EEP Background
Since its inception, hundreds of engineering
and nonengineering students have completed
the
EEP curriculum which is a full-immersion
educational environment for new product and
business prototyping - the students are
required to both prototype a product AND a company, not just a business plan. The
curriculum has been holistically designed to
improve the overall undergraduate educational
experience and this is accomplished by creating
multidisciplinary 'virtual' start-up companies
known as eTeams (entrepreneurship teams)
that are comprised of undergraduate students
from all grade levels in engineering, science,
business, industrial design, and the arts &
humanities. These eTeams are led by senior
engineering students who act as the founders
and executives.
The eTeams are formed in two phases. During the first phase the eTeam leaders in the course spendseveral classes identifying potential marketplace opportunities and in putting together a formal presentation about their new product and business idea. During the second phase this formal presentation is then given to the remaining students in the class who may then choose which eTeam to join. The program mimics, to the best of its ability, the actual environment of a start-up company and like all new business endeavors someone must see value in it. If an eTeam fails to attract any students, then those senior engineering students are given the option of joining another team or pursuing their idea in the traditional senior design course.
The EEP combines both experiential learning
and theoretical learning. The topic areas include
product development, intellectual property,
project planning, leadership, management,
high-tech marketing and sales, manufacturing,
distribution, operations, organizational behavior,
financials, corporate formation, and general
business planning. Within the experiential the
students get hands-on experience in developing
new products and businesses. Within the
theoretical, many professionals from industry
and academe come into our classroom and
lecture on their specific area of expertise.
This methodology provides the students more
in-depth knowledge of topic
areas critical to
successful new product and business
development.
Lastly, high technology product developers,
entrepreneurs and business professionals
mentor these students and review their
completed products and business ideas.
EEP History
Dr. Thomas (Tom) K. Miller III, an entrepreneur himself, initiated the Engineering Entrepreneurs Program (EEP) in 1993 under the sponsorship of the Southeastern University and College Coalition for Engineering Education (SUCCEED). The EEP is an extension of the NC State University Undergraduate Design Center, which is the umbrella program for senior design projects for the College of Engineering. The genesis for the EEP came out of Dr. Miller's personal experience as a technology entrepreneur, his passion for undergraduate engineering education, and his deep commitment to his students and their futures. Because of this, he decided to teach engineering and computer science students skills in product development, organization, management, finance, marketing and entrepreneurship. Dr. Miller knew that the lessons learned by his students would improve their chances of success if they ever took the road less traveled with an idea that could be turned into a business and possibly change the world. He also knew that even if they never started a technology company that these lessons would be invaluable to them throughout their professional careers.
Dr. Miller, who is vice provost for distance education and learning technology (DELTA) at NC State, has many success stories to tell. Today more than 450 students have completed the EEP in which they work in teams to turn creative concepts into marketable products. Donald (Donnie) J. Barnes (CSC '95), a former EEP student, was the first employee of Red Hat and retired from Red Hat as a millionaire at age 27. Engineering student entrepreneurs Bill Nussey (EE '87) and Chris Evans created DaVinci Systems, one of the world's leading email products, at a time when NC State was emerging as a power in information technology. They later sold the company for $6.65 million. Evans sold Accipter, which he also founded, for more than $50 million. Scot Wingo (MS CPE '92) credits his success to Miller's Engineering Entrepreneurs Program. Wingo co-founded and sold Stingray Software then co-founded AuctionRover.com, which sold for $166 million.
In January of 2002 Dr. Miller spearheaded the expansion of the EEP into a college-wide program open to all departments and brought on Dr. Stephen J. Walsh, PE as the Entrepreneur-In-Residence. Under their stewardship, the EEP has grown to serve as NC State University's premiere program for undergraduate entrepreneurship in engineering and new product development.
