Engineering students explore the entrepreneurial landscape of New York City
During fall break, a group of NC State students went on a trip to New York City to learn more about the world of entrepreneurship.
These entrepreneurship trips started over 20 years ago, taking students to learn from real entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley. It was such a success that NC State Innovation and Entrepreneurship now organizes multiple trips each year all over the US, including to New York City.
One of the students who traveled to the Big Apple this fall is Rakesh Basu, a Ph.D. student studying materials science. “I was eager to explore the entrepreneurship scene, and there’s no better place than NYC to experience the dynamic and innovative spirit of business,” Basu said, “meeting with entrepreneurs who have built businesses from scratch was a chance for him to gather insights that can help shape his own entrepreneurial aspirations.”
Basu felt it was a privilege to meet different entrepreneurs in New York City and hear about their journeys. “What really stuck with me was how every single one of them took significant risks and faced multiple failures along the way,” Basu said, “yet, they never gave up. Their resilience and determination to keep moving forward, no matter the challenges, left a lasting impression on me and is something I deeply respect.”
Krish Patel, a second-year studying computer science, said, “The trip allowed him to gain insights into technology entrepreneurship, connect with tech startup founders, and understand how New York’s startup ecosystem differs from other tech hubs.”
Jack Rothacker, a fourth-year student studying Spanish and entrepreneurship, enjoyed meeting Larry Spera, a social entrepreneur and NC State alum. He was impressed by Spera’s hard work.
The trips are about building community for our student entrepreneurs too. “I remember laughing the entire time and eating amazing food,” Rothacker said of the dinner. “It was such an awesome group to be a part of.”
It was such an awesome group to be a part of.
In addition to meeting entrepreneurs, the students explored New York City. They visited an art installation on the 93rd floor of the One Vanderbilt building, enjoyed a hot pot dinner together and more!
Kenneth Proseus, events and operations manager at NC State Innovation and Entrepreneurship said, “[these] experiences are the goal of the trip.” NC State Innovation and Entrepreneurship wants to enable students to gain insights and make connections that they otherwise would not be able to make. Proseus noted that when reviewing applications for the trip, the jury looks for applicants who have a genuine interest in entrepreneurship and want to use the trip to learn more about it.
All degree-seeking NC State students can apply to go on a trip with NC State Innovation and Entrepreneurship, not just those studying business or entrepreneurship.
This post was originally published in Entrepreneurship News.
