Entrepreneurship & Small Business

Established by the City of Dayton in 1962, the HRC administers programs aimed at increasing the competitiveness of minority-owned, woman-owned, and small disadvantaged businesses including certification programs, contract compliance, affirmative action assurance, and technical assistance.

Dayton Metro Library provides programs, online and print resources, and guidance for writing business plans, market research, and connecting with resources.

Ohio Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) provide business counseling and assistance to individuals who are either starting or growing their business.

SCORE Dayton offers free business mentoring, low-cost or no-cost business training, and numerous templates and tools to help you start or grow a business.

Aviatra Accelerators provides education, resources, and connections to help women entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses.

Co-op Dayton is a non-profit organization founded in 2016 to develop cooperative businesses that meet community needs; providing resources and services to support startup cooperative businesses and cooperative transitions for existing businesses.

The Entrepreneurs’ Center is a collective group of experienced advisors, entrepreneurs-in-residence, and full-time staff that provides guidance and support for small businesses in the Dayton area.

The GWDI specializes in supporting entrepreneurs and business owners that identify as being Black, people of color, and/or women. Through partnership with several organizations, GWDI provides entrepreneurial education and strategic connections for small businesses, main street and lifestyle companies, social ventures, and youth entrepreneurs.

Launch Dayton is a collaborative of entrepreneurial resource providers that support the Dayton region’s startup and small business community through programming, networking, mentorship, and connection to resources.

As a UD entrepreneurship major, you'll learn to launch and sustain a business.

The Flyer Pitch Competition is an annual competition sponsored by UD’s L. William Crotty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and the Greater West Dayton Incubator in partnership with PNC Bank and The Entrepreneurs' Center. Now in its 18th year, Flyer Pitch awards more than $150,000 in cash prizes and more than $50,000 of in-kind prizes during the competition.

The L. William Crotty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership provides a distinctive approach to entrepreneurship education. Through the multidisciplinary entrepreneurship major, students have the opportunity to start actual microbusinesses, gain exposure to rapid growth companies, and have regular contact with successful entrepreneurs.

he minor leads students through all the stages of new venture creation, intellectual property, patent, researching funding solutions, and more.

The Office of Technology & Entrepreneurial Partnerships (OTEP) is responsible for all aspects of Intellectual Property management for the University. The OTEP can help external industry and entrepreneurs, as well as internal inventors navigate university requirements, as well as the issues with licensing technology, entrepreneurship, and new venture development.

A university program designed to help entrepreneurs at UD navigate the process of starting a small business.