ACU Entrepreneur Network

Shape the next generation of founders through meaningful, flexible mentorship.

Get directly involved with ACU’s most engaged entrepreneurship students through curated, high-impact mentorship opportunities:

• 1:1 Mentorship through the Entrepreneurial Journey Course
  Be matched with an upper-division student for a handful of intentional conversations across a semester. Pairings are based on industry, geography, and interests, with thematic prompts focused on your entrepreneurial journey, decision-making, and career navigation.

• Mentor Active Student Entrepreneurs
  Advise students currently building real businesses through Wildcat Ventures, Founders Club, and other venture programs. Engage with founders wrestling with product-market fit, team building, capital, go-to-market strategy, and more — as they operate live ventures with access to legal, financial, and operational resources.

Connect with fellow alumni and inspire students through story, presence, and proximity.

There are multiple ways to engage based on your location, schedule, and interests:

• Quarterly Alumni Networking Events (Nationwide)
  Join fellow ACU entrepreneurs in major markets for relaxed, high-quality relationship-building with peers who share your values and ambition.

• Entrepreneurship Speaker Series
  Visit campus to share your story with students in our weekly speaker series — highlighting not just wins, but lessons learned along the way.

• Host Student Site Visits
  Welcome students into your business as we travel to entrepreneurial hubs across the U.S., giving them firsthand exposure to entrepreneurship at scale and in action.

Fuel student innovation through capital, expertise, and opportunity.

Support ACU’s entrepreneurial ecosystem in ways that directly expand student access and outcomes:

• Judge the Springboard Pitch Competition
  Serve as a judge for ACU’s flagship pitch competition, where students compete for $25,000 in funding to launch or grow their ventures. Opportunities available both virtually and in Dallas.

• Teach or Co-Teach Specialized Courses
  Share your expertise as an adjunct or guest instructor in short courses and immersive formats — from entrepreneurial franchising and startup team building to boutique management classes that take students directly to market. We’d love to explore unique learning opportunities shaped by your experience.

• Give to Experiential Learning & Scholarships
  Support student travel to startup hubs like Nashville and Austin, cohort-based experiential programs, and scholarships for students pursuing entrepreneurship certificates and minors.
  Recurring monthly gifts, whether $10 or $100, make a tangible difference.

Engage with ACU’s most promising alumni and student entrepreneurs at the next level.

For those interested in deeper capital and growth alignment:

• ACU Founder Awards
  Celebrate and elevate top ACU-led companies through our annual recognition program spotlighting high-growth founders across industries.

• Angel Network & Co-Investment Opportunities
  Participate in curated investment opportunities alongside fellow ACU entrepreneurs, gaining early access to vetted ventures emerging from our ecosystem.

Help shape the future of entrepreneurship at ACU through strategic leadership.

For alumni seeking long-term, high-impact involvement:

• Board & Council Leadership Opportunities
  Serve on advisory bodies that guide the strategic direction of ACU entrepreneurship — influencing programming, partnerships, and long-term vision.