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Working with your romantic partner isn’t just a niche phenomenon; it’s a growing trend. A recent study from the National Library of Medicine reveals nearly one in four U.S. small businesses are run by romantic couples. Yet, for all the talk of “power couples” in the startup world, precious little unfiltered insight exists on what it actually takes to share a bed, a budget, and a booming enterprise. For many, the lines between personal and professional don’t just blur; they cease to exist. My husband, Joe, and I are the founders behind Serenity Kids, now the fastest-growing shelf-stable baby food brand in the U.S. Our origin story is uniquely intertwined with our personal one: the business was our first “baby,” meticulously nurtured from a shared frustration with the unhealthy baby food aisle. Our second? A literal, adorable human baby who is, unbelievably, seven this year. As we scale a multimillion-dollar company while simultaneously navigating the exhilarating chaos of parenthood, Ive gained an interesting perspective on the strategic moves and nonnegotiable rules that keep our marriage, and our company, thriving. The Nonnegotiable Boundary That Saved Our Marriage It sounds counterintuitive for founders whose lives are inextricably linked to their venture: put a hard stop on work discussions once you walk through the front door. But for Joe and me, this rule became the lynchpin of our relationship’s resilience. In the early days of Serenity Kids, it was 24/7. Every meal, every car ride, every evening was a business meeting. Our passion was relentless, but I quickly realized the constant operational debriefs were eroding our identity as a couple. We were colleagues who lived together, not partners. The encroachment was subtle. Wed be dissecting strategy over dinner or debating a supply chain hiccup right before bed. I realized that I missed him. And I had no idea what was truly happening in my partners life outside of work. The breaking point was Joe sleeping in the guest room because wed had yet another work fight at bedtime. Those nights were disconnecting and actually set us backboth personally and professionally. Because close connection is our special sauce. Personality-wise, we are total opposites in every wayhes an extrovert while Im an introvert, Im a perfectionist while hes a good enough kind of guy, etc. So when were disconnected, were each operating as only half of a complete whole. I knew we needed a sacred space where we could simply be Serenity and Joe, disconnected from our job titles. Our solution: an unwavering commitment to compartmentalization. Of course, genuine emergencies warrant discussion. But the default is clear: once we’re home, we consciously shift gears. We discuss our day as parents and individuals. We prioritize connecting on a human level over any work-related issues. We have 1:1 meetings on the calendar three times a week just to discuss work. And if either one of us tries to bring up a work topic, we say put it on the agenda! We also have dedicated date days or date nights where we commit to avoiding both work and kid talk, so we can focus on each other, as well as quarterly vision retreats where we visualize the future of our relationship, family, and business. This rigorous boundary, challenging as it was to implement initially, has proven invaluable. It forces hyperefficiency during work hours and provides essential emotional bandwidth to nurture our romantic relationship, separate from the relentless demands of the business. Strategic Division of Labor In any cofounder dynamic, clear role definition is paramount. When you add parenting to the equation, that clarity shifts from crucial to existential. For Joe and me, this has been a huge area of growth and evolution. For the first several years after we had our daughter, I had the constant hum in my head that most working moms experience. Whats for dinner? Whos handling bath and bedtime tonight? What meetings do I have today and what should I wear? For a long time, I wrestled with that mental load. Not just about completing the task, but all the thinking, planning, and worrying that drained my energy. I wasnt sleeping well, I wasnt eating well, and I just wasnt taking care of myself. While Joe watched TV at night, I stayed up late washing bottles, ordering next-size-up baby clothes, and researching Dellas latest mystery rash. All while still working full time plus managing our familys finances and anything that required paperwork. I was miserable. And after a brush with death from COVID pneumonia, I knew something had to change. I found the Fair Play method by Eve Rodsky, and my mind was blown. I now could see the mountains of invisible work I had been doing since Della was born that Joe had no idea even existed. After some hard conversations and Joes willingness to experiment with a different way, the constant weight began to lighten. Throughout this process, he and I have become true partners. He is no longer a partner who just “helps out.” This philosophy has shaped how Joe and I built our marriage and approach parenting. He dives deep into this in Episode 7 of his podcast Dadicated Joe, sharing how weve worked to keep the spark alive after becoming parents. Applying these principles has not only brought more harmony to my family but also reinforced the importance of clear roles, mutual respect, and holistic well-being at Serenity Kids. We work to build culture and sustainable systems where everyone can truly thrive. While encouragement is nice, what we all really need is a partner willing to jump in and fold the laundry when the piles get high. Weve learned to be that support for each other. At home. At work. Everywhere. 