Entrepreneurship at Lehigh University

What Entrepreneurship at Lehigh University does

Entrepreneurship at Lehigh University is a university-wide program within Lehigh University, a private non-profit R1 research institution founded in 1865 and headquartered in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The program operates through a network of affiliated offices and centers, including the Baker Institute for Entrepreneurship, Creativity & Innovation, the Office of Entrepreneurship, the Lehigh Ventures Lab (a student startup incubator), the Office of Creative Inquiry, the Mountaintop Initiative for Sustainability, and a Technical Entrepreneurship track within the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering. Its core function is to provide cross-disciplinary entrepreneurship education, startup incubation, mentorship, seed funding access, and pitch competition platforms to Lehigh's 7,000+ undergraduate and graduate students across all five colleges (Business, Engineering, Arts & Sciences, Health, Education).

The underlying technology and infrastructure consist of experiential learning platforms, maker spaces, startup incubators, and co-working facilities rather than a proprietary software product. Programs include the Lehigh Ventures Lab, Creative Inquiry fellowships, the Mountaintop Initiative, and the Lehigh@NASDAQ Center in San Francisco. A Small Business Development Center extends services to the regional community. Partnerships with Ben Franklin Technology Partners, the Bethlehem Economic Development Corporation (BEDCO), and NASDAQ provide ecosystem connections to investors, corporate partners, and regional economic development organizations.

The program operates on a non-commercial model. Services are provided to students at no charge, with funding sourced from Lehigh University's institutional budget, external grants and sponsored programs, and philanthropic contributions through the GO Beyond campaign. The program serves approximately 7,000 students, engages 200+ student organizations, and contributes 68,000+ volunteer hours annually to the local community. Performance indicators include a 92% post-graduation outcome rate and a $77K average starting salary for 2025 graduates, alongside institutional recognition including a 29th-best university ranking and record Fulbright Scholar counts.

Name

Entrepreneurship at Lehigh University

Legal name

Lehigh University

Website

https://www2.lehigh.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1865

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Entrepreneurship at Lehigh University is a university-wide program that provides startup incubation, mentorship, and cross-disciplinary entrepreneurship education to 7,000+ students across five colleges, supported by institutional funding, grants, and alumni donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Entrepreneurship Programs

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Entrepreneurship, Startup Incubation & Pitch Programs (EDAMAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Technical Universities with Entrepreneurship & Incubation Focus (EDAHAEAH), Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC), Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA), Leadership, Management & Teamwork for Business (EDAMAHAI), Entrepreneurship & Small Business Workforce Programs (EDAAAOAM), Marketing, Branding & Sales Skills (EDAMAHAG)

Keywords

• Entrepreneurship education
• Startup incubation
• University programs
• Venture mentorship
• Innovation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Bethlehem

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. University Institutional Funding: Core funding from Lehigh University's operating budget allocated to the Office of Entrepreneurship and Baker Institute for supporting student entrepreneurship programs and resources
2. Grants and Sponsored Programs: External funding from foundations, government agencies, and corporate partners to support entrepreneurship education, research, and startup development programs
3. Alumni and Donor Contributions: Philanthropic support from alumni and community donors specifically designated for entrepreneurship programming and student venture support through the GO Beyond campaign

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Entrepreneurship at Lehigh University is a university-wide program that delivers entrepreneurship education, startup incubation, mentorship, and experiential learning to Lehigh students. The program operates through the Baker Institute for Entrepreneurship, Creativity & Innovation, the Office of Entrepreneurship, the Lehigh Ventures Lab, and Technical Entrepreneurship to support student-founded ventures with mentorship, workspace, seed funding access, and pitch competitions.

Product overview

Entrepreneurship at Lehigh University is a comprehensive ecosystem comprising multiple programs and centers. The core offerings include the Baker Institute for Entrepreneurship, Creativity & Innovation (research center), the Office of Entrepreneurship (administrative hub), and the Lehigh Ventures Lab (incubator). These are complemented by the Entrepreneurship & Innovation academic program and Technical Entrepreneurship track within engineering. Together, they provide students with resources, mentorship, funding opportunities, and experiential learning to develop and launch startups.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Baker Institute for Entrepreneurship, Creativity & Innovation: Institute supporting entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation programs at Lehigh University
• Office of Creative Inquiry
• Office of Entrepreneurship
• Lehigh@NASDAQ Center

Products and services

• Office of Entrepreneurship
• Baker Institute for Entrepreneurship, Creativity & Innovation
• Lehigh Ventures Lab

