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Discovering Entrepreneurship at UW: Turning Ideas into Impact

In the Loop Newsletter

November 5, 2025

Dear Huskies!

Whether you’re studying computer science, public policy, design, or molecular biology, you’ve probably heard the word entrepreneurship around campus. Maybe you’ve wondered whether starting something of your own could be part of your career journey—or dismissed it as something only business majors do, or something that requires a million-dollar idea and venture capital connections.

On October 23, CIRCLE partnered with the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship to host an information session for international graduate students on exploring entrepreneurship, getting started, and making the most of available resources. In this newsletter, we want to highlight valuable tips and resources from the session that you can put into action. We explore entrepreneurship as a learnable skillset, not a personality type. Entrepreneurship is about identifying problems worth solving, talking to the people who experience those problems, and building practical solutions. These are valuable skills whether you dream of launching your own company or want to bring a creative, problem-oriented mindset to any organization.

What Does It Take to be an Entrepreneur?

You do not need a polished business plan or a breakthrough invention to get started—just curiosity and actions. The most successful founders begin by identifying potential users and having lots of generative conversations before writing a single line of code or drafting a prototype.

You can test your ideas quickly and inexpensively: try a simple landing page, a Figma mockup, or a pilot with just a few participants. The first lesson in entrepreneurship is learning to define a problem clearly, propose a credible solution, and gather feedback from users.

Great ventures are almost always cross-disciplinary. Building a small, balanced team with diverse expertise—say, an engineer who understands the technology, a designer who can make it usable, and someone who knows the industry or customer base—is often your first real entrepreneurial challenge.

Entrepreneurship Resources at the UW

Whether you’re just curious or ready to launch, the Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship at the UW offers opportunities to engage at your own pace. Here’s where to start:

  • Getting started: Subscribe to the Buerk Center’s newsletter and explore StartupTree, the central hub for events, deadlines, and team matching. Attending Team Tuesdays, weekly drop-in sessions where you can meet potential collaborators, practice pitches, or learn what’s happening in the UW startup ecosystem. Check out WE-Lead, a program supporting the advancement of women as innovators—open to students of all majors, genders, and backgrounds.
  • Building skills: Take advantage of project-based electives that help you develop practical business and innovation skills. The Technology Entrepreneurship Certificate offers structured training and an collaboration opportunities with peers invested in innovation—all without extra tuition.
  • Testing your idea: Enter one of three annual competitions—Health Innovation Challenge, Environmental Innovation Challenge, or Dempsey Startup Competition. These offer feedback, visibility, and over $100,000 in prize money (no equity taken). No market-ready prototype required—what matters most is a clear problem, a thoughtful solution, and early evidence from users.
  • Going further: Ready to take your ideas to the next level? The Buerk Incubator (launching in Winter 2026) provides mentorship, accountability, community, and a coworking space for validation and pilot testing. The Accelerator is a six-month intensive program for teams ready to scale, pairing with mentors, investors, and legal experts.

A Note for International Students

International students are an important part of the UW’s entrepreneurship community. The Buerk Center regularly works with international founders and understands employment timelines and work authorization considerations. They can help you develop a plan that aligns with your visa status and professional goals. For specific work authorization questions, consult both Buerk advisors and International Student Services (ISS)—and know that entrepreneurship pathways are always open to you.

Ready to Take the First Step?

If this sparks your curiosity, you can start this week by doing one of the following:

Entrepreneurship isn’t about having all the answers—it is about taking the first step to explore what’s possible.

As always, CIRCLE is here to advocate for you, engage with you, and support you throughout your UW journey. Feel free to visit us in 250 Schmitz Hall, Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. during office hours. Drop in to say hello or chat with a friend—we’d love to see you!

Sincerely,

CIRCLE Team