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Entrepreneurship Hub
Unlocking potential, driving impact and empowering entrepreneurial thinkers to tackle challenges of consequence.
"The Hub was my home, my office and my everything. It’s where I turned my passion into real ventures — from AI tools for students to solutions addressing illegal mining in my home country. What I will be doing after graduation came from the support and motivation I received at the Hub. I will forever be grateful.”
— Derek Atiawu, MSBA 2025
Together, we will help W&M become increasingly recognized for its entrepreneurial thinkers who address meaningful opportunities and challenges of consequence.
A Vision for Entrepreneurship
Building a Culture of Entrepreneurial Action
At William & Mary, we empower entrepreneurial thinkers to lead and innovate in a fast-changing world. Our approach to entrepreneurship transcends traditional boundaries, combining theory with real-world application to equip students with the mindset and tools needed to make meaningful contributions in any field.
A University-Wide Approach
Entrepreneurship at W&M isn’t siloed. We engage students across all majors — from data science to philosophy — and equip faculty and staff to bring entrepreneurial thinking into every corner of campus.
Hands-On Learning with Real-World Impact
Through mentorship and experiential programs, students pursue real challenges, test bold ideas, and deliver solutions with impact — working with nonprofits, startups, research teams, and more.
Shape the Future of Entrepreneurship at William & Mary
The Entrepreneurship Hub is a launchpad for tomorrow’s leaders. With your support, we’re building an ecosystem where students drive change, create opportunity, and make their mark on the world.
Key Features of the Hub
The W&M Entrepreneurship Hub is more than a space. It’s a catalyst for action, equipping students with an entrepreneurial mindset and a versatile set of skills to solve complex problems and create meaningful impact. For future poets, programmers, historians and hackers, the Hub is a space to explore, learn and grow.
Participants develop the skills to thrive in uncertainty, embrace ambiguity and take calculated risks.
Engage
The Hub connects students from all disciplines with faculty, alumni and local entrepreneurs.
Build
Resources and programs like pitch competitions, seed funds, makerspaces and internships empower participants to turn ideas into action.
Empowering the Next Generation of Entrepreneurial Leaders
To sustain and expand its transformative value to the W&M community, we seek a $13 million investment to ensure the Hub remains a launchpad for future generations of W&M entrepreneurial leaders. Your support fuels:
Resources
A gift of $7 million fuels the Hub’s essential resources.
From micro-courses to expert mentorship, the Hub provides students, faculty and community members with the knowledge, tools and connections to navigate challenges, seize opportunities and drive success. This gift would support resources like:
- Instruction: Development and delivery of micro-courses and hands-on learning experiences.
- Staffing: Hiring of full- and part-time staff and student workers to manage and expand the Hub’s offerings.
- Mentoring Network: Building a robust, diverse community of expert mentors to guide students and ventures.
This gift supports initiatives that cultivate core entrepreneurial attributes, including opportunity discovery, resilience and collaborative problem-solving.
Programs
A gift of $5 million powers transformational programming.
Whether through pitch competitions, hackathons or internships with alumni-led ventures, students turn entrepreneurial thinking into real-world impact. This gift would support programs such as:
- Tribe Ventures Accelerator: A structured, two-semester program that provides resources and mentorship to scale student-led projects.
- Summer Venture Program: Dedicated summer support, including programming, mentorship, housing and stipends, allowing students to focus full-time on their ventures.
- Paid Internships: Fund student internships at alumni-led ventures, ensuring students gain invaluable, hands- on experience while contributing to the growth of entrepreneurial companies launched by W&M graduates.
Events
A gift of $1 million brings speakers, workshops and networking to life.
Engaging speaker panels, hands-on workshops and networking mixers create opportunities for students to learn from seasoned entrepreneurs and industry leaders while building meaningful relationships.
This gift would support exciting events like:
- Speaker Series: Curated talks featuring accomplished founders, investors and innovators.
- Workshops: Skill-building sessions to help students sharpen entrepreneurial thinking and execution.
- Networking Mixers: Events that foster meaningful connections among students, alumni and the entrepreneurial community.
In the past academic year, the Hub engaged students (46% of whom were underclassmen) from 44 distinct
majors and facilitated over 2,400 engagements through events, mentorships and programs.
Invest in Innovation at Tribe Square
Your gift to the Entrepreneurship Hub Endowment supports the most pressing needs while creating a lasting legacy of leadership and innovation.
Major Naming Opportunities
Tribe Square: $20,000,000 — Home to the 7,000-square-foot Hub, additional retail spaces and student housing.
W&M Entrepreneurship Hub: $13,000,000 — The W&M Entrepreneurship Hub is more than just a place — it’s a dynamic ecosystem for entrepreneurial action. Featuring cutting-edge technology, collaborative workspaces and the Greater Williamsburg business incubator program, Launchpad, the Hub equips students with the skills and mindset to tackle complex challenges and create meaningful impact.
Spaces for Innovation and Collaboration
- Collaboration Space: $500,000
- Patio: $250,000
- Conference Room: $150,000
- Kitchen/Lounge: $150,000
- Prototyping Studio: $150,000
- Team Rooms (2 available): $100,000 each
- Reception Area: $100,000
- Coworking Carousels (7 available): $100,000 each
- Faculty Offices (3 available): $100,000 each
- Podcast Studio: $10,000
Invest in the Future of Entrepreneurial Thinking at W&M
Your support fuels a new generation of change makers. From liberal arts to computer science, the Hub equips students to turn ideas into impact — and prepares them to lead in any field.
Your gift will:
Empower Students
Provide hands-on, high-impact learning through internships, pitch competitions, and real-world challenges.
Expand Resources
Support access to micro-courses, mentorship, and tools that foster entrepreneurial success.
Enrich the Ecosystem
Bring dynamic events and programs to life — connecting students with seasoned innovators and industry leaders.
- Evan C. Lichtenstein, Assistant Vice President of Development, Schools & Academic Initiatives
- 757-221-1979
- eclichtenstein@wm.edu