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Entrepreneurship Diplomate

The Entrepreneurship Diplomate is a series of professional workshops offered by the Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship. The diplomate makes use of the extensive resources of Saint Louis University to help current and prospective entrepreneurs fulfill the Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship’s mission to “Do Good. Do Well.”

The diplomate involves participants in workshops, speakers and competitions designed to help them develop an understanding of and appreciation for entrepreneurial business.

The purpose of the diplomate is to promote entrepreneurial mindsets, skills and connections to help make participants better entrepreneurs in organizations of their own, when working for others or when involved in community and charitable works.

The program is available at no cost to SLU students, alumni, faculty and staff.

Program Requirements

The Entrepreneurship Diplomate requires that program participants engage in the following within two years of starting the program:

  • Ten entrepreneurship workshops
  • Ten speaker events
  • Three competitions
  • One capstone weekend

Event Descriptions

Entrepreneurship Workshops

Entrepreneurs and experts delve into specific topics important to all stages of entrepreneurship.

Workshops are held on Thursdays from 5 to 5:50 p.m. in room 173 of Davis-Shaughnessy Hall.

Register for upcoming workshops 

Speaker Events

Participants have the opportunity to hear numerous guest speakers discuss a wide variety of business subjects pertinent to entrepreneurs. Speaker sources include guest speakers in entrepreneurship classes, Dean’s Breakfast Series events, Institute for Private Business Seminar Series and other University speaking engagements.

Competitions

Entrepreneurs learn best by doing and these competitions provide an ideal environment for doing so. Participants will compete in three different competitions, which include:

  • Idea to Product
  • Diamond in the Rough
  • Billiken Angel Network Business Plan Competition
  • Bright Idea Grants
  • Parks College Weekly Innovation Challenge
  • Various elevator pitch competitions

Capstone Weekend

Capstone Weekend participants form teams and draw upon the knowledge gained in the program to create an actual business by the end of the weekend. The weekend is held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on a Saturday and Sunday towards the end of each semester.