¡Para leer en español, haz clic aquí!
The Ratcliffe Art and Design Incubator at Florida International University offers students the opportunity to turn their business ideas into real projects. Through an intensive program that includes workshops, hands-on experience and mentorship, the center helps participants develop viable business models and prepares them for the entrepreneurial world.
“The basic idea that drives our students is creativity, but we quickly discover that they are also natural entrepreneurs, because entrepreneurship is just another form of creativity,” said Jacek J. Kolasiński, program director at Ratcliffe. “Our program helps them connect with their creative pursuits and figure out what would take them to market.”
Each year, a select group of students from diverse academic backgrounds are chosen to participate in the program. These students gain access to key resources such as legal and financial advising, seed funding opportunities and personalized coaching to strengthen their ideas and prepare them to pitch to investors.
“Although I’m neither an artist nor a designer, I have experience in both areas,” said finance mentor Neil Ramsay. “To have a good infrastructure, the economic system is very important, regardless of where you are.”
Several student-led projects have succeeded thanks to the program. A group of architecture students came up with innovative ways to use recyclable materials to create benches for parks and bus stops. In addition, a graduate from FIU’s Spanish master’s program won an Emmy for his work as a journalist.
“For many students, coming here was a revelation because before, they always focused only on their art or their music,” said Faculty Research Associate Octavio Visiedo. “Now they realize that, to make it happen, they need other skills.”
