What do we know about IEEE Entrepreneurs?

15
May

What do we know about IEEE Entrepreneurs?

By Josephine Russo

Who are IEEE entrepreneurs, and what do they want? IEEE Strategic Research just completed a survey of entrepreneurs within IEEE membership and across the IEEE Entrepreneurs’ Network to find that out. Here’s what they found out.

Who are IEEE Entrepreneurs?

The results show that the IEEE Entrepreneur Network comprises a wide range of entrepreneurs, from aspiring entrepreneurs that spend minimal time per week on entrepreneur related work, to full-time entrepreneurs running large start-ups.  Almost half (46%) of respondents described their startup model as both products and services. The other half was split between services (38%) and products (17%).  Six in ten (59%) respondents have additional paid professional positions other than their entrepreneurial work.

What do IEEE Entrepreneurs Want?

While the characteristics of network members vary widely, there is mostly consensus about what products or services would be the most valuable to members, even across different ages and countries. The products or services that the most respondents find important for IEEE to offer are mentoring from entrepreneurial leaders (68%), mentoring from investors (68%), and entrepreneurial workshops (65%). For all potential benefits that respondents found important, over 50% of respondents also would not have access through any other professional relationships/institutions. For almost all potential benefits listed (13/14), at least half of the respondents found them important. These included access to services, toolkits, and advice at a lower cost, Amazon Web Service Credits, workshops, Healthcare plans, office space, and IEEE Xplore downloads at a lower cost. The importance of benefits did not vary widely by any demographic characteristics.

To Learn More

IEEE Entrepreneurship facilitates connections that lead to successful partnerships within the entrepreneurship community.  Most startups need as much financial help as they can get. Many additional services are available to the IEEE Entrepreneurship Community.

IEEE Entrepreneurship continues to provide accessing resources with our small business selections from IEEE Member Benefits to help bring concepts to life.  The Powered by IEEE Program – an option-to-join network of like-minded rebels with a cause, which allows access to a comprehensive suite of complementary benefits that save time and money so the focus can be geared towards the big ideas. 

The IEEE Founder Office Hours Program seeks to help early and growth-stage technology entrepreneurs, within the IEEE community succeed in creating technology-driven businesses that impact humanity.  The program will connect entrepreneurs to value-add investors and mentors that can provide helpful feedback and potentially help them connect to institutional capital.  The IEEE Entrepreneurship career center bridges the gap between job seekers and employers in the engineering-driven startup community. 

Are you in the fields of technology/engineering-driven entrepreneurship? If so, become a part of the community today to start using all of the available resources!