When the question of "who can do this?" arises, a determined entrepreneur's answer is "I will." Appalachian State's Center for Entrepreneurship seeks out "I will" entrepreneurs:

  • students and faculty who want to turn their ideas into successful enterprises
  • startups looking for resources and assistance
  • successful entrepreneurs who want to share their experience and knowledge.

"Because of Appalachian State’s opportunities in entrepreneurship, I bypassed the usual corporate route and actually graduated with my own business."

Jon West
Co-founder, 3tailer, LLC

Study Abroad Summer 2010

Check out summer entrepreneurship programs in Germany, Spain and Thailand!

Dale Tweedy Mentoring Program

Students interested in entrepreneurship matched with business owners.

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Young Entrepreneurs Symposium

ASU’s Center for Entrepreneurship is pleased to announce our annual Young Entrepreneurs Symposium (Y.E.S.), sponsored by Backyard Burgers. The event will take place February 24, 2010, from 3:30 to 5:30pm at the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center.

We have a very exciting lineup of young entrepreneurs who have started businesses in e-commerce, music industries, social entrepreneurship, and culinary arts.

Our keynote speakers are Jon West and Chad Ledford, founders of the online retail company 3tailer, LLC. The idea of 3tailer began while Chad and Jon were students at ASU. They turned a $1,000 investment into a multi-million dollar company (3tailer.com) that now owns and operates more than thirty ecommerce websites.

Young alumni, current students, and a 13-year-old culinary phenom will also talk about their businesses and participate in panel discussions and presentations. Included in the lineup is the band Do it to Julia, who formed under the ASU record label, Split Rail Records. (Do it to Julia)

13-year-old pastry artist extraordinaire, Daijua Corin, is owner and president of Vela Delight in Charlotte. She turned a natural talent for home-style baking into a fun, exciting, AND lucrative business. (Vela Delight)

2008 ASU alumnus Jimmy Hunt started Yellow Dog Entertainment, LLC, which runs the annual Music on the Mountaintop festival in Boone. What started as a class project at ASU grew into one of the largest musical events the town had seen in nearly a decade. Nearly 2,500 attendees enjoyed a full day of top musical talent in 2008, and in 2009, over 4,500 people attended. (Yellow Dog Entertainment, Music on the Mountaintop)

Chris Cornwell, a current ASU student majoring in management with a concentration in entrepreneurship, was the 2009 ASU Student Entrepreneur of the Year. Chris is a serial entrepreneur, having founded multiple businesses, his latest being a socially responsible endeavor to combat poverty.

Sarah Pinnix is the founder and editor of The High Country Mom Squad, a website/online magazine dedicated to women and families in the High Country." She created a TV show based on the Mom Squad for local station MTN, and hosts a weekly video chat show online at MomTV.com. She also teaches businesses how to use social media for marketing with her "Talk of the Town" Workshops. (High Country Mom Squad)

At the end of the Symposium, we will announce our 2010 Student Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The winner will receive a $2,500 scholarship!

The event will include entertainment, snacks and beverages and is open to all ASU students, faculty, and staff as well as regional high school students, community colleges, and community members.

RSVP is requested. To register, click here.

Questions? Contact Julia Rowland, 262-8325 / rowlandja@appstate.edu. We hope to see you there!

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