Four graduate students from the UW–Madison School of Education participated in this year’s Morgridge Entrepreneurial Bootcamp.

Launched 19 years ago by John Morgridge and campus partners, the Morgridge Entrepreneurial Bootcamp is an intensive, week-long program that brings together graduate students across disciplines to explore the intersection of innovation, technology, and business. Through case studies, lectures, discussions, and hands-on team exercises, participants learn how to evaluate opportunities, understand markets, and translate ideas and research into real-world ventures.

Students are selected for the program through a competitive application process. This year, participants from the School of Education included: 

• Jalessa Bryant, a PhD student in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, who is developing an organic business and agricultural cooperative.
• James Fu, a PhD student in Quantitative Methods in the Department of Educational Psychology, who is interested in potential commercialization opportunities related to his research and training.
• Bukky Leonard, a PhD student in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, who is exploring the creation of a STEM camp for girls in grades 4-12.
• Yeyu Wang, a PhD student in Learning Sciences in the Department of Educational Psychology, who is interested in translating her research and expertise into real-world impact and commercialization opportunities.

Michael Falk, chief intellectual property and licensing officer with the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) and one of the bootcamp’s co-founders, said the strong representation from the School of Education was “impressive” and reflects the school’s growing engagement with entrepreneurship and innovation.

Learn more about the Morgridge Entrepreneurial Bootcamp.