Experiential Learning
Business Starts When Classes Begin
Imagine creating a business plan, pitching your ideas to executives, and winning a cash prize to launch and run your own successful business. Now imagine doing that your sophomore of college. The Real Business Experience class is for all students in the Lacy School of Business, and teaches them how to take educated-risks, market themselves, finance a project, and manage a business—not just from a textbook, but by actually doing it.
Students in Butler’s Lacy School of Business don’t wait for a career to start. They graduate with four years of experience.
There’s a reason we’re consistently ranked as having one of the best internship programs in the country. Butler students are required to complete two internships for academic credit. Most schools don’t even require one as a graduation requirement. Students can connect with employers through Handshake, our personal and career development tool.
We have a full-time staff that helps students find job opportunities. We work with a network of over 2,000 internship employers and are one of the top universities from which Johnson & Johnson recruits interns for its Leadership Development Programs. Students have interned with companies including BKD, Delta Faucet, Johnson & Johnson, Merrill Lynch, Northwestern Mutual, One America, PwC and Roche Diagnostics. Our location just minutes from downtown Indianapolis provides students with many internship opportunities. Learn more about our internship program.
In this class, you will develop a business idea, write a business plan, and present your work to a panel of business executives. By the end of the semester, you will have a better understanding of business concepts and learn more about yourself as a business professional. Students are placed into teams and learn how to work together through assessments like the Myers Briggs Type Indicator. During the Get Real Event, you will learn about teamwork through a series of interactive group activities. Teamwork is emphasized throughout the semester.
At the end of the semester, you will compete with the other business teams for the title of Top Dawg. Teams are evaluated by classmates and a panel of business executives. As a Top Dawg, you receive bragging rights, an automatic “A” on your final exam, and your classmates are given an optional final.
Top Dawg Winners
Fall 2020—Hairpods: a personal care company that creates dissolvable shampoo, conditioner and body wash pods that are easy to use, customizable, convenient for transportation, and eco-friendly, completely eliminating plastic bottles and wasted product.
Spring 2020—Boost Bombs: dissolvable and customizable nutrition pods that enhance your overall well-being.
Fall 2019—DORI: a prescription drug delivery system designed to make it easier to remember to take your medications.
Spring 2019—GuardDawgs: an athletic cleat protection accessory made from all-natural materials.
Fall 2018—Coffee Coolers: convenient, delicious, frozen coffee drinks that any consumer can create in their own home.
In just one year students form teams, create a business idea, apply for funding, and start and run their own business. An experienced team of faculty and professional mentors coach the businesses. Once you develop a business idea and create a business plan, you will apply to receive up to $200 in funding. This loan helps you get your business started. Team members can keep any profits or reinvest in their business.
Butler Bed Buddy
Modeled after the university’s former beloved mascot, Blue II, this bulldog pillow was designed by Butler students Brandon Shannon, Sarah Grace, Michael Mueller, and Emily Sparrow. The Butler Bed Buddy was promoted on campus, through social media and local news outlets, eventually turning $10,000 in profit.
Thringer
Sophomore students Brian Todd, Adam Pallini, Brian Straughn, and Cole Dalton noticed lots of fans had been making a 3-finger hand signal at games when a 3-point shot was made. They decided to create a foam hand replicating the signal. They created Freelance Foam, and then manufactured the Thringer. Butler bought Thringer’s for their student section. They later sold 3,000 to the NCAA for the Final Four in Indianapolis.
Our Student-Run Captive Insurance Company was born from our intent to equip students for success. Hands-on experience in the Captive Insurance Company means taking on real risks and real underwriting, while also gaining insight into starting and running a business. From creating and updating insurance financial reports to underwriting fine arts, our first phase of coverage offerings will provide an extensive baseline from which students can learn. Phases two and three will further our capabilities by expanding the business to lines of insurance that could develop into real life consumer products.
Learn more about the Student-Run Captive.
As a finance student, you’ll work in teams with a professional money manager/advisor and manage $3 million in actual endowment funds. Since the fund’s inception, students have beaten their benchmarks each year.