Innovation for Urban Impact: A Milestone

New Course, New Focus

Ten years ago, I designed and started teaching a brand-new course at University of Michigan, College of Engineering, Center for Entrepreneurship. The course was called Urban Entrepreneurship, and the goal was to help students understand how to create businesses that improve the quality of life in urban communities. Urban Entrepreneurship was deemed a “special topics” course, so its course number included the catch-all prefix ENTR 490.

An Important Milestone

Now, after 10 years developing, teaching, and evolving the Urban Entrepreneurship course, I’m proud to announce that the U-M Curriculum Committee has given the course “regular” status, with its own course number and name. The course will henceforth be called ENTR 419 – Innovation for Urban Impact.

I am happy and proud that Urban Entrepreneurship has achieved regular course status. I give credit to the staff at the Center for Entrepreneurship, the many Urban Entrepreneur Partners who have lent their time and expertise, my teaching assistants, and to course advisor and friend Mr. Reggie Barnett. Most of all, I credit the hundreds of students whose diligent work, questions, and suggestions have shaped the course and made it what it is today.

The Next Chapter

I look forward to returning to the classroom this Fall to teach the first cohort of Innovation for Urban Impact. We have some great new features in store, including AI-enabled market research and new techniques for profiling urban-focused ventures. I feel strongly that the subject matter of this course is more important than ever, as accelerating technological, environmental, and cultural forces present new challenges and opportunities for urban innovation professionals.

Thanks again to everyone who made this important milestone possible. Future students and the communities they serve stand to benefit from this work.