Catalyst Entrepreneur Cohort


Position Overview

The mission of the University of Kansas School of Business is to advance and impart business knowledge while preparing students to be leaders who positively contribute to business and society.

The Catalyst (a program of the KU School of Business Management and Entrepreneurship Area) is an opportunity designed for students who have their own venture or are seeking to start a new venture and desire mentoring and other support.

Applicants accepted to The Catalyst program will be paid to work up to five hours a week during the semester and will gain valuable insight as they seek to advance their concepts. Participants in The Catalyst can expect their networks to expand given the nature of the relationships they will be expected to build.

Before applying, please consider that the expectations of Catalyst members are to represent the KU School of Business and its Management and Entrepreneurship Area well. Being respectful of mentor’s time and being responsive to communications is a must.

Job Description

Think of The Catalyst as a paid opportunity to work on your venture/venture idea with others. If you are accepted into the program, we are going to pay you to work (and learn) on your own idea, in return we will ask you to demonstrate and communicate the progress you’ve made because of your time in The Catalyst. Learning is the goal, and the learning needs to be able to be demonstrated.

20% Weekly Meetings
  • Meet weekly with your assigned cohort to check in on venture progress.
  • Provide feedback for the Catalyst to advance the program.
80% Independent Work
  • Be prepared for weekly meetings by doing assigned readings/research/etc.
  • Use research and feedback to further develop your venture or venture idea.

Required Qualifications

  1. Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite including, PowerPoint, Excel and Word.
  2. Must have an idea for a new venture – the venture itself does not have to be operating yet, but it could be.
  3. Must be available to attend regularly scheduled cohort meetings as listed above.
  4. Demonstrated coachability, time management, and self-leadership.
  5. During the semester term of the appointment, the student hourly must be enrolled in no fewer than 6 credit hours. For summer periods the student hourly must:
    1. have been enrolled in no less than 6 hours in the past spring semester or
    2. be pre-enrolled in the upcoming fall semester in no less than 6 hours or
    3. be enrolled in summer session or
    4. be admitted to study in the upcoming fall semester. Student Hourlies may be for undergraduate or graduate students. (Exceptions granted for GRA/GTA/GA appointments DO NOT apply to Student Hourly appointments).

Preferred Qualifications

  1. Curious.
  2. Resilient.
  3. Ability to follow through with ideas to completion.
  4. Interested in meeting new people and establishing new contacts.
  5. Opportunistic.

Additional Candidate Instructions

Submit online application, resume, and cover letter outlining your business venture or venture idea and how Catalyst can help you.

Contact Information to Applicants

Michaela Edwards
edwardsm@ku.edu

Advertised Salary Range

Minimum $10.25/hour

Work Schedule

Flexible M-F 8am to 5pm. Approximately 3-5 hours weekly.

Anticipated Start Date

Saturday February 15, 2025

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Posting Information

  • Posting ID:  29182BR
  • Department:  Business
  • Primary Campus:  University of Kansas Lawrence Campus
  • Reg/Temp:  Temporary
  • Employee Class:  S-Student

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