5 Crucial Lessons Ive learned a wealth of actionable insights I’d offer to other romantic partners considering, or currently navigating, the high-stakes journey of entrepreneurial cofounding: Strict Role Definition (and Unwavering Trust): This is nonnegotiable. You need to clearly delineate who owns what. Then, extend absolute trust in your partners domain. Undermining their decisions in their area of responsibility is a direct threat to both business progress and relationship integrity. Cultivate Separate Spaces (Even Symbolic Ones): Joe and I quickly learned that constant physical proximity, transitioning from “work mode” to “couple mode” in the same room, was counterproductive. Whether it’s different offices or simply dedicated “zones,” creating some physical and mental separation during work hours is vital for psychological resets. Proactive Relationship Investment: Your business will demand everything, but your personal relationship is the fundamental platform. Prioritize dedicated date nights, even if they’re modest. Engage in non-work conversations. Actively recall and reinforce the shared values and affection that initially drew you together, beyond the business ambition. Embrace Dynamic Balance, Not Static Perfection: The concept of “perfect balance” is a myth. ome days, the business will command absolute priority. On others, your child will need every ounce of your attention. Success lies in embracing this inherent fluidity and adapting, rather than chasing an unattainable, rigid ideal. Leverage Objective External Counsel: Engaging an objective third partya business coach, a therapist specializing in entrepreneurial couples, or even a trusted mentorprovides invaluable perspective. They can facilitate healthy conflict resolution, reinforce boundaries, and ensure that communication remains robust and constructive. The journey of building Serenity Kids has served as a rigorous masterclass in leadership, partnership, and parenthood for Joe and me. We’re not merely disrupting the baby food market; we’re actively demonstrating a new paradigm for how ambitious couples can build a thriving enterprise and a fulfilling family life. Its not perfect. Its often messy. But I hope our story encourages others to set strategic boundaries, show mutual respect, and find an abundance of resilience. Maybe those of us crazy enough to do both journeys together truly can have it alleven if it means putting your first “baby” to bed before focusing on bedtime at home.
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Our second annual Ignition Schools awards recognizing the colleges and universities shaping future entrepreneurs and innovators arrives at a crucial crossroads for higher education. On one hand, artificial intelligence has caused us to rethink assumptions about how far and how quickly technology can improve our society and our lives. On the other hand, a storm of skepticism brewing in a sea of disinformation has dimmed the view of many toward college educations, which some have also accused of being politically indoctrinating. That has led to unprecedented attacks on university research funding at a time when core research is needed to develop advanced solutions in such fields as healthcare, defense, and education. The colleges that lead our list represent the diversity of education approaches that will be needed to prepare the next generation of disrupters to prevail. They include centuries-old institutions, sprawling public universities, colleges in the hearts of tech hubs, business schools with global footprints, and innovation centers helping to lift up new voices and communities. But they all recognize that they must offer more to todays students than the business savvy that has long defined the MBA pipeline. In addition to focusing more on adaptability in a rapidly shifting tech and economic landscape, colleges are nurturing the inventive spirit by hosting pitch competitions, celebrating industry recognition, and addressing the needs and resources of their communities. (Read more about our methodology.) In many cases, they have launched or forged ties with incubators and accelerators that promote networking with peers and successful entrepreneurs. These can also serve to leverage IP as the “secret sauce” providing an advantage to startups, enterprises, or thriving rural businesses without the pressures of exit-maximizing venture investors. In encouraging entrepreneurship, their programs are helping to develop the advancements of the next generation while inspiring alumni who can keep the innovation ecosystem healthy for future generations. !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";r.style.height=d}}})}(); (function() { if (typeof window.datawrapper === 'undefined') window.datawrapper = {}; var datawrapper = window.datawrapper; var listeners = {}; window.addEventListener('message', receiveMessage, false); function receiveMessage(event) { if (event.data && event.data.source === 'datawrapper' && event.data.chartId && listeners[event.data.type]) { listeners[event.data.type].forEach(function(cb) { if (typeof cb === 'function') cb(event.data); }); } } datawrapper.on = function(event, callback) { if (typeof event !