Rowland School of Business Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

The RSB Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation hosts an annual speaker series designed to inspire and empower the next generation of changemakers. This dynamic series features accomplished entrepreneurs, industry leaders and innovative thinkers who will share their journeys, insights and strategies for success in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape. Open to students, faculty and the broader university community, the series aims to continue to foster a culture of creativity, collaboration and entrepreneurial thinking across campus. Through engaging talks and interactive discussions, participants will gain valuable perspectives and practical knowledge to help them turn ideas into impactful ventures.

Whiteboard Sessions are interactive, collaborative sessions designed to help students advance their entrepreneurial ideas. These sessions bring together students, entrepreneurs in residence and faculty experts to actively workshop new concepts, side hustles and real-world business challenges in a hands-on, problem-solving environment.

Unlike traditional advising or lectures, Whiteboard Sessions are highly participatory. Students present the ideas, obstacles or opportunities they are currently facing, then collaborate with mentors and peers to break down problems, map strategies and explore practical solutions, often on a whiteboard. Topics may include idea validation, customer discovery, business model refinement, growth strategy, operations, marketing, funding considerations and overcoming startup roadblocks.

Whiteboard Sessions are open to students at all stages of the entrepreneurial journey, from those with a rough idea they want to explore to founders actively running a side hustle or existing business seeking feedback and direction. Sessions emphasize critical thinking, creativity and actionable next steps, helping students gain clarity, confidence and momentum.

These sessions also foster a supportive entrepreneurial community where students can learn from experienced founders and faculty, and benefit from diverse perspectives across disciplines. No polished pitch or formal preparation is required. Students are encouraged to come ready to engage, ask questions and think out loud.

Whiteboard Sessions reflect the Center’s commitment to experiential learning, innovation and student-driven entrepreneurship, empowering students to turn ideas into viable ventures.

The Center's office hours provide students with time and space to explore, refine, and advance their entrepreneurial ideas. These open, supportive sessions are designed for students at any stage of their entrepreneurial journey, from early idea generation to active side hustles, startups and growing ventures.

During office hours, students can meet one-on-one or in small groups with experienced mentors, faculty and entrepreneurship advisors to discuss challenges, ask questions, and receive personalized guidance. Conversations may include, but are not limited to:

• Developing and validating business ideas
• Refining value propositions and target markets
• Navigating common startup challenges and setbacks
• Managing and scaling side hustles alongside academic commitments
• Customer discovery, pricing strategies and revenue models
• Branding, marketing and go-to-market planning
• Funding options, pitching and investor readiness
• Team dynamics, leadership and operational issues

Office hours are intentionally informal and judgment-free, creating a collaborative environment where students can openly share ideas, troubleshoot problems and gain practical feedback. Whether a student is seeking clarity on their next steps, looking for accountability, or simply wants to brainstorm with an experienced entrepreneur, these sessions offer actionable insights and encouragement.

No prior preparation is required, and students are welcome to come with a fully formed business plan, a rough concept or just curiosity. The goal of the office hours is to empower students to move from ideas to action, build confidence as entrepreneurs and connect them with campus and community resources that can support their growth.

All students, regardless of major or experience level, are encouraged to attend.

The ELC Social Innovation Challenge is a regional intercollegiate competition that brings together college students from a network of affiliated schools in and around Pittsburgh to collaboratively address meaningful social issues through entrepreneurial thinking and innovation. It is designed to cultivate entrepreneurial thinking, creative problem-solving and cross-disciplinary collaboration. The program seeks to empower college students to address social issues, gain real-world problem-solving experience, connect with peers and professionals and strengthen their leadership and innovation skills. 

Students from over a dozen colleges and universities in the region take part in the ELC Social Innovation Challenge. The Challenge is often held as a weekend or multi-day event in which students work in teams of peers from different schools.  Here, students are paired in interdisciplinary teams, encouraging them to leverage diverse perspectives and skill sets as they brainstorm and design solutions to a specific social problem.  At the end of the event, teams present their solutions to a panel of judges that may include industry professionals, community leaders and academic experts. 

Participants benefit in several key ways, including:

• Real-World Problem Solving - Students apply entrepreneurial frameworks to tackle real community or social challenges rather than purely theoretical problems. 
• Collaboration Skills - Working in diverse, interdisciplinary teams deepens students’ collaboration, communication and leadership skills. 
• Networking Opportunity - The Challenge brings together students from different colleges as well as regional business and innovation leaders, fostering cross-campus connections and professional networking opportunities.
• Pitch and Presentation Experience - Teams pitch their social innovation ideas to judges, receiving feedback from professionals and exposure to entrepreneurial perspectives. 
• Recognition - Winning teams and often runner-ups are recognized for their innovative approaches and may receive awards or opportunities to continue developing their concepts beyond the Challenge.

The Active Angels Shark Tank Event in the Rowland School of Business at Point Park University is a dynamic, hands-on learning experience held each semester. During the event, founders and early-stage companies actively seeking funding present live pitches to this group of investors, offering students a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the investment decision-making process. As investors ask questions, evaluate business models and provide candid feedback, Point Park students observe in real time how deals are assessed and negotiated, bridging the gap between classroom theory and the realities of entrepreneurship and venture funding.

The Lunch and Learn series is an ongoing program of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation that connects Point Park students with Pittsburgh's active founder community in an informal, conversation-driven setting. Each session features a local entrepreneur who offers a brief overview of their venture and entrepreneurial journey — covering everything from the initial idea and early challenges to growth, pivots, and hard-won lessons — before opening the floor to student questions and open dialogue.

Unlike the more structured Entrepreneurship Speaker Series, the Lunch and Learn is intentionally casual. Sessions are small, the format is flexible, and students are encouraged to ask the questions that matter most to them,  whether about the realities of startup life, navigating Pittsburgh's business ecosystem, building a founding team or simply figuring out where to begin. Founders bring candor, and students bring curiosity; the result is the kind of frank, practical exchange that formal programming rarely allows.

Each session also serves as a natural networking opportunity. Students have dedicated time to connect directly with the visiting founder and with peers who share an interest in entrepreneurship and innovation, building the early professional relationships that often prove as valuable as the conversation itself.

The Lunch & Learn is open to all Point Park students regardless of major or prior entrepreneurial experience. No background in business formation is required, only an appetite for authentic stories and the willingness to engage.

Lunch is provided.