The mission of the Impact Entrepreneurship Initiative (IEI) is to promote a shift in values from individual competitiveness to participatory design. As a university-wide initiative, we believe in advancing democratic principles and mutual and equitable relations to cultivate the development of entrepreneurial skills, growth mindsets, and inclusive design approaches to actualize innovation in the world. IEI’s focal point is to invest in student entrepreneurs embedded in their local communities for shared prosperity.
Rooted in community and solidarity, IEI seeks to break new ground in challenging status-quo frameworks, especially for communities that have been historically excluded and remain chronically underserved and underfunded. To catalyze and nurture new and inclusive futures to confront systemic inequality, we encourage students representing communities including Black Americans, Latinxs, Native Americans, Arab Americans, Asian Americans, South Asian Americans, Pacific Islander Americans, Appalachians, LGBTQ/Two Spirit people, and people with disabilities to explore IEI.
Curriculum
Students enrolled in any graduate degree program at The New School have the opportunity to participate in our three signature IEI courses - Venture Lab, Social Impact Entrepreneurship and Design, and Intro to Social Entrepreneurship - or complete a graduate
minor in Impact Entrepreneurship.
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Graduate Fellowship
The Impact Entrepreneurship Fellowship is a two-year cohort experience on campus in New York City for high-potential leaders committed to creating social impact through entrepreneurship while pursuing a master's degree at The New School.
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Ecosystem Partners
The New School’s New York City location offers a rare opportunity to experience and build connections and relationships with partner organizations, frontline community partners and ecosystem funders that share a sense of urgency and a desire to look broadly and deeply to cultivate the development of entrepreneurial skills, growth mindsets, and inclusive design approaches to actualize innovation in the world.
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Students & Alumni
Meet some of the current students and recent alumni involved in the Impact Entrepreneurship Initiative and gain insights into their inspiring entrepreneurial-focused work.
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Resources
Visit our blog for our guide to help students and alumni take their ideas for social innovation to the next level.
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