If you want your startup to join the long list of ventures founded on campus, quit procrastinating and take the entrepreneurship plunge. Here are five reasons why we think college is the best time to launch the next great startup:
World-Class Resources
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign fosters an exceptionally vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem. You save significantly on the cost of launching a company, so utilize every resource at your disposal in and outside the campus.
Innumerable professors and faculty with relevant industry experience, mentors, thought leaders, students from diverse backgrounds, and entrepreneurs in residence are more than willing to learn about your idea. They will offer feedback, guide you through the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and connect you with resources that can help get your idea off the ground. Reach out to as many people you can! Their free feedback is invaluable.
Practice What You Learn
There is no better way to put your classroom learning into action than launching a startup. You not only learn the dynamics of entrepreneurship theoretically but also experience what it takes to start a company. You get to equip yourself with skills such as how to interact with your customers, market your product, manage finance, raise funds, ask for guidance, build a professional support network, persevere in the face of instability, and manage the team. If founding a business isn’t the right path for you, the skills acquired will not only give you an edge now, but in your future workplace.
Flexible Time
Launching a startup while you're in school gives you a head start, and is often easier because you have more flexibility. Despite juggling the demands of college life, you are likely to have a more flexible schedule than when you graduate.
It’s Ok to Fail
You can afford to fail, stretch your goals, innovate, and experiment with ideas. It is completely acceptable to make mistakes and start all over again with a new venture. You can take risks as you have nothing to lose.
What are you waiting for? Now is the right time to launch your startup.