Darden has one of the leading entrepreneurship programs among all graduate business schools.
At Darden, students can gain valuable experience in launching an entrepreneurial venture while learning from award-winning entrepreneurship faculty and a thriving network of student and alumni entrepreneurs:
#1 ranked faculty by Entrepreneur Magazine and the Princeton Review (2008, 2009, 2011).
#3 entrepreneurship program in the U.S. by Entrepreneur Magazine and the Princeton Review (2011).
Over $1 million in entrepreneurship scholarships awarded annually.
46% of Darden Business Incubator companies remain active enterprises after 5 years. More than $13,000 awarded per student company.
- More than 25 academic courses (electives) in entrepreneurship and innovation
- Large portfolio of co-curricular entrepreneurial activities, all funded by the Batten Endowment.
- VC bootcamp, E-bootcamp, Health Care bootcamp.
- Recent Darden entrepreneurs have received media coverage in a broad range of outlets, including the New York Times, Bloomberg/BusinessWeek, Washington Post, USA Today, Fast Company,The Scientist Magazine, MSNBC, National Public Radio, and several others.
Whatever a student's level of interest in entrepreneurship, Darden provides a wide array of opportunities for students to experience the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship, both inside and outside the classroom.
Entrepreneurship Program News
Highlights of the Entrepreneurship Programs in the news, including stories of our student and alumni entrepreneurs, award-winning entrepreneurship faculty, and entrepreneurial competition and course announcements:
Current News (Academic Year 2010-2011)
News Archive (Academic Year 2009-2010)
News Archive (Academic Year 2008-2009)
History of Entrepreneurship at Darden
The Entrepreneurship Programs at Darden are supported by the Batten Endowment which was established in 1996 through the generosity of Frank Batten, Sr., the former chair of Landmark Communications in Norfolk, Virginia. He envisioned that his endowment would help create a community of scholars and practitioners who would pursue leading-edge research on entrepreneurship and innovation and complement the Darden School’s preeminent educational programs in those fields. The Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership offers a portfolio of entrepreneurial learning experiences and programs targeted to the MBA students while the Batten Institute focuses on academic research in the fields of entrepreneurship and innovation.
About the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership
The Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership’s mission is to cultivate principled entrepreneurial leaders whether they are in new ventures, established companies, or not-for-profits. The Center provides a broad array of academic and experiential programs for students supporting dozens of exciting courses, a business incubator, full-time internships, business plan and concept competitions, workshops, boot camps, mentorship opportunities, and scholarships. We create a vibrant ecosystem for students by engaging leading entrepreneurs and innovators, top-ranked faculty, and a vast and loyal alumni network. The Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership is part of the Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Darden School of Business.
To find out more about the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, contact:
Philippe Sommer, Director
SommerP@darden.virginia.edu, 434-243-2283
MJ Dougherty Toms, Associate Director
TomsM@darden.virginia.edu, 434-924-4408