Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship

06/24/2026

Make your difference now, not "sometime in the future."

When you join the Impact Innovation Cohort at Drexel, you aren't just talking about global problems, you’re actively building the solutions.

Over six months of targeted mentorship, you’ll get the resources, faculty guidance, and strategic support you need to design, launch, and scale your very own sustainable venture.

Don't wait for permission to change the world. Build the future you want to see, starting today.

Apply today: https://www.lebow.drexel.edu/faculty-research/schools/close-school-entrepreneurship/programming/impact-innovation-hub

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06/18/2026

Dragon Launch Philly runs on collaborative spirit in Phase 2 of the program 🐉

To truly support our emerging entrepreneurs, the Close School relies heavily on a powerful partner network, including dedicated volunteers from SCORE. As a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration, SCORE pairs founders with seasoned executives to help small businesses launch, grow, and succeed.

The best part? Many of the incredible SCORE mentors volunteering their time this summer are Drexel University alumni. By returning to campus to invest their hard-earned expertise in the next generation, these alumni exemplify what it means to drive the economic prosperity of our wider Philadelphia community.

This spirit of community-driven innovation is central to Dragon Launch Philly. Through this collaborative network of alumni and SCORE mentors, the Close School ensures that local entrepreneurs possess all the necessary tools to make a lasting impact well beyond the classroom.

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06/12/2026

The world's biggest soccer celebration has arrived in Philly! ⚽️🔥

In case you haven’t heard, Drexel’s very own Saphead Studios is bringing you PhillyBall to celebrate this historic summer of sports hosted right in our city. These game design majors wanted to capture the electric energy of our sports-crazed community, so they created a high-energy, multiplayer game that you can experience firsthand!

By converting vintage arcade cabinets and installing them in local sports hubs, they’ve taken their passion for engineering and their entrepreneurial skills to introduce Saphead Studios to a massive global stage.

Want to join the action? You can play the game right now! Step up to one of the local cabinets or download the game here to experience it at home: https://store.steampowered.com/app/4623920/Philly_Ball/

Check out the full story behind how these student-entrepreneurs brought PhillyBall from the classroom incubator to the local sports scene: https://www.lebow.drexel.edu/news/goal-drexels-saphead-studios-brings-phillyball-local-sports-bars

Drexel’s Saphead Studios is bringing its new game, “PhillyBall,” to local sports bars just in time for the biggest soccer matches of the summer.

06/11/2026

Innovation is a journey of constant iteration, and our Impact Innovation Hub cohorts are proving exactly what is possible with the right support system. We are proud to celebrate the wrap-up of our latest Impact Innovation Hub (IIH) cohort!

We’ve been on the ground with these student founders since their earliest brainstorming sessions, and the transition from "idea" to "application" has been remarkable.
The next success story we feature could be yours.

Read more about this cohort and its accomplishments: https://startersreview.com/iih-progress-report-from-ideation-to-impact/

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Non-invasive MedTech, AI sustainability, and proactive personal safety—see how our Impact Innovation Hub (IIH) alumni are scaling their ventures.

06/10/2026

All of the dedication, late-night strategy sessions and relentless innovation have finally paid off. Today, we honor the grit, creativity and determination of our Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship 2026 graduates!

As you step out of the classroom and into the world, you take with you the skills, vision and adaptability required to shape the future of business. Whether you are launching a new venture, driving innovation within an established industry or championing social change, we have no doubt that your future contributions will be profound.

You arrived with ideas, and today you leave as founders, innovators and leaders prepared to make a tangible difference in the world.

To the Class of 2026: Thank you for inspiring our faculty, staff and peers with your passion. Congratulations on this remarkable milestone. We look forward to watching you redefine what is possible.

06/03/2026

44 local entrepreneurs are now closer than ever to long-term economic self-sufficiency through entrepreneurship thanks to the Dragon Launch Philly program! 🐉

This initiative represents more than just business training; it showcases the Close School’s deep ties to the local entrepreneurial ecosystem and Drexel’s unwavering commitment to bettering the Philadelphia community. By opening our doors and resources to local founders, we are ensuring that the city’s economic future is built from the ground up.

