EEP Testimonials
"A critical component of our overall academic program"
"The Engineering Entrepreneurs Program is a critical component of our overall academic program in the College of Engineering. The National Academy of Engineering has published a book entitled Educating the Engineer of 2020: Adapting Engineering Education to the New Century. The book speaks specifically of the need to incorporate interdisciplinary teams, leadership, and entrepreneurial skills and thinking into the engineering curriculum. This is exactly what the EEP does, and exactly what we need to ensure that our graduates have the tools they need to be successful in the 21st century."
- Dr. Louis A. Martin-VegaDean, College of Engineering - NC State University
"I'm proud to be associated with this unique program."
"I have been very favorably impressed with the Engineering Entrepreneurial Program at NCSU. The caliber and enthusiasm of students has been exceptional and there is obviously much 1/1 interaction and mentoring provided by the talented faculty/leadership. The annual Silicon Valley trip is unique among universities, to my knowledge, and I think it helps to blend some real-world pragmatism into the academic environment.
It's been my experience that a wealth of talent exists among America's top academic institutions but very little knowledge about how to commercialize ideas and concepts under real-world circumstances and constraints. This is the space in which the EEP distinguishes itself as I believe its developing the technology pioneers of tomorrow. I'm very pleased and proud to be associated with this unique program."
Senior Corp. Director, iPod/iPhone, Apple Inc.
NCSU School of Engineering - Class of '89
"I'm always impressed"
"I wish that the EEP existed when I was a student at NC State! This program is providing great experience, exposure, and opportunity to these future entrepreneurs. I'm always impressed by their passion for knowledge and technology, as well as their astute observations. I look forward to their visit every year!"
-Joe Britt, co-founder and CTO, Danger, Inc.
NCSU School of Engineering - Class of '93
"I wish we had more university programs like the EEP"
"Budding entrepreneurs should "making meaning" with their entrepreneurial pursuits. The NC State EEP students learned the meaning of meaning by visiting with many Silicon Valley thought leaders and learning their secrets. My mantra is to "empower entrepreneurs," and I wish we had more university programs like the EEP to help do exactly that.
Guy Kawasaki, co-founder of Truemors, managing director of Garage Technology Ventures, author of "The Art of the Start", "Rules for Revolutionaries, "How to Drive your competition Crazy", "Selling the Dream", "The Macintosh Way", "Hindsights", "Database 101", and "The Computer Curmudgeon."
"The NC State Engineering Entrepreneurs Program is setting the bar for grooming the technology entrepreneurs of tomorrow. Never have I met such a sharp and engaging group of future entrepreneurial rock stars as the group of EEP students that I meet on their annual Silicon Valley field trip."
-Randy Komisar
General Partner, Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield, and Byers
Author of The Monk and the Riddle
"What a great program!"
"I always enjoy it when the NC State EEP students come to town for their spring break. We have great discussions about all things entrepreneurial, and the students are so knowledgeable and well-prepared. What a great program! Go, Pack!"
-Bill Campbell
Chairman of the Board, Intuit
"I think it is invaluable"
"Since graduating from NCSU more than 20 years ago and building a technology company on Centennial Campus, I have visited Silicon Valley countless times. Through those many visits, I got a flavor for the Valley and its culture. Eighteen months ago, part of our company was acquired by Adobe Systems and I moved to San Jose. During this brief time with Adobe, I have become even more indoctrinated into the tech culture here.
In hosting the EEP Spring Break trip the last couple of years, we have attempted to share what the environment is like in the Valley both at work and at home. I think it is invaluable to students to be able to experience firsthand what it is like to live here or interact with engineers here, no matter where these students begin their careers. For anyone who genuinely enjoys technology, this is a great place and we thoroughly enjoy sharing the experience."
-Grant Williard
Group Product Manager, Adobe Security Solutions, Adobe Systems, Inc.
NCSU School of Engineering - Class of '93
"It is a very rewarding experience"
"I look forward to the EEP visit every year. The students bring a level of excitement and energy that's wonderful to be a part of, and I think they feed off of our energy and passion as well. I like to challenge the students and professors with some of the problems we're working on, and in return I enjoy the tough questions that they ask me. It is a very rewarding experience for us all."
-Todd Young BSEE '88
Director of Product and Business Development
Rosum Corporation
"Developed my abilities to communicate the business value of technology"
"While pursuing my Electrical Engineering bachelor's degree, I participated in three semesters of evolving EEP courses, once in a one hour per week format, once in a twice weekly seminar/lecture format, and once as my Senior Design I conducted a web market survey for a PDA digital voice recorder as a sophomore, led the marketing team for a personal photo storage and sharing device as a junior, and led a Senior Design project to provide online ordering capabilities to restaurants.
These projects, the guest lectures, and the instructor-led content developed my abilities to communicate the business value of technology. My coworkers are often surprised to learn that I do not have an MBA, which I consider a testament to the value of the EEP I look forward to the chance to share my experience with future EEP students when I come back, hopefully as an EEP success story."
-Bobby Buntin
Class of '03, Co-founder of Restaurant Online Marketing Associates
Senior Consultant at Deloitte Consulting LLP
"Well worth the extra effort"
"Initially I became interested in the EEP program mainly because I wanted to be able to come up with my own senior design project, but I was also interested in owning my own business some day. After speaking with Dr. Walsh I decided at the very least I could learn a lot from his experiences running a tech start up. We were warned up front that it would be a challenging semester, and it was, but I think it was well worth the extra effort.
The semester was a struggle but ultimately we all took some big risks, made some big sacrifices, and it paid off."
-Daniel Patrick '07
"Best experiences of my undergraduate career"
"The EEP was one of the best experiences of my undergraduate career. The lectures and seminars have been invaluable tools that have put me ahead in my academic and entrepreneurial ventures. This program is far ahead of similar programs that I have seen at other universities."
-Ben Sintay '03
"It's not your daddy's senior design"
"I had a great EEP experience as one of the earliest classes ever involved it's not your daddy's senior design ...The EEP program really gave us the tools, freedom, and flexibility to succeed with our wild ideas. From designing and building a smaller CPU housing unit at the Industrial Engineering shop, to soliciting the help of business school students, you receive a cross educational experience that will be uniquely yours..."
-Bert Tong '05
"The EEP Program was the highlight of my experience at NC State"
"I say with confidence that the EEP Program was the highlight of my experience at NC State. The professors and lecturers understand that facts and methods from other classes can only carry you so far in life. EEP in a way was the catalyst that brought together knowledge from my other classes to produce in me attitudes and confidence that has carried me to a place that I consider to be successful and fulfilling. Since college I have applied these principles in a Fortune 500 Company, in a small company in Amman, Jordan, in finding resources and clients to tutor privately, and God-willing, next year to be a part of a non-profit startup community center in the West Bank."
-Austin Young '05