Supporting Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners
The Center for Entrepreneurship and Small Business (CESB) serves as a resource for those with an entrepreneurial mindset and small business owners at Bridgewater State University and in the southeastern Massachusetts region. It helps students, faculty and staff from all areas within the university — as well as people in the surrounding communities — develop their business ideas into successful small businesses and grow existing small businesses.
The CESB partners with on-campus and external organizations to establish a thriving network of successful entrepreneurs and small business owners who can serve as advisors and mentors to each other and to budding entrepreneurs and small business owners. In serving in these roles, the CESB promotes sustainable economic and social equity through economic and community development.
How can the CESB help?
The CESB can assist you in several ways:
- We have a network of entrepreneurs and small business owners that can visit with you to discuss your idea and how you could proceed to develop your business.
- We have a library of books that provide guidance on developing a business. You can check them out from the CESB office.
- We provide webinars that can help you learn more about how to develop your idea into a business.
- We have business plan competition programs that help participants develop their business plans. Selected participants also compete for seed money.
Please complete this form to request a visit with one of our entrepreneurs or small business owners.
The CESB can assist you in several ways:
- We have a network of entrepreneurs and small business owners that can visit with you to discuss your business and help with your business need.
- We provide coaching services based on the Lean Canvas methodology developed by Lean Stack to help you resolve challenges and take your business to the next level.
- We can work with you to develop your entrepreneurial mindset using the Entrepreneurial Mindset Profile (EMP) assessment.
- We have a library of books that provide guidance on developing a business. You can check them out from the CESB office.
- We provide webinars that can help you learn more about how to develop your idea into a business.
Please complete this form to request a visit with one of our entrepreneurs or small business owners.
We are excited that you are interested in sharing your expertise. We have several opportunities for you to participate in CESB programs and services:
- Advising new entrepreneurs or small business owners: Answer questions and provide advice for specific situations.
- Mentoring new entrepreneurs or small business owners: Provide guidance on an on-going basis.
- Speaking to college classes: Share your experience with students studying specific topics.
- Serving as a panel discussant: Share your experience with an audience of students, faculty, staff, and other guests.
- Serving as a workshop, seminar and/or webinar presenter: Provide hands-on learning for attendees.
- Participating in networking events: Network with others interested in starting or already running their own businesses.
- Serving as a member of the CESB Advisory Board: Provide guidance to the CESB leadership.
Please complete this form to let us know of your interest in one or more of these roles.
Thank you for your support!
Donate to the CESB through the BSU Gift portal. In the drop down menu for Fund Designation select Other and type CESB into the text box. With your support, the CESB can continue to provide support to entrepreneurs and small business owners at BSU and in the surrounding region.