The EDEC Venture Studio is a dynamic, hands-on initiative aimed at nurturing entrepreneurial talent among university students. It serves as a launchpad for budding innovators to transform their ideas into viable businesses by providing them with the tools, resources, and mentorship necessary to succeed. Designed as a comprehensive entrepreneurial journey, the studio offers a structured process that guides students through the various stages of business development, from initial idea generation to market readiness.
The primary goal of the EDEC Venture Studio is to foster a culture of entrepreneurship across the university. By encouraging students to think creatively and solve real-world problems, the studio seeks to develop the next generation of business leaders and innovators. The venture studio is open to students from all disciplines, recognizing that innovation thrives on diversity of thought. Whether a student is studying engineering, business, arts, or sciences, the studio provides a platform for them to collaborate, ideate, and execute business solutions that make a tangible impact.
Unlike traditional accelerators or incubators, the EDEC Venture Studio creates its own research-backed business ideas, informed by market trends and industry insights. These ideas are then introduced to students, who have the opportunity to contribute and lead these ventures from the outset. The studio provides structured support including mentorship, resources, and guidance to bridge the gap between ideation and execution, ensuring that ideas evolve into viable, market-ready products or services.
The studio promotes an entrepreneurial mindset, encouraging students to identify opportunities, assess risks, and think critically about how to innovate. Participants are taught to view challenges as opportunities for growth and to approach business problems with a solution-oriented mindset.
The venture studio emphasizes experiential learning, providing students with opportunities to apply their academic knowledge in real-world scenarios. Through workshops, simulations, and project-based learning, participants gain practical experience in critical business areas such as ideation, product development, marketing, and finance.
Students are paired with experienced mentors, including successful entrepreneurs, industry experts, and investors. These mentors offer invaluable guidance at every stage of the entrepreneurial process, from brainstorming and business plan development to pitching and fundraising. This close mentor-student relationship helps ensure that students not only learn but also apply strategic thinking to their ventures.
Innovation often arises from the blending of different ideas and perspectives. The venture studio fosters cross-disciplinary collaboration by encouraging students from various fields of study to work together in teams. This collaborative approach enhances creativity, as teams combine diverse expertise to address complex business challenges.
The EDEC Venture Studio serves as a bridge between the university and the wider business community. By hosting networking events, inviting guest speakers, and facilitating interactions with industry leaders, the studio connects students with potential partners, customers, and investors. These connections are crucial for helping students bring their ideas to market and scale their businesses.
The studio provides step-by-step support through the various phases of building a startup. This includes:
Ideation: Helping students brainstorm and refine business ideas.
Validation: Conducting market research and feasibility studies.
Product Development: Guiding students through the process of creating prototypes and MVPs.
Pitching and Fundraising: Offering pitch practice and strategies for attracting investors.
Scaling: Advising on how to grow and sustain a business once it’s launched.
The EDEC Venture Studio operates through a series of phases that guide students through the entrepreneurial journey:
Students submit their business ideas during the Idea Bank Submission. These ideas are evaluated based on innovation, feasibility, and potential impact. After submission, a Networking Event is held where students can connect with mentors and like-minded peers, encouraging collaboration and team formation.
In this phase, ideas are further refined through hands-on workshops, such as the Ideation & Problem-Solving Workshop. Students receive feedback from mentors during the Initial Idea Review, and teams are strengthened during a Team Building Mixer. As ideas take shape, a Business Plan Development Workshop helps students create comprehensive business plans.
Students practice their pitches during the Early Pitch Practice session and work with mentors to refine their presentation skills. The MVP Development Workshop provides a space for teams to build and test Minimum Viable Products, allowing students to validate their business ideas before presenting them to a larger audience.
Leading up to the final event, students participate in an Investor Deck & Funding Strategy Workshop to prepare for raising funds and presenting to potential investors. A PR & Media Training Workshop ensures that participants are well-equipped to handle public relations and media interactions as they prepare to launch their ventures.
The journey culminates in Demo Day, where student teams showcase their refined business ideas, MVPs, and pitches in front of industry leaders, investors, and potential collaborators. This final event is not only a chance to demonstrate their hard work but also an opportunity to secure investment, partnerships, or mentorship to take their startups to the next level.