Quantifiable outcome

• 92% of graduates employed or continuing education within 6 months
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Baker Institute for Entrepreneurship, Creativity & InnovationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Baker Institute serves as Lehigh's primary hub for entrepreneurship, coordinating programs across all five colleges. It provides startup incubation, mentorship, and resources for student ventures.
• Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern PennsylvaniaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional technology development organization providing startup support, funding, and ecosystem connections. Lehigh partners with Ben Franklin TechVentures for startup ecosystem integration.
• Bethlehem Economic Development Corporation (BEDCO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBEDCO partners with Lehigh to advance innovation, economic opportunity, and neighborhood revitalization in South Bethlehem. Supports initiatives including KIZ, SouthSide Arts District, and SouthSide Ambassadors.
• Community Voices ClinicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool-based mental health clinic operating within family centers at Donegan Elementary and Broughal Middle schools. Supports Lehigh students in gaining experiential learning.
• Mountaintop Initiative for SustainabilitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-disciplinary initiative advancing sustainable solutions in operations, academics, and community. Provides research infrastructure and experiential learning opportunities.
• Lehigh Valley Social Impact FellowshipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultidisciplinary program where Lehigh students collaborate with faculty and community partners to address local social and environmental challenges through project-based learning.
• Lehigh@NASDAQ CenterflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated in San Francisco, provides Lehigh entrepreneurs with West Coast startup ecosystem connections, investor networks, and corporate partnership opportunities through the NASDAQ entrepreneurial community.
• SouthSide Arts DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts and cultural initiative in South Bethlehem. Lehigh supports through student involvement and community engagement programs.
• Victory House of Lehigh ValleyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHomeless shelter supporting men and veterans. Lehigh partners through student volunteering, service-learning, and donations.
• Homework ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer-driven program where Lehigh students provide after-school academic support and mentorship to local elementary and middle school students.
• STEM Explorers ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHands-on summer program for middle school students, especially from underrepresented groups, discovering STEM through creative challenges and mentorship from Lehigh students and faculty.
• Bethlehem Farmers' MarketminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted by Lehigh at Farrington Square, supports local vendors and provides fresh goods to community. Promotes campus-community connections and sustainable living.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Harvard Innovation Labs (i-lab): Harvard's university-wide innovation ecosystem serving students and alumni across all schools. Comparable cross-college scope and incubator design to Lehigh's Baker Institute and Ventures Lab.
• Stanford Technology Ventures Program (STVP): Stanford's flagship university-wide entrepreneurship education and research program. Directly comparable as an academic unit offering entrepreneurship curriculum, founder support, and industry connections, though operating at significantly larger scale and brand.
• Cornell Entrepreneurship: Cornell's university-wide entrepreneurship hub offering startup incubation, courses, and mentorship across colleges. Directly comparable multi-college coordination model within a technical research university.
• Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship (Carnegie Mellon): Carnegie Mellon's central entrepreneurship center supporting student and faculty startups across disciplines. Strong comparability given CMU's technical research focus similar to Lehigh's Rossin College of Engineering.
• University of Michigan Center for Entrepreneurship: University of Michigan's cross-campus entrepreneurship center providing curriculum, venture support, and programs like TechLab and the Innovation Bootcamp. Comparable scale, scope, and public-research-university positioning.
• Purdue Foundry: Purdue's integrated entrepreneurship and commercialization hub offering incubation, accelerators, and partnerships. Comparable as a university-anchored program supporting student and faculty ventures with regional industry connections.
• Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship: MIT's central entrepreneurship center providing incubation, mentorship, and coursework across schools. Closely mirrors Lehigh's Baker Institute/Office of Entrepreneurship model of university-wide coordination, with stronger technical-founder orientation.
• Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship (Babson College): Babson's dedicated entrepreneurship center widely regarded as the leading undergraduate entrepreneurship program. Comparable as a single institution focused intensely on entrepreneurship education, though concentrated in business rather than engineering/STEM.
• Wharton Entrepreneurship: Wharton's entrepreneurship program offering courses, venture support, and alumni networks to graduate and undergraduate students. Comparable in providing structured entrepreneurship pathways within a research university, anchored in a business school.

Others

• Ben Franklin Technology Partners: Regional technology-based economic development organization that is itself a Lehigh partner. Adjacent ecosystem enabler - though not a university program, it provides the regional commercialization infrastructure that university entrepreneurship programs plug into.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/lehighuofficial
• Facebookfacebook.com/lehighu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lehigh-university-entrepreneurship
• Instagraminstagram.com/lehighu
• TikToktiktok.com/@lehighadmissions

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Entrepreneurship at Lehigh University