US Northeast

 

 

Drexel University

LeBow College of Business

Laurence A. Baiada Center for Entrepreneurship in Technology

Mark Loschiavo, Executive Director

 

 

Program Overview

The Laurence A. Baiada Center for Entrepreneurship in Technology is a full-service entrepreneurial program run by the LeBow College of Business for the Drexel University community. The Baiada Center was founded by a generous gift from technology entrepreneur and alumnus Paul “Mel” Baiada ’82, ’85 and set into motion through a significant gift from an anonymous alumni donor. The Baiada Center’s mission is to develop entrepreneurial leaders and foster the creation of successful technology ventures within the Drexel University community The Baiada Center provides an innovative and unique approach to entrepreneurial development, offering interdisciplinary academic instruction through undergraduate and graduate level courses, real-world resources and a physical environment for accelerated business creation. Successful and experienced entrepreneurs and mentors who are Drexel alumni, business leaders from the Greater Philadelphia region, and faculty members provide on-site leadership.

 

 

Organization

The Baiada Center is led by Mark P. Loschiavo, executive director of the Baiada Center and sr. executive-in-residence for LeBow College of Business. As faculty member for LeBow College, he brings over 25 years of business experience, ranging from C-level executive positions in corporate America to the development of multiple start-up and growth companies that quickly became profitable. He teaches in the Executive MBA and Corporate MBA programs and specializes in strategy and executive leadership.  Additional Baiada Center staff includes Terri McIlhenney, director of programs and services and Debra Colbert-Maduforo, program coordinator.

 

 

The Baiada Center’s faculty director is Dr. Donna M. De Carolis, professor of organization sciences and head of management department, LeBow College of Business. Additional faculty members include Dr. V. K. Narayanan, Stubbs Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship and associate dean of research, LeBow College of Business; Dr. Kenneth A. Colwell, assistant professor of management; Dr. Annetta Fortune, assistant professor of management; Dr. Patrick A. Saparito, assistant professor of management; Dr. Sean M. Hackett, assistant professor of management; and Dr. Milton Silver, director of mentoring.

 

 

Programs and Services

The Baiada Center offers significant programs and opportunities to foster and support entrepreneurial excellence and innovation in the Drexel community.  The Center’s combination of entrepreneurial education, professional mentoring, practical experience, and executive leadership provides valuable encouragement and leadership to students, instilling capabilities that serve them well, either as start-up entrepreneurs or as “intrapreneurs” within a larger organization.

StartUp: StartUp is a five day commuter camp for high-ability high school students with a mission to generate passion and interest for entrepreneurship and provide introductory entrepreneurial skills. The program culminates in a product development competition.

Entrepreneurship Concentrations and Minor:  An undergraduate concentration, undergraduate minor and a concentration at the MBA level in Entrepreneurial Studies are among the academic program offerings available to Drexel students.  Students interested in becoming entrepreneurs, starting new ventures or becoming intrapreneurs within large corporations are offered a curriculum that includes finance, law, marketing and other courses relating to issues in entrepreneurship. 

New Ventures Projects On-Line:  This distinctive offering connects entrepreneurs and businesses to MBA students from the LeBow College of Business. New Venture Projects On-Line is a vehicle for students to gain hands-on experience with new ventures and entrepreneurial issues. This program also provides businesses access to the talented students at the LeBow College of Business.

Drexel Undergraduate Entrepreneur Association and Drexel Graduate Entrepreneurship Club:  Student-run organizations whose members gather to discuss entrepreneurial topics and share lessons learned in overcoming start-up hurdles.   

Entrepreneurial Workshop Series:  The Baiada Center’s Entrepreneurial Workshop Series supports students through seminars and workshops on the many facets of developing a business and/or a business plan. 

 

 

Mentor Network:  Entrepreneurial leaders from the Greater Philadelphia region participate in Baiada programs as advisors to incubating companies and Drexel students.

 

 

Drexel Business Plan Competition:  Winners of the competition, along with cash and in-kind prizes, are given the opportunity to enter the Baiada incubator and develop their plan into a revenue-generating enterprise.

 

 

Business Incubator:  Private, dedicated workstations are awarded to teams based on winning the business plan competition and/or exceptional merit and progress in turning ventures into realities.  Currently, there are 11 fully functioning companies incubating in the Baiada Center. 

 

 

Growth Acceleration Program:  A unique approach to incubating and cultivating companies.  The Growth Acceleration Program is an intense five-month management consulting experience for small and mid-size companies typically afforded by much larger companies. 

 

 

Entrepreneurial Breakfast Series:  The Baiada Center’s Entrepreneurial Breakfast Series is Philadelphia’s first and only quarterly entrepreneurial forum for regional development initiatives that links companies, institutional and private investors, and research institutions with the Drexel community.  Panel discussions and guest speakers provide thought leadership in best practices of entrepreneurship for experienced entrepreneurs. 

 

 

Annual Entrepreneur Conference:  The Annual Entrepreneur Conference presents an integrated day of entrepreneurial events at Drexel.  The conference is the culmination of the building and learning process for the year.  Features include a panel discussion on entrepreneurship, a keynote address from a visionary entrepreneur and the presentation of Incubator Competition finalists’ plans to a panel of judges. 

 

 

Recent Publications

LeBow College of Business faculty members associated with the Baiada Center are among the world’s most highly read and respected business educators in entrepreneurial studies. Faculty members have published articles and presented papers on all aspects of entrepreneurship, venture capital and enterprise development in journals such as Journal of Business Venturing, Venture Capital, Frontiers of Entrepreneurship Research, Academy of Management Journal, Strategic Management Journal,  Journal of Applied Management and Entrepreneurship and Journal of Management, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Journal of International Management.

 

 

About Drexel University

Renowned for its academic excellence and technological advancements, Drexel University is ranked by U.S.News & World Report as one of the best doctoral universities in the nation. A leader in the region, Drexel University is one of fewer than 50 private universities classified by the Carnegie Foundation as Doctoral/Research – Extensive.

In addition, U.S. News & World Report ranked Drexel among the “Best National Universities.” The University is on the “up-and-coming” short list of national universities that have achieved “the most promising and innovative changes in academics, faculty, students, campus, or facilities,” according to top college officials polled by U.S.News & World Report for the 2009 edition of “America’s Best Colleges.”

Drexel University is strategically located along the Northeast business corridor, within close proximity to Baltimore, Boston, New York City and Washington, D.C.

 

 

 

 

About LeBow College of Business

Recognized by Entrepreneur, Financial Times, Forbes.com/Princeton Review and U.S.News & World Report for superior programs, Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business empowers, enriches and inspires future business leaders through an innovative, strategic approach to business education defined by leadership and ethics, industry perspectives and technological orientation. Founded in 1922, LeBow College has more than 3,300 students, 100 faculty and 30,000 alumni and is accredited by AACSB International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. It offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and executive education programs. 

 

 

Contact

The Laurence A. Baiada Center for Entrepreneurship in Technology, LeBow College of Business, Drexel University, 3225 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA  19104; Mark P. Loschiavo (215) 895-0301; Fax (215) 895-0310; Email:  mark.p.loschiavo@drexel.edu; website:  www.lebow.drexel.edu/baiadacenter.

 

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