Vanderbilt announced Sept. 15 that the Center for Entrepreneurship had received an anonymous $20 million donation from parents of current students. The donation will be used to strengthen the center’s role as a launchpad for students as they develop new businesses, build teams, raise capital and bring their ideas to market. Additionally, it will be used to hire new faculty, introduce new courses and create a stronger network of resources for students and faculty.
In the announcement, Chancellor Daniel Diermeier called the donation extraordinarily generous and emphasized its potential to empower students to think boldly, take risks and turn ideas into thriving companies. He added that the center’s growth will further energize Nashville’s booming startup scene while contributing to the region’s economic development.
Thomas Steenburgh, dean of the Owen Graduate School of Management, announced that the funding will allow the center to tap into Vanderbilt’s extensive alumni and parent network to provide mentorship, capital connections and venture-building expertise. The center also plans to strengthen partnerships with local incubators, accelerators and venture firms, with a special focus on high-growth sectors such as health care, real estate and the creative economy.
Baxter Webb, director of the Owen Center for Entrepreneurship, said that his experience as a Vanderbilt student motivated him to inspire the next generation of students and entrepreneurs.
“Countless Dores supported me throughout my entrepreneurial journey. I’m deeply fulfilled by the opportunity to pay it forward to the next generation of student founders,” Webb said. “I’m inspired by the entrepreneurial promise I see in today’s Vanderbilt student body and energized by the chance to marshal resources and share knowledge that make it easier for them to bring that promise to life.”
Senior Mohraeil Rezk said she is enthusiastic about the opportunities the donation will provide for students. She believes it will help students become better-prepared leaders and innovators.
“This profound investment is not simply for the institution or its programs but, for the minds, pursuits, and possibilities of students,” Rezk said. “It’s a testament of what it truly means to dare to grow. We can either play the game or change the game, and I believe this investment does both, shifting the dimensions of access and opportunity for students ready to lead and innovate.”
Junior Maya Thompson believes the donation will help create new and exciting opportunities for students.
“A $20 million gift shows real confidence in Vanderbilt students and will open doors for anyone with an idea and the drive to build it,” Thompson said.
Sophomore Emma Conley is excited to see how the donation will help the center grow.
“I think college is a transformational time for students to gather their knowledge and apply it to their passions,” Conley said. “Additional support in the Center for Entrepreneurship gives us the resources to think independently and turn our ideas into tangible projects.”
