This month, we welcomed 90 juniors and seniors from 53 high schools and four states to the 2025 Think Like an Entrepreneur Summer Academy.

Over the course of four days, students worked in teams to develop business and nonprofit ideas that addressed one of the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Each team was challenged to take an idea from concept to prototype and present their final pitch to a panel of judges on the last day.

Throughout the week, students engaged in collaborative activities, brainstormed solutions, and brought their ideas to life. Many took advantage of on-campus resources like RCIE’s Studio 231 makerspace to build their prototypes. Creativity, teamwork, and bold thinking were at the center of it all.

Thanks to generous support from the TD Charitable Foundation, students attended at no cost and earned three college credits upon completion. With this year’s program, the Academy has now awarded nearly 1,800 free college credit hours since it launched.

This year’s first-place team was HERizon, a wearable women’s safety ring linked to an app focused on community and security. The team included students from Camden’s Promise Charter School, Clearview Regional, Kingsway Regional, North Bergen, Shawnee, Shore Regional, and Sterling High School.

A special thank you to the team who made it all possible: Dr. Michael Dominik, Jessica Vattima, and Andrew Bunoza. We’re also incredibly grateful for our student mentors Sukhmun Bains, Shaila Saini, Sammi Tamtama, Josh Perry, Nicholas Nastasi, and Megan Steckler who coached and supported each team throughout the week.

RCIE Student Funding Request

🗓 Registration Deadline: Applications accepted on a rolling basis.

The Rowan Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (RCIE) now has a student request form available for all students who are seeking assistance with their startups and professional development opportunities, like competitions and accelerator programs. The application is open now and will remain open for students to use.

🔗 Learn more & apply

2025 Innovation & Entrepreneurship Faculty Training Certificate Program

🗓 Program Dates: August 28 - 29, 2025

📝 Registration Deadline: August 17, 2025

Want to spark more creativity in your students? The RCIE Innovation & Entrepreneurship Faculty Certificate Program is back! This hands-on, two-day experience helps Rowan faculty from all disciplines bring innovation into the classroom through real, ready-to-use teaching strategies.

🔗 Learn more & apply

Rowan Roots Market

🗓 Event Date: November 12, 2025

📝 Application Deadline: August 31, 2025

Apply to be a vendor at the Rowan Roots Market, a one-day, storefront-style event where student and alumni entrepreneurs, makers, and business owners can showcase and sell their products or hands-on services directly to the Rowan community.

🔗 Learn more & apply

Mentor Mondays (Virtual Summer Edition): Book a 15-minute session!

🗓 Virtually: 10AM - 3PM

Mentor Mondays are back, and this summer, we're going virtual! Whether you're working on a startup, side hustle, or just exploring a business idea, MBA Fellow Josh Perry is available for 15-minute 1-on-1 sessions to help guide your next steps.

Josh is the co-founder of 4U Medical, a startup operating nationwide, and knows what it takes to turn an idea into a real business.

🔗 Click here to book

Karline DePass (Liberal Studies ’25) has officially launched Happy Referral, a platform that simplifies referral marketing for small businesses. By removing clunky software and leveraging the power of word-of-mouth, Happy Referral helps cut customer acquisition costs by up to 80%. Check out Happy Referral here.

The Rowan Innovation Venture Fund (RIVF) has joined forces with Garden State Venture Partners (GSVP) to expand its reach and impact. Backed by a team of experienced Rowan alumni, this partnership will help fuel high-potential startups, accelerate research commercialization, and attract more capital to New Jersey’s innovation economy. Read more here.

Rowan alum Matt Groark '03 recently appeared on The Today Show to celebrate the release of his debut cookbook, The Meat Teacher Cookbook: The Ultimate Backyard BBQ Guide for an A+ in Pitmastery. During the segment, he showcased his signature reverse-sear steak technique with Carson Daly and earned praise from Al Roker. View full video here.

Three Rowan communication students recently represented the United States at the Digital Communication Network’s “Future‑Proof: Gen Z & the Digital Economy” conference in Antalya, Turkey. The students joined a global panel on solutions journalism, highlighting how reporting through an optimistic lens can spark meaningful change and build stronger community engagement.

Rowan alum Shawn Hill will serve as coach for this summer’s AccelerateRU program. With over 20 years of experience as an investor, operator, founder, and advisor, Shawn brings deep expertise in helping startups grow and scale. The cohort kicks off this July.

Rowan alum Jacqueline DeLorenzo '22 was recently featured in NorthJersey.com for launching Molly’s Matcha - a mission-driven startup delivering premium, ceremonial-grade matcha to North Jersey. With every cup sold, the brand supports local animal charities, blending a love for quality tea with a commitment to giving back. Read more here.

Check out the Summer 2025 issue of Rowan Magazine featuring Rowan’s nationally ranked entrepreneurship program! Read it here.