Careers in Entrepreneurship
Employment outlook and opportunities
Entrepreneurship is an option for students interested in creating new ventures or affecting disruptive change in existing companies.
Entrepreneurial activity drives innovation, productivity and economic growth, but an unpredictable business climate and unproven products can result in significant challenges. Recent years have seen increasing numbers of Canadians choosing to become entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurship graduates have a variety of opportunities available to them. You could
- Work as an independent entrepreneur and start a new venture
- Work for early-stage businesses that need help in a rapid growth phase
- Become an intrapreneur and innovator in a larger organization
The Entrepreneurship option program is very applied and experiential. Building on solid conceptual foundations, you will study:
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In New Venture Design (COMM 466), the capstone course, students from the UBC Sauder School of Business, Applied Science and other faculties work in interdisciplinary teams to design a venture, build a prototype and develop the business model required to raise funding and possibly launch the venture.
Outside of the classroom, you have the opportunity to get involved with related student-run clubs and events like:
Building an entrepreneurship career at UBC
UBC's entrepreneurship and venture building team at Innovation UBC supports researchers to drive change beyond academia and transform their groundbreaking ideas into real-world impacts through company creation. We are dedicated to fostering entrepreneurial-skills development and venture-building capacity among UBC researchers, in order to help them transform their innovations into successful startup companies. Having supported nearly 800 ventures from UBC students, staff, faculty members, our team utilizes a methodology rooted in venture-centric thinking. Whether you’re just beginning to explore entrepreneurship, looking to take the next step with your idea, or ready to accelerate your venture, we offer a comprehensive suite of programs, workshops, mentorship and physical spaces to help you launch your idea toward impact.
How much do entrepreneurs make?
"Earnings vary widely: entrepreneurs may make as little as $20,000 a year or less, and they may actually lose money if the business is poor. However, earnings can increase with an established business. Entrepreneurs with successful small businesses may earn $30,000-$75,000 annually, while the very successful can earn $100,000+ a year. Entrepreneurs also receive compensation in the form of equity."
Curious if a climate-focused career is right for you?
You don’t have to be a STEM grad to have a career focused on tackling climate change. Explore the Working in Climate & Environmental Impact guide to learn about different career opportunities in this emerging sector.
Companies started by UBC Sauder grads
What can I read to learn more?
Looking for more information? Check out:
What can I join?
To make connections, build your network, and learn more about this profession, consider joining an association. Options include:
Thinking about doing a Business Analytics concentration?
Read the Working in Business Analytics guide on COOL to explore different business analytics opportunities, salary info & more!