Support from The Coca-Cola Company in North America to UPBI led to the initiative’s expansion to the Close School and the establishment of Dragon Launch Philly. Inspired by the upcoming World Cup 26, Coca-Cola provided additional support to UPBI to expand into tournament host cities, helping make this impactful program possible.

This valuable partnership elevates Philadelphia’s wider community as we prepare to welcome fans from around the world. Thank you to our partners and the incredible Dragon Launch Philly participants for making this a resounding success!

Read more here: https://www.lebow.drexel.edu/news/building-phillys-future-dragon-launch-philly-completes-phase-one

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06/01/2026

As Philadelphia prepares to host matches for the global tournament in 2026, Saphead Studios is bringing its new game to the streets! ⚽️🎮

By refurbishing classic arcade cabinets, these Drexel student-developers are making "PhillyBall" accessible to fans all over the city this summer. From food-inspired power-ups to maps featuring iconic Philly spots, they’re proving that the best way to celebrate our city is through unique innovation and some friendly competition!

Check out our latest feature on how Drexel students are building the future of gaming here in Philly: https://www.lebow.drexel.edu/news/goal-drexels-saphead-studios-brings-phillyball-local-sports-bars

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05/28/2026

Our inaugural Investor-in-Residence program is in full swing and we want to ensure you’re taking advantage of the direct line this creates to the venture capital world!

Empactful Capital isn’t just a name on the door; they are a leading healthcare investment firm bringing real expertise in value-based care and behavioral health straight to the Drexel community.

Don’t miss the chance to connect with Sal De Trane, Megan Snyder, and Eleni Kytzidis for any questions or curiosities you might have. Reach out to book a session!

We’re excited to continue seeing our students and founders leverage this partnership to scale their ventures. Don't miss your chance to tap into this valuable resource, only available here at Drexel!

Drexel University LeBow College of Business - Drexel University

05/22/2026

We’re bridging Philly innovation and global empowerment through HER Lab 🐉

Following a successful pilot, Drexel University’s Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship has once again partnered with the Global Give Back Circle to deliver an intensive Entrepreneurship and Business Case Pitching Course. This year, the program doubled its impact, equipping 100 rural young women (grown from 50 in the pilot) at HER Lab in West Pokot, Kenya, with the tools to break through systemic economic and gender barriers.

Guided by Close School Professor Ozlem Gonul, PhD, the initiative brought the "Drexel Blueprint" to life through a tailored curriculum taught by two incredible Drexel representatives: third-year economics major Chloe Mshana and recent Close School alumna Lasya Tarini. From mastering the Business Model Canvas to integrating sustainable Circular Economy principles, these emerging founders spent 13 weeks transforming raw business concepts into market-ready ventures.

The program culminated in a high-stakes pitch competition where local, women-owned startups took center stage.

As Linda Latsko Lockhart, Founder and CEO of Global Give Back Circle, shared: “Learning how to pitch your business ideas with confidence and get financial backing does not come naturally. This partnership gives them the edge.”

At the Close School, we believe entrepreneurship is a powerful vehicle for change. By teaching these resilient young women how to pitch with clarity and conviction, we aren't just supporting individual businesses; we are investing in leaders who will lift their communities as they rise.

Read the full feature here: https://www.lebow.drexel.edu/news/her-lab-returns-empowering-female-entrepreneurship-kenya

Drexel's Close School taught entrepreneurship to 100 women at Kenya's HER Lab, an economic empowerment program through Global Give Back Circle.

05/21/2026

What happens when founder stress begins to ripple through an entire organization?

In his article for Psychology Today, Close School Associate Dean for Academic Partnerships and Assistant Teaching Professor Damian Salas reveals why employees often recognize the signs of executive burnout before the founders themselves do. He breaks down why proactively supporting founder mental health isn't just about personal wellness; it's a critical business infrastructure required for long-term organizational success.

Read the full article here: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/pioneering-perspectives-on-workplace-mental-health/202511/how-employees-detect-founder-burnout

Your team knows you're struggling before you do. They're watching your patterns—and your best people may already be planning their exit.