Cottrell Entrepreneurship Leadership Center
Address:
Business and Public Management Center
50 Sharpless Street
Suite 318
West Chester, PA 19383
Director, Patricia Diggin, MBA
610-436-2024
Dr. Monica Zimmerman, CPA
Executive Director and Academic Administrator
Phone: 610-436-2014
Email: cottrellcenter@wcupa.edu
The Dr. Edwin Cottrell Entrepreneurial Leadership Center fosters entrepreneurship across West Chester University and throughout Chester County by preparing students to contribute to the entrepreneurship ecosystem, providing access to a rich network of entrepreneurship resources and enhancing the startup and growth of new ventures to develop a strong WCU entrepreneurship culture and a vibrant Chester County entrepreneurship ecosystem.
To encourage entrepreneurship among WCU students, the Cottrell Center created an innovation fund to support student entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs. The fund is designed to assist WCU student entrepreneurs and WCU aspiring entrepreneurs at the idea, feasibility, and launch stages of starting a business. The fund offers the following three award levels based upon the status of the business:
The application and award process is as follows:
Students at the graduate and undergraduate level may apply for funding. Students must be enrolled at the time the application is submitted and at the time the awards are determined. Funds must be used prior to graduation.
Funds must be used for idea development, testing, and/or the launch of the business. Appropriate expenses include market research, concept feasibility testing, purchase of inventory, business registration fees, legal fees, incorporation fees, patent/copyright/trademark costs, and other relevant costs. Students will be asked to submit receipts when requesting disbursement of award funds.
The fund will be held and managed by the WCU Foundation. The maximum distribution in a 12-month period is $5000. There is no minimum distribution required.
The selection committee consists of the Cottrell Center Director, Cottrell Center Executive Director, and a member of the WCU Foundation management team.
Initial funding will be provided by a $5000 transfer from the Cottrell Center fund to the Cottrell Center Innovation fund. Additional funding will be secured through corporate and individual gifts.