Position Purpose

Core Objectives

• Build a vibrant campus entrepreneurship community.
• Guide students through the IU Innovates Learning & Launch Journey.
• Activate the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center as the campus hub for innovation.
• Strengthen connections between campus, alumni, and the regional entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Student Engagement & Founder Coaching

• Serve as the primary point of contact for students interested in entrepreneurship and innovation.
• Provide direct coaching and mentorship through one-on-one meetings, Founder Groups, workshops, bootcamps, and other experiential learning opportunities.
• Assess each student’s stage in the IU Innovates Learning & Launch Journey and provide individualized guidance, accountability, and connections to mentors, alumni, investors, funding opportunities, and campus resources.
Foster a welcoming and inclusive environment that encourages students to explore ideas, develop ventures, and engage with the entrepreneurship community.

Program Coordination

• Coordinate implementation of IU Innovates programming at IU Kokomo that supports students throughout the Learning & Launch Journey.
• Develop and maintain the annual entrepreneurship programming calendar in collaboration with campus partners.
• Plan and execute workshops, Founder Groups, speaker events, networking opportunities, pitch competitions, bootcamps, and other entrepreneurship programming.
Ensure programming aligns with campus priorities while maintaining consistency with the IU Innovates statewide framework.

Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center Operations

• Activate the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center as a vibrant gathering space for students.
• Coordinate drop-in hours, networking opportunities, community-building activities, and regular center programming.
• Collaborate with faculty and campus partners to integrate entrepreneurship into academic and co-curricular experiences.
Increase student awareness and utilization of the Center.

Community Manager Leadership

• Recruit, hire, train, and supervise student Community Managers.
• Coordinate Community Manager schedules, office hours, Founder Groups, and student engagement activities.
Hold regular planning meetings and provide ongoing coaching to ensure consistent program delivery and peer mentorship.

Campus & Community Partnerships

• Build relationships with faculty, alumni, entrepreneurs, investors, and regional ecosystem partners.
• Connect students to entrepreneurship events, accelerators, competitions, mentors, internships, and funding opportunities.
Expand partnerships that enhance experiential learning and strengthen the campus entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Operations & Communication

• Coordinate logistics for entrepreneurship programming and events.
• Collaborate with IU Innovates on communications, storytelling, marketing, reporting, and statewide initiatives.
Maintain calendars, documentation, program resources, and other operational materials.

Assessment & Continuous Improvement

• Track student participation, venture progression, and outcomes across the IU Innovates Learning & Launch Journey.
• Collect student feedback and recommend program improvements.
• Prepare reports and updates for campus leadership, IU Innovates, and external stakeholders.
• Monitor key performance indicators related to engagement, venture development, mentorship, and ecosystem growth.

Collaboration

• IU Kokomo faculty and staff
• IU Innovates leadership
• Student Community Managers
• Student entrepreneurs
• Alumni founders
• Regional entrepreneurship ecosystem partners
• Community organizations and funders

Desired Qualifications

• Strong project or program management experience.
• Experience working with students, founders, startups, nonprofits, or innovation initiatives.
• Excellent relationship-building and communication skills.
• Ability to organize and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Comfort working in a collaborative, entrepreneurial environment.
• Passion for helping students progress through the IU Innovates Learning & Launch Journey while building an inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystem.
• Previous entrepreneurial or founder experience preferred.

Success Measures

• Increased student participation in entrepreneurship programming.
• Growth in the number of students progressing through successive stages of the IU Innovates Learning & Launch Journey.
• Strong participation in Founder Groups, workshops, and mentorship opportunities.
• Active utilization of the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center.
• Strong collaboration across campus and with regional ecosystem partners.
• Increased student venture development, prototype creation, customer discovery, and venture launches.
• Positive student satisfaction and engagement.
• Effective execution of entrepreneurship programming and events.
• Meaningful contributions to the growth of IU Innovates’ statewide entrepreneurship ecosystem.