== 'string') throw new Error('event name must be a string'); if (typeof callback !== 'function') throw new Error('callback must be a function'); if (!listeners[event]) listeners[event] = []; listeners[event].push(callback); return datawrapper; }; datawrapper.one = function(event, callback) { datawrapper.on(event, function wrap() { callback.apply(null, arguments); datawrapper.off(event, wrap); }); }; datawrapper.off = function(event, callback) { if (!listeners[event]) return; if (!callback) listeners[event].length = 0; var i = listeners[event].indexOf(callback); if (i > -1) { listeners[event].splice(i, 1); } return datawrapper; }; })(); window.datawrapper.on('hash.change',(event) => { var chart = document.getElementById("datawrapper-chart-"+event.chartId); if (event.data.hash === '#none') return; window.location.hash = event.data.hash; chart.src = chart.src.replace(event.data.hash,'#none'); }); !function (u,c,l) {u._UCL=l;var z=c.createElement('script');z.async=0; z.src='https://sonic-ui.highereducation.com/latest/ucl.adapter.js'; c.head.appendChild(z); }(window, document, { 'identity': 'd55a7acf-17b4-43b5-b30a-e9b501dbb4b2' }); 1. Stanford University Stanford, California Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Stanfords entrepreneurial engines have yielded incredible results. StartX funds and mentors founder teams involving at least one member of the Stanford community, while Launchpad challenges students to get their startups off the ground in 10 weeks, emphasizing action over planning. 2. University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania Beyond pursuing a masters in entrepreneurship or engineering or participating in startup clubs and competitions, students can find entrepreneurship opportunities at Penns Venture Lab, a hub catering to four different routes. The Founder, Explorer, Joiner, and Investor pathways offer resources to students curious about entrepreneurship as well as those looking to gain investing experience. 3. Harvard UniversityCambridge, Massachusetts Through its One Harvard approach, the schools entrepreneurship initiatives reach across its 13 colleges, leveraging an extensive network of alumni and resources. The Harvard Innovation Lab, or i-lab, is the physical space where students and alumni build community and startups with access to funding and specialized programming. 4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)Cambridge, Massachusetts When it comes to business, MIT takes advantage of its world-class science and technological research. The two disciplines merge under the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship, with programs and courses stemming from the Disciplined Entrepreneurship framework. Developed at MIT, the step-by-step guideline helps founders transform their research or ideas into market-ready ventures. 5. Columbia UniversityNew York, New York Crowning Manhattans rapidly growing entrepreneurial scene, Columbia offers direct access to an expert network in the city, support for student ventures with groups like the Columbia Organization of Rising Entrepreneurs, and a postgraduate resource in the Columbia Startup Lab for recent alumni. 6. University of MichiganAnn Arbor, Michigan The nnovation Partnerships Startup Incubator helps shape the University of Michigans state-of-the-art IP into real-world applications. The program pairs founders from around the world with entrepreneurial mentors and provides access to world-class lab and office spaces. The incubator represents just one of the universitys business innovation programs, which include its Center for Entrepreneurship and the Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies. 7. Tel Aviv UniversityTel Aviv, Israel Consistently ranked at the top for global entrepreneurship programs, Tel Aviv University offers students access to a network situated in a global startup hub, an in-house accelerator program and funding, and courses emphasizing a hands-on approach, including one that pairs students with Israeli startups. 8. New York UniversityNew York, New York The NYU Entrepreneurial Institute brings the universitys new founders and seasoned researchers and alumni together under a shared goal of launching startups. Community members can follow a clear path designed by the Startup Accelerator Program, including the Bootcamp, Sprint, and Launchpad phases, and continue toward a market-ready venture with seed funding and fellowships. 9. Cornell UniversityIthaca, New York The spirit of entrepreneurship rises far above Cayugas waters in Ithaca, New York. Any undergraduate may pursue a minor in the field, while eLab serves as an accelerator for student-led ventures. More specialized resources are offered, too, such as the training program for female and nonbinary PhDs and postdocs and an incubator for science and engineering-based businesses. 10. University of California, BerkeleyBerkeley, California For the sixth year in a row, PitchBook named UC Berkeley the top public university producing venture-backed startup founders. Berkeley SkyDeck, the universitys incubator and accelerator, commercializes research and provides programming and coursework through the engineering and business schools. 