Over 100 students wait in line at the General Classroom North building every Tuesday to learn the value of becoming their own boss through business ownership at the Entrepreneurship Club.
“There are students who come out to network, to meet the local entrepreneurs and business owners, the local community, and to network with each other and also build their résumé,” said Hayden Trepeck, a graduate MBA student and president of the Entrepreneurship Club.
Trepeck provides students with the knowledge and resources needed to become successful entrepreneurs through managing their own business. He wants to teach interested students how to formulate a business plan and be able to pitch their plan in 90 seconds to other students within the club. “It will be a way for them to learn and gain confidence,” said Trepeck.
The Entrepreneurship Club’s fall 2009 launch meeting had a turnout of just under 200 students. There was free food, giveaways, competition, cash prizes, and the opportunity to embark on all that the organization has to offer, such as the chance to network with business owners and professionals, and attend social events.
Although the Entrepreneurship Club already existed at FAU, Trepeck claimed that he and co-founding members Cameron Trepeck, Michael Mizrachi and Joe Cipolla revamped the club to a more exciting avenue, filled with opportunities from which students could learn and take advantage.
Marcelle Aquino has been a member of the Entrepreneurship Club since its official relaunch.
“This is a great way to meet new people and find great career opportunities. I’m here every Tuesday,” said Aquino, an international business major.
Other students from different majors were also interested in what the Entrepreneurship Club has to offer.
“It’s nice to be in an environment full of people aspiring to be an entrepreneur,” said Curtis King, a junior business management and entrepreneurship major, who had recently attended his first meeting.
Becoming a member of the Entrepreneurship Club is free of charge for students who want to benefit from networking opportunities, free giveaways, free food, and the chance to receive advice from guest speakers on what it is like to become a successful business owner.
Membership applications are available every meeting for students to fill out. At the end of every meeting, the founders inform students about the benefits they would receive if they became a member. Although signing up for the club is free, the club also offers a gold membership where student receive additional perks.
Gold memberships cost students a $40 fee. According to Trepeck, students receive a membership card that can be used for discounts from local sponsors, discount coupons, a T-shirt, internship opportunities, VIP treatment at social events, mentorship from top business executives and executive board position opportunities. The $40 fee is used to fund social events and weekly meetings, such as the free food offered to anyone who comes to the meetings.
Previous FAU students in the Entrepreneurship Club have become actual business owners themselves.
“At the University of Florida, there is a company called GrooveShark.com. They’re an online music company. You can go on there and click any song you want. It’s a database of millions of songs to choose from and play on livestream over the Internet. This was developed out of the Entrepreneurship Club,” said Trepeck.
As president of the Entrepreneurship Club, Trepeck enjoys all work involved with organizing and promoting the club because he feels it’s a great experience for him and fellow FAU students.
“I love to motivate students, and I know personally that free stuff always gets me to come to events, so that’s part of how we get people to come out,” explained Trepeck.
For more information on the Entrepreneurship Club, visit www.yesowls.com or e-mail [email protected].
The Entrepreneurship Club holds meetings every Tuesday at 6:45 p.m. in Room 101 of the General Classroom North building.
