Florida State University’s Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship recently launched a partnership with Student-Made, a custom online marketplace where FSU student entrepreneurs can sell and promote products and services at scale.   

Founded in 2019, Student-Made is a program made by students, run by students. The platform connects students, alumni and the local community while giving students real-life experiences and a chance to share passions, products and services with others. FSU is one of 14 campuses across the country that participates in the marketplace. 

“Student-Made establishes a community of inventors and innovators, offers exposure to creator products, and provides growth in skill sets needed later to thrive as an entrepreneur,” said Kirsten Harrison, assistant dean of Academic and Student Services. “Student-Made is a safe space for starting a business with low risk but maximum support.” 

The FSU program has 16 student entrepreneurs and 7 student managers who operate the Student-Made platform. Management staff positions are open to any FSU student who does not have a business or product, while the student creators are FSU student entrepreneurs who can sign up alone or with a group. 

“We wanted to provide an e-commerce platform where all FSU student entrepreneurs could engage with customers,” Harrison said. “A place where students can gain real-world business experiences, either as a creator or student manager providing backend logistics support.” 

All sellers have access to the Jim Moran College InNOLEvation® Center for Student Engagement which helps Florida State University students launch their own ventures, regardless of college or major. The center provides all FSU students with entrepreneurial opportunities to develop and showcase business ventures. 

“My experience has been nothing but amazing,” said Student-Made manager, Alfredo Rosing, a retail entrepreneurship major. “Being in an environment where we all push ourselves to become better has been a great experience. This program has provided me with a valuable connection and a team of managers that are willing to give their all for creators. They have inspired me to be a better leader and entrepreneur every single day.” 

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The Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship’s Blackstone LaunchPad is inviting students from across Florida State University to put their business savvy to the test in the virtual realm Thursday. 

Participants in the Venture Valley Collegiate Cup will compete for cash and prizes in the event, which is set to be held in the FSU Student Union. 

Venture Valley is a fast-paced, multi-player business simulation game in which competitors start a small business and then, by expanding and investing in new ventures, grow their virtual venture to include mini-golf, pizza parlors, a hovercraft ride-sharing service, and more. 

“The Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship is excited to be joining other universities around the country in bringing this opportunity to our students,” said Wendy Plant, director of the InNOLEvation ® Center for Student Engagement. “They can get a firsthand experience building a business while competing with their friends and other students.”  

The Singleton Foundation for Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship, which created Venture Valley, said: “Budding entrepreneurs can expect to experience the highs and lows of being their own boss but need to keep in mind that along with success comes rivals.”  

Top prize in the event is $2,000, while 2nd and 3rd place will take home $1,000 and $500, respectively. Places No. 4 to No. 8 will win $100 while 40 randomly selected participants will win $50.   

The event will be held in the Student Union mezzanine. Interested students, regardless of their major, are invited to participate.  

Students can register at the event. A complimentary lunch will be provided to participants on a first-come-first-serve basis. For more information and to register in advance, visit https://tinyurl.com/jmcventurevalley2023. 

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