MSU Denver’s Center for Innovation cultivates entrepreneurial spirit

Think you’d make a good boss — to yourself? Metropolitan State University of Denver Center for Innovation provides training and support for business ownership and enterprise creation. Director Mick Jackowski says the center spans all academic disciplines and all types of businesses. It even hosts higher education’s first virtual incubator for the creative industries.

Does the Center for Innovation offer any programs for the public?

Yes, we have two online courses and a virtual incubator for artists. First, we have the Franchise Ownership Program, an eight-week online course that helps people decide whether they should buy a franchise, or if they are already a franchise owner, helps them be more successful. And we offer Minding My Own Business, an online small-business management course offered in conjunction with The Fremont Group that also provides personalized advice as part of the service. Finally, we have CREATEmsudenver.com, a virtual business incubator for creative entrepreneurs.  We know artists enjoy their art but are not as comfortable with the business side of it. Using business advisors who are also successful artists, we learn about our clients’ aspirations and through a customized plan, we help transform their entire business into a work of art.

What programs does the center offer that can help students become their own boss?

Students can earn a minor or certificate in entrepreneurship, or they can customize their degree and major in entrepreneurship as well. We start courses at the freshman level with each one building on the other so that by the time you graduate, you have either already launched your business or are ready to do so. We are the University’s entrepreneurship center that brings small business ownership training to virtually every academic department on campus. Of the 55 majors at MSU Denver, students from 54 of them have taken at least one of our courses. Physics majors, c’mon down! The center transforms education from just training to providing opportunities. It strives to help students and members of the community achieve business ownership and enterprise creation.

If you could say just one thing about what the Center of Innovation can do for the average person who’s thinking of becoming an entrepreneur, what would that be?

We help people realize their entrepreneurial dreams. The Center for Innovation is hosting an “Own It: Party for the Arts” on Sept. 4, 10 a.m.–10 p.m. at the Student Success Building on the Auraria Campus. The free public event features fashion shows, food trucks, live music and other performances.