Prospective Students
What is the UNH ECenter?
The Entrepreneurship Center (ECenter) at the University of New Hampshire is YOUR home for ideas, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The ECenter is open to all students from all colleges and majors. We pride ourselves on creating a safe, inclusive, and encouraging environment for students of all backgrounds and experience levels to explore creativity and problem-solving and kick-start their passion for innovation. Whether you have an interest in start-ups, entrepreneurship, or just want to develop skills that will launch you into new opportunities, the first place to start is at the ECenter.
What Programs and Opportunities Can Benefit Me as a UNH Student?
The following are just a few of our most impactful programs, but many more can be found under in the student section of this site.
Idea & Innovation Society
ECenter Challenge
Makerspace at the ECenter
ECenter Student Idea Fund
Help With Student Ideas
About the UNH ECenter
ECenter Snapshots
A little more about just a few of our programs...
Idea & Innovation Society
The Idea & Innovation Society is an exclusive group of motivated first-year students who are idea creators, innovators, or entrepreneurs! Join a community of passionate, creative individuals who are ready to make their mark at UNH and beyond, while benefiting from personalized support, mentorship, and much more. Students selected for the Idea & Innovation Society come from all UNH colleges and majors, ranging from theater and dance to business to engineering.
With bi-monthly meetings, individual mentoring, and a strong network of like-minded innovators from all across campus, the Idea & Innovation Society will kick-start your UNH career and be an invaluable resources for years to come. Learn more about the benefits of membership and how to apply below.
i2 Passport Program
The innovative and nationally recognized i2 Passport Program (the "i2" standing for ideas and innovation) rewards students for engaging in ideas and entrepreneurship activities on campus with the chance to win $25,000 in cash prizes to help pay off student loans or tuition. The goal of i2 Passport is to encourage students to start to explore and understand ideas, innovation, and entrepreneurship, and how they might incorporate aspects of what they learn into their personal and academic pursuits.
i2 Passport is open to all undergraduate students and full-time masters students from all colleges and majors. Are you you curious about innovation or entrepreneurship, but don't know where to start? Are you're looking for a resume builder to help you stand out? What to attend events that build your skillset while also paying off student loans? THIS is the best program on campus to help you become a top candidate, no matter what your area of study. What are you waiting for?
Makerspace at the ECenter
The student-run Makerspace at the ECenter is free for use by the UNH community, stocked with materials, and staffed by knowledgeable volunteer student mentors who are passionate about turning your ideas in anything you can imagine. Outfitted with multiple 3D printers, a vinyl cutter, laser engraver, CNC milling machine, industrial sewing machine, electronics soldering station, and much more, the Makerspace is a welcoming place for first-time creators and experienced makers alike!
Learn about our student mentors, what you can create in the Makerspace, hours, policies, and more!
Student Idea Fund
Do you have a great idea, but you can't afford to explore it? Let us help! The ECenter's Student Idea Fund provides individual micro-grants of up to $250 to help UNH students meet the initial business expenses of growing their idea or start up!
The ECenter supports a wide range of ideas and start-up grants, from domain names and websites, to specialized equipment, to logos and design support. Our mission is to grow student ideas and start-ups at UNH, and the Student Idea Fund was created to eliminate the financial barrier that prevents many students from pursuing their passion. Learn more or apply for a grant below
Help With Student Ideas
If we could only pick one thing we're passionate about at the UNH ECenter, it's helping students develop their ideas and grow their businesses. While all of our programs and opportunities are designed to help you become a better problem-solver, creative thinker, and innovator, our idea coaching services provide the personalized one-on-one mentoring many students need to take the next step with their idea. Whether you arrive at UNH with a business, or you get involved through one of our programs, idea coaching will launch your idea to the next level.
Did we mention our track record of coaching success? From clean sweeps of the Holloway Competition , to winning 2nd place and $40,000 at the national e-Fest, it's clear that students who grow their ideas with ECenter coaching soar higher than the competition. Learn more about coaching services and our many other resources to help you grow your idea or business!
Edward M. Friedlander '88 Memorial Entrepreneurship Scholarship
About Edward M. Friedlander '88
The Edward M. Friedlander '88 Memorial Entrepreneurship Scholarship Fund was established to pay tribute to a beloved entrepreneur. Ed was a trusted friend to all he met, always the first person to extend a hand in friendship, provide counsel, and listen. He graduated from UNH in 1988 with a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering. At UNH, he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and developed lifelong friendships he maintained, fostered, and cherished throughout his life.
Ed was a passionate Wildcat and began his career as an entrepreneur after graduation, before moving to the hospitality sector. Ed's friends created the Friedlander Memorial Scholarship to honor his legacy recruiting and retaining undergraduate students who have strong academic credentials, with a goal of enhancing UNH’s overall academic standards and reputation.
How to Apply
The scholarship will provide merit-based support to students who demonstrate entrepreneurial experience, interest, or skills. One student will be selected from applications to the Idea + Innovation Society to receive a 4 year scholarship of approximately $3,500/year. The awardee must fill out the optional question which includes a possible interview on the Society application. Awardee is required to be an active member of the Idea + Innovation Society during their first year and be an active ECenter Ebassador for their sophomore, junior, and senior years in order to continue to receive the scholarship on a semester by semester basis.
Because this is a four-year scholarship, recipients will be selected from the first-year Idea & Innovation Society in the academic years 2021/2022, 2025/2026, and 2029/2030. More information can be found on the Idea & Innovation Society page.
Questions? Please contact us at e.center@unh.edu
Visit the ECenter
Visiting UNH as a prospective student or parent? Stop by the ECenter, we'd love to show you around! The ECenter is located downtown in the UNHInnovation wing of Madbury Commons.
21 Madbury Road, Durham, NH 03824
Meet Your ECenter Peers
Read a few of our student success stories below!
Ready to start your UNH career at the ECenter?
Visit UNH Admissions to take the next step!
ECenter Quick Links
