The Entrepreneurial Greenhouse Program helps students to prepare their businesses for investment by providing funding for prelaunch expenses, access to experts in key fields and opportunities to present business concepts to professional investors. In its inaugural year, more than half of the ventures incubated in the Greenhouse were launched by graduation. During their participation in the program, students consult with seed funders to refine their presentations. Sponsors — which include venture capital firms, Internet incubators, law firms, technology providers and accounting and consulting firms — provide financial support, pro bono services and advice. The Greenhouse provides seed funders with the opportunity to invest in student projects and also helps many students prepare for application to the Eugene Lang Entrepreneurial Initiative Fund. Additional Description: A highly selective screening process determines entrance into this program. To apply, students submit a complete business plan and make a formal presentation to the Greenhouse Selection Committee in December.

Brendan Burns

Adjunct Associate Professor of Business

Brendan Burns has spent over 20 years at leading technology, graphic arts and financial institutions including Culture.tech, 1000|Museums, Moody’s Investors Service, Salomon Brothers, and AdOne, an Internet software pioneer. For the past 10 years Burns has managed consulting, advisory and strategic growth assignments under Stepping Stone Capital Partners and Stepstone Art Resources.

Since 2004, Burns has been a professor and senior lecturer...

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Dave Lerner

Adjunct Associate Professor of Business

Dave was appointed Director of Entrepreneurship at Columbia University in 2013. In his five years with Columbia Entrepreneurship he’s helped launch the Columbia Startup Lab, the Columbia Design Studio, Startup Law Studio and a host of new tech programs and curricula throughout the university’s many schools. He...

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