"Interesting and inspiring to see the combination of business focus and social focus," said Steve Singh, CEO of Concur, of the 2013 UW Business Plan Competition finalists. Learn more and see the winners on the Foster Unplugged blog.
Arthur W. Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship

The Buerk Center promotes entrepreneurship to students— undergraduates to PhD candidates—across the University of Washington. Our students become leaders who challenge the status quo and change the way business is done.

We bring students from many disciplines together in the classroom and provide the framework and incentives to convert their ideas into thriving businesses. Over 70 businesses have launched as a result of our academic and practical experience programs.

Program Highlights:

The Business Plan Competition is a premier Foster School event involving more than 400 alumni and entrepreneurs as judges, mentors, supporters.
Read Business Plan Competition success stories

The UW Environmental Innovation Challenge encourages students to solve our world's pressing environmental problems with innovations that have market potential.

The Entrepreneurship Certificate offers UW graduate students real-world experience and mentoring from the Seattle entrepreneurial community.



The Top 5 Things We Learned

Claire Koerner, co-founder of nomON, reflects on the UW Business Plan Competition experience and nomON's lessons learned.

Arthur W. Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship highlights:
  • Ranked 10th by Entrepreneur, 14th by U.S. News & World Report.
  • At least 75 companies launched through the Business Plan Competition are still in business.
  • 22% of Foster School undergrads and 90% of MBAs take at least one entrepreneurship course.
Learn more.
Artie BuerkCatalyst of ventures and connector of people, Artie Buerk (BA 1958) has financed the future of entrepreneurship at UW. Learn more.