11. Northwestern UniversityEvanston, Illinois At the center of Northwesterns entrepreneurship ecosystem is the Garage, which offers mentorship, events, and workspaces to more than 3,000 Northwestern students each year. The university emphasizes science-driven startups at the Querrey InQbation Lab and rewards top initiatives with funding and exposure through VentureCat, its annual startup competition. 12. Yale UniversityNew Haven, Connecticut Bulldogs of all disciplines are encouraged to embrace their entrepreneurial spirit at the Tsai Center for Innovative Thinking at Yale. One program, Launch, invites incoming first-year students to hear from alumni founders and collaborate in workshops, equipping them early on with the tools they need to excel as business leaders. 13. Tsinghua UniversityBeijing, China Tsinghua University, which lies in startup hot spot Zhongguancun, Beijing, boasts the governments support through national funding and partnerships. The institution hosts competitions such as the Great Idea Challenge and the Presidents Innovation Challenge for startups and helps research efforts transform into successful commercial ventures via its private equity firm Tsinghua Holdings. 14. Duke UniversityDurham, North Carolina Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship emphasizes problem-solving through programs, courses, competitions, and mentorship; students can join entrepreneurial-forward campus organizations like the Cube and HackDuke. Physical resources are available too. These include spaces like the Foundry for developing ideas and building prototypes and the Innovation Co-Lab for exploring emerging technologies like 3D printing. 15. University of Texas, AustinAustin, Texas UT Austin bridges budding entrepreneurs and Austins booming tech scene. The Austin Technology Incubator, the longest running of its kind, connects students with investors and experts who help commercialize their innovations. The college also supports female entrepreneurs through the Kendra Scott Womens Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute. 16. University of WashingtonSeattle, Washington The University of Washington has climbed the entrepreneurship rankings in recent years. The Arthur W. Buerk Center offers programming to undergraduates as well as masters students and PhD candidates, while the CoMotion hub supports student founders from industry-targeted incubators. 17. University of Southern California (USC)Los Angeles, California Known as the longest-running entrepreneurship program in the country, the Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at USC encourages flexible thinking in dynamic situations. Students across all industries and experience levels are encouraged to participate in coursework and programming, including a connection to the extensive network in the neighboring tech startup hub, Silicon Beach. 18. University of OxfordOxford, England EnSpire, the hub of entrepreneurship at Oxford, encourages all community members to develop business innovation skills. The university focuses on commercializing scientific and technological research. Oxford University Innovation manages the universitys IP and helps transform the research into companies, while Oxford Science Enterprises funds and develops those companies. 19. Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, Maryland The Pava Marie LaPere Center for Entrepreneurship hosts a range of programs and funding for JHU community members. The institution is also committed to strengthening Baltimore. The Presidents Venture Fellowship provides funding to recent graduates pursuing full-time startups in the city, while courses like CityLab for MBA students explore livability challenges and solutions. 20. INSEADFontainebleau, France A graduate-only business school, INSEAD has a strong focus on fostering entrepreneurship. The Maag INSEAD Centre for Entrepreneurship offers boot camps for startups, venture competitions, and mentorship through programs like Entrepreneurs in Residence. Its LaunchPadlocated in Pariss Station F, the worlds largest startup campuspromotes alumni-led business ventures through networking events and workspaces. 21. University of TorontoToronto, Ontario Recognized as the top university in Canada for entrepreneurship, U of T offers extensive resources to its students, faculty, and alumni. Its incubators and accelerators include the Creative Destruction Lab, which supports seed-stage tech companies with high potential, and the Entrepreneurship Hatchery, which helps students team up to develop startups. 22. University of MarylandCollege Park, Maryland The University of Marylands approach to entrepreneurship builds on its strength in technology and health sciences, supporting both social and commercial ventures. The Startup Shell is a student-led incubator equipped with coworking spaces, while the Presidents Entrepreneurial Fellowshi offers Terrapin students a chance to bring faculty research to market. 23. University of California, San DiegoSan Diego, California UCSDs entrepreneurship offerings span its engineering and management schools. Students and alumni find like-minded peers and mentors amid the programs and funding of the Sullivan Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, where disruption is viewed as an opportunity to build positive change. Specialized offerings include the Institute for the Global Entrepreneur, which trains engineers, and the Triton Sustainability Challenge, which spotlights environmental solutions. 24. Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh, Pennsylvania CMU community members are encouraged to submit their startups through its website to receive access to an array of resources and networks. These include the Swartz Center for Entrepreneurships VentureBridge, a pre-seed fund and accelerator program for full-time founders, and the Innovation Commercialization Fellows Program, which helps the universitys research evolve into marketplace offerings. 25. Babson CollegeWellesley, Massachusetts Babson is consistently ranked at the top of the countrys universities for entrepreneurship. In addition to funding the Butler Launch Pad, a community of entrepreneurs, the small New England powerhouse launched the first U.S. business-school center dedicated to female founders: the Frank & Eileen Center for Womens Entrepreneurial Leadership. 26. University of ChicagoChicago, Illinois Entrepreneurship at the University of Chicago takes form at the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. With accelerator programs like the New Venture Challenge, which launched Grubhub and Braintree, and incubators like Polsky Exchange, the institution takes an interdisciplinary approach to foster a collaborative entrepreneurial environment. 27. University of WaterlooWaterloo, Ontario Structured in a co-op program that integrates work experience with academics, the University of Waterloo offers 45 for-credit programs for entrepreneurs. The university hosts four incubators and fosters corporate partnerships to drive research to commercialization. Its unique creator-owned intellectual property policy ensures that their researchers own their inventions. 28. University of CambridgeCambridge, England According to the university, the Cambridge Cluster is the most successful technology cluster in Europe. From within that sea of incubators and innovation hubs, the 816-year-old institution offers support through mentorship, lectures, and training to aspiring founders all the way to enterprise-stage businesses. 29. Pennsylvania State University University Park, Pennsylvania Invent Penn State is the overarching hub of all things entrepreneurial at the university, connecting students to coaches, conferences, and competitions. The LaunchBox Network provides free business resources to community members. Its statewide locations enable widespread access. 30. University of VirginiaCharlottesville, Virginia Although a longtime supporter of entrepreneurship, UVA launched a new phase of commitment with UVA Innovates in September 2024. With the Foundry, a new student entrepreneurship hub, and Enterprise Studio, which partners with faculty, researchers, and investors to bring ideas to market, the university is amplifying the impact of its innovations. 31. Arizona State UniversityTempe, Arizona In September, U.S. News & World Report named Arizona State the most innovative school in the U.S. for the 11th consecutive year. Business advancement is baked into the university through the J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship and Innovation Institute, which gives students tools to get their ideas off the ground and tackle challenges, and extends to connected entrepreneurship centers at the business, engineering, and design schools. 32. HEC ParisJouy-en-Josas, France HEC Paris supports startups, regardless of the stage or industry, through its Incubation & Acceleration Center, Deep Tech Center, and Social Entrepreneurship Center. The innovation hubs offer a slew of programming, from a six-month-long acceleration program, Women Entrepreneurs for Good, to longer HEC Challenges. 33. University of MinnesotaMinneapolis, Minnesota The Holmes Center for Entrepreneurship works in tandem with the Carlson School of Management to ignite an entrepreneurial spirit within its members. Student-owned Atland Ventures funds early-stage tech companies while the MN Cup, the largest startup competition in the country, supports Minnesota entrepreneurs. 34. University of North Carolina, Chapel HillChapel Hill, North Carolina In joining Innovate Carolina, the UNC community opens the door to resources that enhance and boost its innovative sparks. At the Junction, Tar Heel students and faculty, corporations, and citizen entrepreneurs can find the Launch Chapel Hill startup accelerator, mentorship, and co-working spaces. The Carolina EcoMap brings all these tools together on one platform. 35. Imperial College LondonLondon, England The Imperial Enterprise Lab encourages its community to test ideas and launch products to drive positive change. It connects students with mentors, co-founders, and workspaces and recommends relevant books and accelerators. The institution also offers a prototyping hub through the Advanced Hackspace and resources specific to climate, tech, and global health solutions. 36. University of Illinois, Urbana-ChampaignUrbana-Champaign, Illinois The University of Illinois encourages students to get involved in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. They can attend networking events each week at the Research Park, gain real-world experience at student-run consulting firm EntreCorps, or explore 3D printing at the Illinois MakerLab. Faculty and alumni can participate as mentors or competition judges in addition to pursuing their own innovations. 