Where Ideas Transform into Impact
The University of Virginia offers a comprehensive ecosystem of resources designed to empower students at every stage of their entrepreneurial journey. Whether you're exploring an initial concept or scaling a venture, these resources will help you forge your entrepreneurial path.
Learn | Transform Your Thinking
Where knowledge becomes transformative power
UVA offers dynamic academic programs that equip you with the entrepreneurial mindset and skills to turn visionary ideas into reality.
Undergraduate Pathways
Forge your unique journey with programs designed to ignite innovative thinking:
- Entrepreneurship Minor: Open to all UVA undergraduates, this pan-University program prepares you to play crucial roles in the new venture ecosystem—whether as founder, funder, policy maker, technologist, or executive.
- School-Specific Programs:
- McIntire School of Commerce: The Entrepreneurship Track provides practical tools and techniques for creating value through new ventures
- School of Engineering & Applied Sciences: The Technology Entrepreneurship focus builds the bridge from laboratory breakthrough to marketplace innovation
- Architecture: The Architectural Design Thinking Concentration empowers creative collaboration, visualization, and prototyping
- Frank Batten School of Leadership: The Social Entrepreneurship initiative equips you to create innovative solutions to real-world social challenges
- Curry School of Education: The Youth and Social Innovation Major prepares you for careers making a difference in young lives
Graduate Opportunities
Elevate your expertise and amplify your impact:
- Darden School of Business: The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Concentration prepares you to manage innovation processes and thrive in uncertainty
- School of Law:
- Entrepreneurial Law Clinic: Gain hands-on experience providing pro bono legal assistance to emerging ventures
- Patent Law and Licensing Clinic: Master practical skills in patent drafting and technology licensing
The Foundry
Where Ideas Spark. Where Futures Ignite.
The Foundry serves as UVA's entrepreneurship hub, providing a comprehensive suite of resources to transform bold ideas into powerful ventures.
Innovation Spaces
Dynamic Co-Working Space
- Collaborative environment designed for the modern entrepreneur
- Space to build, test, and grow your venture
- Connect with fellow innovators in a vibrant setting
Guidance Programs
Elite Mentorship Program
- One-on-one connections with seasoned entrepreneurs and industry leaders
- Transformational entrepreneurial thinking development
- Expert guidance at every stage of your journey
Venture Analyst Program
- Specialized training for future venture leaders
- Hands-on experience evaluating promising ventures
- Skills development for supporting entrepreneurial teams
Practical Innovation Resources
Transform your ideas into impact with:
- Skill-building workshops
- Networking events
- Guest speaker series
- Startup essentials tools
Resources for Every Stage
Spark Stage
Explore and define your vision
- Ideation workshops
- Market research frameworks
- Foundational knowledge building
- Exploration resources
Build Stage
Develop and refine your solution
- MVP development tools
- User testing frameworks
- Prototype resources
- Design guidelines
Launch Stage
Prepare for market entry
- Go-to-market strategy templates
- Team building resources
- Mentor connections
- Funding preparation guides
Scale Stage
Expand your venture's reach
- Growth resources
- Investment connections
- Operational scaling guides
- Advanced mentor matching
Technical Resources
Startup Essentials
- Business Model Canvas Templates
- Pitch Deck Guidelines
- Financial Modeling Tools
- Legal Resource Guide
Learning Center
- Foundational Skills Workshops
- Industry Deep Dives
- Technical Training
- Leadership Development
Competitions & Challenges
Innovation Challenges
- Themed competitions that push boundaries
- Opportunities to showcase your venture
- Potential funding and recognition
- Cross-disciplinary collaboration
Demo Days
- Quarterly showcases for ventures
- Connections with potential investors
- Community recognition
- Feedback from industry experts
Entrepreneurial Centers
Where Vision Meets Support
Across Grounds, UVA's specialized entrepreneurship centers catalyze innovation and empower founders at every stage. Each center shares a common goal: to transform entrepreneurial potential into real-world impact.
Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Darden School of Business
The Batten Institute challenges every Darden student to fulfill their entrepreneurial potential through transformational learning experiences and groundbreaking research.
Founded in 1999 by a one-of-its-kind $60 million gift from Frank Batten Sr., the Institute drives UVA's flagship venture programs including:
- i.Lab Incubator
- UVA Entrepreneurship Cup
- Professional pathways in startups, VC, and social enterprise
- Initiatives for Effectual Thinking & Action, Sustainability, Design Thinking and AI
Galant Center for Entrepreneurship
McIntire School of Commerce
The Galant Center encourages, educates, and empowers students to create positive impact and lasting value in the global marketplace.
Founded in 2008 with funding by Mark E. Galant (McIntire '80), the Center catalyzes entrepreneurship through:
- Specialized curriculum
- Pitch competitions
- Educational events
- Startup travel experiences
- Student groups (Forge, Virginia Venture Fund, SEED Consulting)
UVA Licensing & Ventures Group (LVG)
The UVA Licensing & Ventures Group bridges the gap between research breakthroughs and marketplace impact.
The $10 million LVG Seed Fund supports promising ventures emerging from UVA research, providing crucial early-stage capital to transform ideas into ventures.
Social Entrepreneurship
Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy
Social Entrepreneurship at UVA empowers students to address complex social challenges through entrepreneurial approaches.
Students engage through:
- Experiential classes
- Workshops and speakers
- Hackathons and concept competitions
- Research positions
- Global Field Experiences
- Social impact internships
Technology Entrepreneurship
School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
The Entrepreneurship and Business programs integrate entrepreneurial thinking with technical expertise, enabling engineering students to develop both the technological and business acumen needed for successful ventures.
Makerspaces & Incubators
Where Ideas Take Physical Form
- Cutting-edge prototyping facilities
- Advanced fabrication equipment
- Technical expertise and guidance
- Collaborative creation laboratories
Incubator Programs
- Darden Business Incubator - iLab
- Structured venture acceleration
- Resource allocation and funding pathways
- Expert mentorship and network access
Community Engagement
Founder Fireside Chats Monthly conversations with successful entrepreneurs sharing their journey from idea to impact.
Networking Mixers Regular opportunities to connect with fellow founders, mentors, and industry leaders.
Skill-Building Workshops Weekly sessions on essential startup skills, from pitching to product development.