Tapping into all resources across Indiana - especially talent - is critical to creating more jobs, more tax revenue, a growing economy, and a better quality of life for all Hoosiers. The goal of University Connections Program is to capitalize on the talents and resources at Indiana colleges and universities by connecting them to entrepreneurs and growing businesses who need their help. At the same time, by creating multiple partnerships between universities, as well as with entrepreneurs, Indiana will see innovation and educational opportunities accelerated, while also retaining more highly educated and creative graduates in the state.

Indiana is home to the best universities in the country. The Indiana Venture Center has cultivated incredible relationships with universities across the state, especially the Center's university partners: Ball State University, Butler University, Indiana University, Purdue University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, University of Evansville, and University of Notre Dame. The Center wants to utilize these relationships and build collaborative opportunities which foster entrepreneurial growth in the state of Indiana. The Center's University Connections Program is designed to work with its clients and university partners to reach out and capture Indiana's top students (both undergraduate and graduate), faculty, researchers, and technology resources.

This is accomplished by focusing on the following initiatives:

• University Partnership Entrepreneur Challenge. Twenty-eight undergraduate junior and senior students, faculty advisors, and five high-tech companies from Ball State University, Butler University, Indiana University, Purdue University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, University of Evansville, and University of Notre Dame converge in a two-day collaborative competition to provide the students and faculty with an elite experience of creating investor pitches for entrepreneurial companies. Click here for quotes and photos from the 2006 University Partnership Entrepreneur Challenge or the 2005 University Partnership Entrepreneur Challenge.
• Hoosier Fellowships. Following a selective application process, fellowships are offered to Indiana's top undergraduate and graduate students. These students will work with emerging and the most promising entrepreneurial companies across the state of Indiana. Students are exposed to incredible ideas, educational leaders, and influential business leaders.
• Internships. An intern brings new ideas and additional skill sets to any entrepreneur or growing company. The Indiana Venture Center can assist a client in obtaining seasonal interns or internship teams to do market research, business plan development, product development, etc. An intern can provide much-needed relief to organizations who need meaningful tasks, projects, or research completed, yet do not have the financial capacity to hire full-time positions.
• University Assistance. Assistance from the universities can come in the form of a class project, a consultation with faculty expert, or a connection to departments which have technology or equipment which may be helpful in developing or testing a new product. If the client does not have an immediate need, a class project can be used to stimulate student minds and get input from a range of perspectives. On the other hand, the particular knowledge base of a faculty member may be needed - faculty can be a tremendous source of high level expertise. In addition, some universities may be willing to utilize it resources, such as equipment, to test an idea. The goal of the Indiana Venture Center is to work with clients to connect them with expertise which can help them launch their idea.

The University Connections Program is the piece of the pie that provides a link between the universities and entrepreneurial companies. By working together, the Indiana entrepreneurial landscape will strengthen and cultivate a new land where business is centered.