The Coleman Foundation's Challenge

"A sustainable BYOBiz program, the cornerstone of Champlain's entrepreneurship education initiative, requires an infusion of resources and the focus of the College. By carefully building this program and hiring a full-time director, we have provided focus. Now we are turning to our friends and allies in the community to build the financial foundation."

-Dr. David Finney, President, Champlain College

Progress towards President Finney's goal to make Champlain College a center of entrepreneurial education has been swift, due in part to the support of the Coleman Foundation of Chicago, a national leader in promoting entrepreneurship education. With a $90,000 grant, the Foundation has challenged Champlain to create a robust and sustainable initiative around BYOBiz. This grant is contingent upon the College raising at least an additional $450,000 by June 2009. This would give us a perfect jump-start toward full sustainibility, a goal that includes raising over $2 million for entrepreneurship education. Coleman Foundation leadership would view this leveraging of their funds as a clear indicator that the BYOBiz Program is a long-term initiative central to Champlain's mission.

Your gift to the BYOBiz Program may be used to support:

• The BYOBiz Center: Renovate a multi-purpose space as a student business support facility that will serve as the focal point for entrepreneurship education and BYOBiz, with occupancy planned for fall 2008.
• Entrepreneurship curriculum: Add, enrich and modify entrepreneurship courses and curriculum so that students can simultaneously build their businesses and earn credits.
• Student Scholarships: Attract top-flight student entrepreneurs - Champlain's "recruited athletes."
• BYOBiz Director and Entrepreneurship Faculty: Endowment gifts or operating support.
• Supplemental Entrepreneurship Programming: "Speaking from Experience" lecture series, Elevator Pitch Competition, workshops and seminars.
• Library Resources: Build our "how-to" entrepreneurship collection.
• National Linkage: Connect student entrepreneurs with competitions and networks.

How BYOBiz works:

BYOBiz supports and mentors the vision, energy and passion of young entrepreneurs. The program provides step-by-step assistance and networking opportunities.

Guided by a "simulated board of directors," student CEOs develop their businesses. They join a network of motivated peers, successful entrepreneurs and other experts who provide strategic, financial, marketing, operational and managerial advice.

BYOBiz students have opportunities to integrate their entrepreneurial pursuits with their class work through carefully structured internships and independent study opportunities, as well as through BYOBiz-enabled courses, in which relevant course project work focuses on timely issues related to their ventures. BYOBiz businesses also provide opportunities for other Champlain students to participate on project teams and through internships.

Since its inception in 2005, BYOBiz has captured the imagination of many people, especially incoming students. A dozen students entered Champlain in the fall of 2007 as part of the program and another eight students already on campus were accepted into the program. These student CEOs have already added a new look to the program. They run a range of businesses, including:

• Jon Fischer (‘11) arrived on campus with a prototype of a superior-performing GPS-based device to monitor driving behavior. Jon calls his company Speed Demon and targets parents of teenage drivers.
• Keegan Flynn (‘09) and Ian Frisch (‘09) founded Short Bus Ice Cream and are redefining the market for home-delivered frozen treats in the Burlington area.
• Janey Hair (‘11) has been growing Rosey Pink, an on-line cosmetic business targeting tweens and teens, since she was 15. She plans a significant expansion of the business with BYOBiz.
• Carter Briggs (‘11) is developing a custom long board skateboard manufacturing business using his unique designs.
• Cliff Huntington (‘09) is developing insulated clothing much like Under Armor for high intensity sports such as rowing. This clothing provides support and feedback to the wearer.

Already, a record of success:

Only in its second full year of operation, BYOBiz has helped launch these successful businesses:

• Peter Bruhn (‘06) and Peter Jewett ('07), successfully launched Go Trading Post.com, an ebusiness associated with eBay. The Business and eBusiness Management graduates operate their profitable business in Burlington, VT.
• Ben Kaufman, founder of Mophie, which designs and markets popular iPod accessories, received significant venture capital backing. Ben and his team have sold Mophie and are developing a second business.
• Jason Nikel ('07), a Graphic Design and Digital Media major, founded Third Shift Clothing, a lifestyle brand of hoodies, tees and hats operating in Burlington, VT.

For more information:

+ Contact the Development Office toll free at (866) 421-7170.
+ Visit the BYOBiz Program web page for a more complete description of BYOBiz and to request copies of newsletters and the BYOBiz brochure.
+ View the work of The Coleman Foundation at www.colemanfoundation.org.