- Leveraging Research for Programming and Courses
- The Intersection of Research and Centers
Ethics and Entrepreneurship
- AI and Ethics
- Entrepreneurship Ethics Inside or Outside the Classroom
Specialty Teaching, Learning and Programming
- Arts Entrepreneurship
- Social Impact