ECON238: Intro to Entrepreneurship
Critical Thinking – Asking Why? Students Apply Methodology to Projects
In ECON238: Introduction to Entrepreneurship instructor Ali Alizadeh ’85 connects humanity with problem-solving. Teaching entrepreneurship at Macalester is about the process and asking questions such as “What is culture, really?” or “How do you deal with uncertainty?” And the curriculum undoubtedly also asks the question “What is a business?” While that part is essential, it is not the primary focus. The experiential learning students encounter as they create, apply, and act on their innovative ideas is critical to the course outcomes. To ‘feel’ what it is like to be an entrepreneur mirrors the reality, and it puts the classroom methodology into practice!
Alizadeh works with students to do just that. The Fall 2024 course included the following ventures from students working in groups:
- VIRA – a safe rideshare service for women
- Arome Craft – a high quality, customizable DIY perfume kit
- RU – a platform for users to offset their daily carbon emissions
- Trash Talk – a college logo branded trash receptacle with audio features
- Move Machines – adapting gym equipment to be friendly for all fitness enthusiasts.
The VIRA student group: Cat Martins ’25, Kalid Ali ’25, Lifelihle Kunene ’25, Tsion Hatte ’26, and Tanya Nangpal ’26 said the class “taught us the necessary skills, process, step-by-step in an environment where we could make mistakes without major consequences. We would not have had that opportunity in the real world.” They also reflected on their process by saying, “Poke holes through your idea, know where your weaknesses lie, and figure out how to turn them into strengths.”
According to the VIRA group ECON238 is a great student experience and the course offers very important information and [a] perspective on life that everyone should learn, whether you want to become an entrepreneur or not.
