Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Turn Ideas into Impact with an Entrepreneurship & Innovation Major
Elon’s Entrepreneurship & Innovation major empowers students to turn ideas into action. You will learn how to identify opportunities, develop creative solutions, and bring ventures to life, whether launching a startup, leading within an organization, or driving innovation in your field. With hands-on courses, one-on-one mentoring and access to the Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, you will graduate ready to think big and make things happen.
From Competition to Career: How Hands-On Learning Shaped an Entrepreneur
When Maddy Burgess ’24 entered Elon, she knew she wanted to run her own company one day. Through her Entrepreneurship & Innovation major, she found the tools, mentors, and opportunities to make that dream feel possible.
While at Elon, Burgess studied abroad, worked for the Doherty Center, and took courses that paired her with local businesses and nonprofits. She competed twice in the Venture Capital Investment Competition, gaining real-world exposure to startup financing, and her team’s work led directly to her first full-time job with RecRe, a university rental startup.
Burgess also co-founded College Wicks, a small business that upcycled cans into candles and placed second in Elon’s Innovation Challenge. She credits professors like Sean McMahon and mentors in the Doherty Center for encouraging her to step up and learn by doing.
“You are not just learning from a textbook,” she said. “You are actually out in the community working with a small business or creating something from scratch. That was the motto of entrepreneurship at Elon: become a doer and maker.”
Why Choose the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Degree at Elon?
Learn by doing
Entrepreneurship majors bring ideas to life through internships, business model development, and venture competitions. You will gain real experience in finance, marketing, product design and operations before you graduate.
Accelerated career pathways
Through Elon’s 3+1 Accelerated Program, students can earn a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in business analytics in just four years, blending entrepreneurial vision with analytical expertise.
The Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship
This hub provides mentoring, workshops and startup support that help students develop an entrepreneurial mindset and connect with alumni and local innovators.
Innovation-driven curriculum
Courses such as Creativity and the Doer/Maker Mindset, Entrepreneurship for the Greater Good, and Tech Tools for Innovation teach students how to recognize opportunities, think strategically and apply design thinking to real problems.
Career versatility
Graduates pursue diverse paths, launching their own ventures or working in roles such as business development, consulting and operations at companies including Dell, Oracle NetSuite, Bank of America, ADP and Teva Pharmaceuticals.
What You’ll Learn
As an entrepreneurship and innovation major, you will complete Elon’s strong business core and build advanced skills in opportunity recognition, creative problem-solving, and venture development. View full degree requirements in the academic catalog.