Recently, N.C. State’s campus has seen a lot of entrepreneurial movement. The Engineering Entrepreneurship Program, Entrepreneurship Initiative and The Garage have all been part of this movement.
The Garage was the brainchild of Tom Miller, director of the EI, who continues to work with a number of faculty, staff and students. The name, “The Garage,” came from Steve Walsh, director of the EEP. EI and Red Hat sponsored the 2,000 square foot facility; EI, via the University, found space, while Red Hat supplied the necessary equipment.
The Garage is located in the basement of Research IV on Centennial Campus and is open 24/7 to those innovators that need a place to work, or just share their ideas.
Andrew Misenheimer, a graduate student in electrical engineering, said, “[The Garage] is a great community. The people are really passionate about what they are doing and are a great resource.”
Misenheimer added that The Garage also offers a number of other resources suited to bringing ideas to life, including a larger number of tools for prototyping.
Misenheimer can be frequently found in The Garage. Currently, he is working on a prototype for his company, Spark.
“Spark is meant to answer the demand motorcyclists have for instantaneous, controllable power,” Misenheimer said.
Misenheimer is working on an electric supercharger, a way of adding power to the engine by use of a belt, rather than the traditional exhaust powered turbo.
“The finished electric supercharger would be safer than the turbo, because it would be able to limit the power in dangerous situations, such as a wheelie or in a curve. This safety would then allow for a little more creative driving,” Misenheimer said.
When asked about the growing interest in entrepreneurship on campus, Misenheimer responded, “It’s really exciting. When you are looking at great ideas, the community will push the ideas. Entrepreneurs are creative, fun to brainstorm with, passionate. There is such a broad spectrum of people that The Garage is a great place to get ideas or just perspective.”
Misenheimer said that all the entrepreneurial stuff that’s happening on campus is a great opportunity to learn the application of theorem.
“Even if you don’t want to start your own business, it’s good to learn about how a company is formed and the kind of work it takes running it,” Misenheimer said.
Seth Hollar, associate director of the EEP, said that the motivation for The Garage comes from a need “for entrepreneurially-minded students to meet and collaborate with others. Additionally, we try to facilitate [such collaboration] by providing resources, space, tools and mentoring help.”
Hollar is looking forward to the future of entrepreneurship on campus, with the help of The Garage.
“The entrepreneurial movement on campus is still at its fledgling stage. With increased awareness leading to more student involvement, we can really change the culture on campus,” Hollar said. “It is a great culture of innovation now, but we have the ability to put that in high-gear. I believe The Garage will be a great catalyst for that.”
The Garage is currently in Phase 1 of two phases. Phase 2 of The Garage is set for completion by August 2014, located in the center of the Entrepreneur’s Village, which will include The Garage and residences.
Phase 2 Garage will be 20,000 square feet with work, break, conference and presentation rooms. The Garage, in both phases, is meant to promote student entrepreneurship and multidisciplinary collaboration, according to Hollar.
As students become more aware of the resources available to them, there is hope that N.C. State’s campus will become a leader in innovative entrepreneurial programs.
“A big aspect relates to people realizing that there is no limit to what they can do,” Hollar said. “Nothing is impossible.”
