The primary goal of the Program in Innovation and Entrepreneurship (PRIE) is to provide participants exposure to both the fundamentals of business and the practical aspects of identifying, evaluating, and moving innovative ideas forward.

The program is taught by renowned Stanford Graduate School of Business faculty and consists of balanced classes in core business skills (i.e. marketing, operations, strategy, accounting, finance, and economics) and functional skills (i.e. product evaluation and design, negotiation, intellectual property law, teamwork, public speaking, leadership and pitching ideas).

Building Professional Networks

A principal component of the program is the relationships that are fostered with Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, executives, and venture capitalists. The program draws from the economic diversity of the region to explore different industries and business models ranging from early start-ups to large firms. Guest speakers from leading companies are invited to the program and often become mentors and valuable resources for participants.

The program uniquely draws diverse participants from across Stanford and Universities around the world. In addition to the strong level of interaction that exists in every academic class, participants extensively work together on group projects and build the foundation for strong relationships.  Learning from each other is a natural benefit of the program.

As part of the program, diverse teams of students will develop a plan for commercializing a new product or service for an existing organization or a new venture.  Teams will receive guidance from expert industry panels, and will have numerous interactions with mentors and business executives whose expertise specifically matches the team’s project.  The final business plans will be presented to and evaluated by prominent Silicon Valley executives and corporate, venture, and angel investors.