The World's Biggest ideas start locally.
So does entrepreneurship.
IEEE Entrepreneurship is inviting Sections, Young Professionals, Students, and Volunteers worldwide to create Entrepreneurship Local Groups – empowering innovators, founders, and future entrepreneurs in their local communities.
This is where IEEE meets the local startup ecosystem.
what is an IEEE Entrepreneurship Local Group?
A Section-based IEEE unit that acts as a local hub for innovation, collaboration, and entrepreneurial learning that is formally recognized within IEEE, but is intentionally easy to launch and manage with low overhead and high impact. However, they are note separate IEEE Geographic Units and must not duplicate existing Sections, Chapters, or Affinity Groups.
Why Create One?
Creating an Entrepreneurship Local Group allows you to:
1. Empower local innovators and founders
2. Activate entrepreneurship within your section
3. Engage Young Professionals, Students, and WIE communities
4. Collaborate with startups accelerators, incubators, and industry
5. Host impactful local events with global IEEE backing
6. Become part of IEEE Entrepreneurship’s global network
You are not acting alone – you are joining a global movement.
Who Can Start One?
Entrepreneurship Local Groups can be initiated by:
– IEEE Sections
– Young Professionals Affinity Groups
– Graduate Student Leaders and Ambassadors
– IEEE volunteers passionate about innovation and startups
To be formally established, a Local Group must include:
– At least two (2) IEEE members in good standing
– At least one Voting Member of IEEE
The Local Group must be established through a petition to the parent Section (or Region if no Section exists
What Can They Do?
Examples of what Entrepreneurship Local Groups can organize include, but is not limited to:
– Startup & entrepreneurship meetups
– Pitch competitions and demo days
– Founder talks and mentorship sessions
– Innovation workshops and hackathons
– Collaborations with accelerators and incubators
– Industry–academia innovation roundtables
What Must they do?
Groups must:
– Hold at least two meetings per year
– Report meetings using IEEE electronic reporting tools (Vtools)
– Submit annual leadership updates
Activities must support IEEE’s mission and comply with IEEE policies
Support You'll Receive
IEEE Entrepreneurship will support Local Groups with:
– Best practices and activity examples
– Visibility through regional and global IEEE channels
– Integration with the IEEE Entrepreneurship Ambassadors Program
– Opportunities for collaboration across regions
– Connection to the global IEEE Entrepreneurship network
You’re building locally — with global backing.
Want $500 USD?
To incentivize the creation of entrepreneurship local groups worldwide, IEEE Entrepreneurship is offering $500 USD to the first 15 entrepreneurship local groups formally formed and officially approved by their IEEE Sections.
This funding is designed to help new Local Groups kick off activities quickly and effectively.
be among the first -
Receive $500 USD for your local group
The first 15 entrepreneurship local groups to be formed and approved by their IEEE Section will receive this funding to help kick off activities quickly and effectively.
- Eligibility Requirements:
- Officially approved by their IEEE Section or Region
- Meets membership requirements*
- Submission of a 12-month activity plan
- Must include a use of funds budget and leadership info
- Commitment to hold a least two meetings per year
* A Local Group may be started by a minimum of two IEEE members who will act as the initial organizers and leaders of the group, both of whom are members of the Section involved. As outlined in the MGA Operations manual 9.12, at least one of these leaders must be a voting member (Graduate Student Member or higher grade). All officers must be IEEE members.
FAQs
Please read this information to better understand how eligible local group funding is allocated and disbursed, as well as spending and reporting rules.
Funding will be awarded:
- First-approved, first-qualified basis
Funding will be granted in the order that Local Groups receive official Section/Region approval and submit complete, compliant seed funding applications - Limited to the first 15 fully compliant Local Groups
Only the first fifteen (15) Local Groups that meet all eligibility, governance, and reporting requirements will receive funding. - Subject to review and approval of the proposed activity plan and budget
Each applicant must submit a clear 12-month activity plan and detailed budget. Funding will be approved only if the proposal demonstrates alignment with IEEE and IEEE Entrepreneurship objectives, feasibility, and responsible financial planning. - Regional Representation Guarantee
To ensure global equity and balanced geographic growth, IEEE Entrepreneurship will guarantee that at least one (1) Local Group per IEEE Region will receive seed funding, provided that a compliant and qualified application is submitted from that Region within the funding cycle.
This funding may be used for:
- Event organization costs
- Workshop materials
- Pitch competition logistics
- Speaker honoraria (if compliant with IEEE policies)
- Marketing and outreach materials
- Platform tools for hybrid/virtual events
Funds may NOT be used for:
- Personal compensation
- Individual travel not tied to approved activities
- Creating separate bank accounts (Local Groups may not maintain individual bank accounts)
- Activities outside IEEE mission
All financial management must be handled through the parent Section or Region.
Funds will be managed through the parent Section.
- 70% upon approval
- 30% upon submission of first activity report
Within 60 days of funded activity, groups must submit:
- Event summary
- Attendance metrics
- Financial expense report
- Impact statement
- Photos or promotional materials
Local Groups are reviewed annually for activity and compliance.
Failure to meet reporting and activity requirements may result in:
- Ineligibility for future funding
- Review for potential dissolution
Start an IEEE Entrepreneurship Local Group Today
getting Started is easy!
1
Talk to your IEEE Section Leadership
2
Identify 2-3 committed volunteers
Questions?
Contact us any time at entrepreneurship@ieee.org
or click below for a Contact Us form