4 ms·

"In fact there are only two things universities need to change to be perfect at preparing founders: they need to make students feel that starting a startup is s

by beklein 23d ago

"In fact there are only two things universities need to change to be perfect at preparing founders: they need to make students feel that starting a startup is something they can do, and they need to encourage them to work on their own projects." I'd argue that both of these would be highly beneficial for all kinds of students, founders and non-founders alike. Starting a startup could be generalized for all students to having a dream or goal, taking ownership of it, and making it happen. A startup is just one possible path, pg is probably too specific here, I would agree. Having more free time to work on my own projects is probably the freedom I missed most at university. I think learning to choose what to work on and making something happen would benefit future workers, teachers, doctors, and engineers just as much as entrepreneurs. It's a trade-off in terms of time and other resources, since parts of the existing curriculum would have to fade away. But I think it's a good starting point for change and a good direction to move in.

TheOtherHobbes 22d ago
Most engineering classes include projects, but they're presented as homework and/or "something you can show an employer." And "building things" isn't enough. Many projects have zero commercial potential. I don't think PG is wrong, but I also don't think he's right. I think if universities wanted to do something with startup culture they could filter the more motivated and talented students into incubators of their own - not through some kind of overly academic post-grad degree, but literally a startup school where the university provides resources, subsistence, and access to funding, in return for a share of project equity. The "teaching" would be more about finding customers and handling finances and less about managerial MBA nonsense. The big win for students would be "You don't have to worry about food, rent, or basic running costs." Post-grad research overlaps with this, but is more fundamental. The emphasis here would be more on projects with immediate income potential, not on technology that could be commercialised in the future, possibly. The problem is academic culture is very different to startup culture, so the startup school would need a much looser relationship to its parent than a typical academic department.

by beklein 23d ago

TheOtherHobbes 22d ago

Most engineering classes include projects, but they're presented as homework and/or "something you can show an employer." And "building things" isn't enough. Many projects have zero commercial potential. I don't think PG is wrong, but I also don't think he's right. I think if universities wanted to do something with startup culture they could filter the more motivated and talented students into incubators of their own - not through some kind of overly academic post-grad degree, but literally a startup school where the university provides resources, subsistence, and access to funding, in return for a share of project equity. The "teaching" would be more about finding customers and handling finances and less about managerial MBA nonsense. The big win for students would be "You don't have to worry about food, rent, or basic running costs." Post-grad research overlaps with this, but is more fundamental. The emphasis here would be more on projects with immediate income potential, not on technology that could be commercialised in the future, possibly. The problem is academic culture is very different to startup culture, so the startup school would need a much looser relationship to its parent than a typical academic department.