37. Texas A&M UniversityCollege Station, Texas Texas A&Ms McFerrin Center, housed within the Mays Business School, offers programs to community trailblazers. Beyond the university-wide Aggie Pitch competition, students can meet and learn from peer entrepreneurs through a series of discussions at Entrepreneurs Exposed. Each year, the Aggie 100 celebrates the colleges entrepreneurs. 38. Princeton UniversityPrinceton, New Jersey In October 2024, Princeton launched the Office of Innovation to strengthen its commitment to entrepreneurship, which includes educational programs, mentorship, and funding. The hub hosts Strategic Partnerships and Engagement, Technology Licensing and New Ventures, and Innovation Infrastructure and Programs, all focused on promoting the universitys innovative minds and honing the impact of its research and education. 39. Washington Universitybr>St. Louis, Missouri WashU splits its entrepreneurial offerings between its Olin School of Business and Skandalaris Center for Interdisciplinary Innovation and Entrepreneurship, both of which emphasize a hands-on approach. In addition to workshops and events, the Center operates the Student Enterprise Program, in which students run businesses that serve the WashU community, while the business school hosts competitions and pitch events like the Olin Cup. 40. University of Colorado, BoulderBoulder, Colorado The University of Colorado offers entrepreneurial resources across each of its four campuses. Venture Partners at CU Boulder supports the commercialization of university research, and the Jake Jabs Center at CU Denver offers entrepreneurship program scholarships to students pursuing degrees, minors, or certificates. 41. Georgia Institute of TechnologyAtlanta, Georgia Georgia Techs Create-X educates students about business fundamentals and provides the tools and space they need to innovate. The programs three categories, Learn, Make, and Launch, instill entrepreneurial confidence through coursework, launch programs, and funding. Regular networking events provide students with connections and information to further refine business concepts. 42. University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, California Accelerators and coursework support entrepreneurial education throughout UCLAs schools, but Startup UCLA is the root. The hub is home to the Blackstone LaunchPad mentor network, which sets students up for innovation success; Innovation Fellows, which advances faculty projects into startups; and Bruin Impact, which drives students toward positive change through innovation. 43. Boston CollegeChestnut Hill, Massachusetts While Boston Colleges Carroll School of Management roots entrepreneurship in business fundamentals across all fields, the Shea Center for Entrepreneurship offers programs such as TechTrek@Shea, a professional development course in which students meet with senior leaders at companies such as Airbnb and Tesla and travel to business hubs like New York City and Silicon Valley. 44. McGill UniversityMontreal, Quebec In 2024, PitchBook ranked McGill number one in Canada for both producing the greatest number of successful undergraduate startups and supporting the most female entrepreneurs. McGills Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship supports the communitys entrepreneurial minds through resources like the X-1 Accelerator and the annual Dobson Cup competition for seed funding. 45. London Business SchoolLondon, England Located in a European startup hub, LBS offers its students an array of unique entrepreneurial development options. These include Global Experiences, which introduces students to international business approaches and cultures through panels and workshops. Others include the INcubator program and Entrepreneurship Summer School. 46. Purdue UniversityWest Lafayette, Indiana Purdue Innovates is a bustling network targeting each stage of the startup process. Students find their footing through the incubator and grow through programs like Firestarter and Market Readiness. Meanwhile, seasoned entrepreneurs scale their ideas through the accelerator. And the Alumni Entrepreneurship Network provides long-term connections. 47. Iowa State UniversityAmes, Iowa In 1996, philanthropist and entrepreneur John Pappajohn funded the Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship at Iowa State, laying the foundation for what has become an innovation ecosystem. The Student Innovation Center and the ISU Research Park complement the entrepreneurship center, with all three supporting the universitys creative and motivated self-starters. 48. Boston UniversityBoston, Massachusetts From teaching technology creation and commercialization to fundamentals of interactive media, the urban campus overlooking the Charles overlooks little in developing entrepreneurial acumen. Through seed grants, a summer accelerator, and mentorship, students are encouraged to build the future. BU also hosts Idea Con, the only cross-college innovation conference in the world. 49. Georgetown UniversityWashington, D.C. Georgetowns entrepreneurship program leverages its unmatched proximity to the seat of government power. Venture in the Capitalthe universitys first student-led conferencehosts forums at which attendees discuss the intersection of entrepreneurship and public policy. The founder spirit extends into the community, too. The Pivot Program offers a certificate in business and entrepreneurship to those who have been incarcerated. 50. University of FloridaGainesville, Florida UFs Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center aims to instill a sunbaked entrepreneurial spirit into its community through the core principles every student an entrepreneur and total entrepreneurial immersion. The center hosts competitions like the UF AI Days Gator Tank for AI businesses and offers an incubator, accelerator, and dreammaker through the Gator Hatchery.
