The Woltemade Center for Economics, Business, and Entrepreneurship at Ohio Wesleyan University offers the interdisciplinary Carol Latham Bishop Ventures (LBV) program for students seeking to become the next generation of entrepreneurial and business trailblazers.
The Latham Bishop Ventures (LBV) program is an institutional collaboration managed by The Woltemade Center to expand the scope and impact of entrepreneurial education and opportunities at OWU. Building upon the success of the Latham Entrepreneurial Scholars Program (LESP), LBV provides a comprehensive entrepreneurial ecosystem that is accessible to all interested OWU students. The program fosters and grows upon the entrepreneurial culture on campus, attracts and retains entrepreneurially minded students, and creates a community of students passionate about entrepreneurship and innovation.
LBV offers a range of programming and resources to support students at different stages of their entrepreneurial journey. Through seminars, hands-on workshops, and mentorship, students have the opportunity to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and deepen their understanding of entrepreneurship. LBV provides experiential learning opportunities, allowing students to turn their ideas into business plans, participate in Pitch OWU, and receive mentorship from OWU alumni entrepreneurs. Additionally, LBV offers financial support and individual mentoring to vetted student business plans, enabling them to launch and grow their ventures.
LBV empowers OWU students to embark on a transformative journey of entrepreneurship supported by a rich array of resources and opportunities. It serves as an investment in students, equipping them with the necessary tools, funding, and mentorship to bring their entrepreneurial visions to life. Through LBV, students will explore and develop their ideas, participate in national competitions, and contribute to OWU's thriving entrepreneurial culture. By leveraging faculty expertise, entrepreneurial curriculum, and the distinctive OWU Connection experience, LBV creates an environment where students can unleash their entrepreneurial potential and turn their dreams into tangible achievements.
The Latham Bishop Ventures program was created with a gift of time, talent, and treasure from OWU alumna Carol Latham, Class of 1961. A chemistry major at Ohio Wesleyan, Latham is the retired founder, president, and CEO of Thermagon, Inc., a custom manufacturer of high-performance heat-transfer materials for electronic components. Under her leadership, Thermagon grew to sales of $18 million annually worldwide.
LBV Ecosystem
Mindset: Provide opportunities for students to learn about entrepreneurship through seminars and hands-on workshops.
Knowledge: Provide learning options for students to go deeper in their understanding of entrepreneurship.
Experience: Opportunities for students to develop ideas into business plans, present those plans in OWU and national competitions, be mentored by OWU alumni entrepreneurs, be immersed in the entrepreneurial culture, and intern with entrepreneurs.
Launch and Mentorship: Provide financial support and individual mentoring to vetted student business plans.
September
Student Made: Start Something
Thursday, September 10th
R.W. Corns Building, Room 312
12 PM to 1 PM — RSVP — Lunch Provided
Wanna start something?
Yeah!
Then start a side hustle with Student Made.
Learn how Student Made can help turn your idea, talent, or passion into a real business. This introductory workshop will explore what it means to be an entrepreneur and how students can take the first step toward launching their own side hustle.
October
How to Start a Side Hustle in Ohio
Thursday, October 15th
R.W. Corns Building, Room 312
12 PM to 1 PM — RSVP — Lunch Provided
Think starting a business is complicated? Think again.
Learn the basics of setting up a side hustle in Ohio, including choosing a business structure, registering for sales tax, obtaining an EIN, and understanding the steps involved in getting started. This practical workshop is designed to take some of the mystery out of entrepreneurship and help students feel confident taking their idea from concept to business.
November
Mastering the Pitch: Part 1
Thursday, November 12th
R.W. Corns Building, Room 312
12 PM to 1 PM — RSVP — Lunch Provided
It's not just what you say. It's how you say it.
Learn how body position, gestures, movement, and voice control can transform the way you present. This highly interactive workshop focuses on the fundamentals of effective presentation skills, whether you're delivering a business pitch, presenting in class, or speaking in front of an audience.
Entrepreneurship Course Offerings:
| BUS | 260 | Social Entrepreneurship |
| BUS | 110 | Entrepreneurial Mindset |
| BUS | 425 | Entrepreneurship |
Interested in Mentorship?
Please see our extensive list of Alumni Partners who are eager to help students and fellow Alumni with their career and professional goals. The individuals below are happy to be contacted for 1:1 conversations, presentation invitations, and other engagements. Please click on their profiles to learn more and to see their contact details. We encourage students, faculty, Alumni, and staff to engage with these Alumni and form valuable OWU Connections.
Entrepreneurship Alumni Mentors Available
Each OWU student has the opportunity to experience a life-changing OWU Connection experience. These signature experiences marry curriculum and hands-on activity are what makes OWU unique. LBV provides the opportunity to students to take a passion for entrepreneurship, coupled with faculty and entrepreneurial expertise and curriculum, and make their dreams, a reality.
For more information, please contact Faculty Coordinator Cliff Hurst.