College of Business
Undergraduate Business Program

Real Business Experience

In just one year, students form teams, create a business idea, apply for funding (to a group of real business executives) - and if they receive funding, start and run their real business. The class is facilitated by a team of faculty and professional mentors who coach the businesses. The mentors have impressive professional experience and include business owners, consultants, doctors, lawyers and executives in fields such as life sciences, manufacturing, and human resources. The result is an amazing, interactive experience in which the facilitators learn as much as the students. Past student businesses have included a travel agency, screen printer, asphalt company, food importer, photo booth, advertising agency, ticket broker, calendar printer, transportation company, consulting service and more.

Each business is looked at as a process, how the students will behave and react in that business. Their grades are not determined by whether they make the largest net income or highest sales. We're looking at how the students actually run the business and what lessons they learn from that business.
 Dick Halstead
 Lecturer in Management
 Coordinator of Real Business Experience

The Zotec Business Competition

Zotec Partners (Zotec), who provide specialized billing services to the hospital-based specialty market, is a new 2012 COB REAL Partner. As part of their partnership, Zotec has created the Zotec Business Competition. All Real Business Experience (RBE) teams enrolled in the MG 202 are eligible to compete.

Awards will be given to the RBE business that captures the true entrepreneurial spirit of risk taking, innovation and success. Zotec will specifically be looking for how well each team demonstrates the Five P's: Passion, Persistence, Perspective, Predictability, and People. 

Teams will be vying for cash awards

There will be three top cash awards where teams can decide to re-invest in their business or use as a cash bonus for a job well done. Awards will be split evenly among each team member. 

  • First Place: $4,000
  • Second Place: $2,500
  • Third Place: $1,500

Teams will also be evaluated on the following:

RBE Teams will be reviewed throughout the semester not only on their presentation skills and their execution of the Five P's but also on their:

  • REAL business process management
  • Sales/marketing success
  • The hiring of quality employees
  • Growth/partnering
  • Use of technology
  • Social responsibility and
  • Business valuation. 

Spring 2012 Competition Winners

First Place: Dawg Bytes
Second Place: Social Instructables
Third Place (tie): BU Entertainment and Enviro Nuts

Read the press release.


Fall 2012 Competition Winners

First Place: Nom Nom Cart
Second Place: Butler Storage Squad
Third Place: Fitness First

 

Library Guide on Entrepreneurship and Innovation   

Click here to access the Butler Library Guide on Entrepreneurship and Innovation.