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RAISED

The Rutgers Advanced Institute for the Study of Entrepreneurship and Development

Who We Are

The Rutgers Advanced Institute for the Study of Entrepreneurship and Development (RAISED) is a research institute that combines research, teaching, and community engagement within and across our entrepreneurship projects.

Founded and Directed by Dr. Ted Baker, Professor and George F. Farris Chair in Entrepreneurship at Rutgers Business School, RAISED focuses on “everyday entrepreneurs.” These include all sorts of people who organize many different types of ventures in pursuit of their goals and the changes they want to see in the world.

Urban Solutions Lab (USL)

Spearheaded by RAISED and co-founded and co-directed by Dr. Baker and Jasmine Cordero-West, the Urban Solutions Lab (USL) is a pro-social and pro-Newark place of innovation located in the Rutgers–Newark Honors Living-Learning Community building, 48 New Street, Newark, NJ. As the go-to place for entrepreneurial activity on the RU-N campus, the USL connects Rutgers students, staff, and faculty to business, government, and civil society leaders to work on building prosocial ventures that respond to local versions of grand social challenges.

Comprised of two unique spaces:

  • The Creativity Studio, a classroom and seminar space with long-distance learning capability, a smart board, and podcast and videocast equipment
  • The Collaboration Garage, a hands-on, active workspace where students, faculty, staff, and visiting entrepreneurs can gather to collaborate and hash out ventures

The USL is an engine for generating cross-disciplinary and cross-sector collaborations that drive urban entrepreneurship, supporting and helping entrepreneurs accomplish their goals.

Be the change you want to see in the world.

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Urban Solutions Lab Prosocial Internship Program

Do GOOD as you earn money!

The USL is an innovative program that focuses on supporting matriculated students interested in prosocial entrepreneurship. The USL provides paid internships to students to work on their business ideas and ventures while still in school. The USL also connects students with entrepreneurs who specialize in their areas of entrepreneurial interest, providing an opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience running a business.

If you’re a Rutgers-Newark student interested in starting or expanding an existing business, apply for consideration for an internship to either:

  • Work on your own venture
  • Work with a local entrepreneur in your area of interest

Business idea/venture must be PROSOCIAL (doing good in the world)

Now accepting applications for summer 2024. The USL also hosts various events for students to learn more about starting and expanding a business. Click here for a list of our events for spring 2024.

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RU-Flourishing Program

RU-Flourishing is a 6-month training program that supports system-impacted nascent and early-stage entrepreneurs to start, build, and nurture small businesses in New Jersey.  RU-Flourishing provides business management training, business and financial coaching, mentoring, and networking opportunities.  RU-Flourishing also has a small seed fund to support some graduates' ventures at the conclusion of the program. 

RU-flourishing is a model that can be replicated in other urban areas.

Applications for Cohort 3, spring 2024 are closed.  Check back for applications to Cohort 4.

To learn more about RAISED and any of our programs, email us at raised@business.rutgers.edu.