The Paul J. ’69 and Kathleen M. Severino Center for Technological Entrepreneurship is a resource for all Rensselaer students, faculty, staff, and alumni. The Center guides, mentors, and coaches innovators from idea to implementation. The Center connects inventors and founders to resources and networks within and beyond the Rensselaer community. Through one-on-one coaching, mentorship, bootcamps, entrepreneurship courses, business competitions, and a variety of programs, aspiring innovators gain access to educational resources, support systems, and important funding opportunities. The Severino Center lies at the core of RPI’s commitment to Entrepreneurship, providing a broad-based platform for entrepreneurs to make the transition from concept to company. Each year, the Severino Center fosters new generations of budding and successful entrepreneurs.
Mission
To expose all members of the RPI community to the principles and practices of entrepreneurship and to extend Rensselaer’s leadership and national prominence in technological entrepreneurship.
The Severino Center implements this mission by:
- Providing and supporting opportunities to learn fundamental principles of entrepreneurship and study historical cases of successful entrepreneurs;
- Providing opportunities to listen to, interact with, and work with experienced entrepreneurs;
- Helping members of the RPI community to find resources for commercializing their ideas and to help find and initiate businesses opportunities;
- Guiding, mentoring, and coaching new ventures;
- Connecting entrepreneurs who are starting businesses to resources and networks within and beyond the Rensselaer community.
History
Rensselaer’s Center for Technological Entrepreneurship was established in 1988. In 1999, Rensselaer alumnus Paul J. Severino ’69, a successful entrepreneur and co- founder and chairman of Bay Networks, Inc. gave a $5 million gift to endow the center, which was then named the Paul J. ’69 and Kathleen M. Severino Center for Technological Entrepreneurship in his honor.