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E-Commerce
In the long-established American ecosystem of scientific advancement, fundamental researchnot geared toward immediate applicationhas mostly been conducted at universities with federal funding. The commercial sector, on the other hand, has been more likely to fund more applied research around ideas closer to market, including backing university studies in promising areas of computer science and medicine. Over time, industry has increasingly built its own innovations on top of basic, federally funded research, says Lee Fleming, professor at the University of California, Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. One prominent recent example is artificial intelligence, he says, which received federal funding for decades before exploding into commercialization in recent years. Earlier this year, though, when sudden federal funding cuts upended university research budgets, the ecosystem fell into turmoil. Faculty whose work often flew under the public radar publicly pleaded the case for their academic pursuits. Researchers at UCLA even held an old-school science fair highlighting the work federal cuts have left in limbo, including studies of brain cancer; the colleges renowned math professor Terence Tao argued for a restoration of federal funding or donations to help make up some of the difference. But non-federal agencies can only make up a fraction of the sums that these institutions depend on to continue their work. Universities have leaned on sources such as philanthropies founded by businesspeople who have built innovations on university research foundations. The Gates Foundation, charged with donating the fortune of Microsofts former CEO, has long offered support for medical research, for instance, and a new $3.1 billion Fund for Science and Technology, backed by the estate of his cofounder Paul Allen, recently announced plans to award at least $500 million in grants over the next four years. When staffers at the Spencer Foundation, which funds educational research, learned that their federal funding had been suddenly terminated, theyalong with the Kapor Foundation, the William T. Grant Foundation, and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundationquickly stepped into action, offering $25,000 bridge grants to scholars affected by the sudden cuts. “We heard stories like, I really just need to fund my grad student through the summer,” says Leah Bricker, Spencer’s director of programs. “Or, I’ve spent so much time partnering with X, Y, or Z community, and we’ve invested so much time, and now, overnight, I’m just going to have to leave.” It was just one of a number of rapid moves by the sometimes slow-turning philanthropic sector to get funds researchers needed to continue their work and pay grad students and other vital staff. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, for instance, has provided millions of dollars to researchers at academic institutions in “rapid response” health research funding to make up for lost federal money, with plans to offer more over the next year. As universities have also stepped up outreach efforts to alumni and corporate sponsors, states with strong tech sectors, including Massachusetts and California, have proposed providing their own funds for research. California, for example, is proposing a $23 billion, bond-funded science research agency. Nonprofits, including some backed by industry, have also pushed into historically federal domains, such as managing infrastructure, for vital scientific data that could improve efficiency, even as they receive rapidly rising numbers of applications for existing grant programs. “While it’s really hard for any of us to say there’s opportunities coming out of all this uncertainty, I think there would be a better path forward for how scientists have access to and have data infrastructure,” says Elizabeth Weiss, senior director of philanthropic advising at the Science Philanthropy Alliance. But experts agree that any such efforts likely won’t be enough to make up for the potential shortfall anytime soon. “There’s a lot of creativity going on right now,” says Amy Miller, president of the PhRMA Foundation, which supports health-related university research with backing from drugmakers that also often fund research directly, including science at academic institutions. “But I really want to emphasize there is absolutely no way that the foundations and industry together can fill the gaps.” This story is part of Fast Company and Inc.‘s 2025 Ignition Schools awards, the 50 colleges and universities making an outsize impact on business and society through entrepreneurship and innovation. Read about the methodology behind our selection process.
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