Learn about the many programs, events, and resources available to students and alumni interested in entrepreneurship, business, and freelancing!

Entrepreneurship is an inherent part of the RISD experience. In fact, a majority of RISD alumni will either freelance or run their own business at some point in their career. The Career Center can connect students and alumni from all disciplines with multiple kinds of support to take their ideas to the next level. Check out some of the key RISD resources below to start forging an entrepreneurial path of your own!

RISD Art Of Business Series

This annual series provides students and alumni with the knowledge and tools they need to be successful in starting their own creative practice.

Art of Business Conference
RISD Art of Business Series

Explore the website for the series to learn about the featured topics and speakers.

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Entrepreneurial Opportunities for Students

Explore these exciting ways to connect to the entrepreneurial ecosystem!

HBS Core
Harvard Business School Core Program

RISD’s collaboration with Harvard's HBS CORe Program will provide you with the fundamentals of business from Harvard's Business School. You can be eligible for scholarship support from Harvard if you're also currently receiving financial aid from RISD.

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RISD E’Ship

RISD’s first and only student club devoted to entrepreneurship, by art and design. Learn about their events and programs at their website, including a student-run accelerator program for students with ideas for a venture.

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blab event
Brown/RISD Summer B-Lab

The B-Lab is an eight-week paid summer experiential, immersive program in entrepreneurial leadership open to Brown and RISD students.

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Better World by Design Conference

An annual student-led innovation conference at Brown University & RISD that celebrates interdisciplinary collaboration between designers, educators, & entrepreneurs.

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Starting a Business

Launching a new venture can be daunting, so we have provided advice and resources to make the process less complex and connect you with guidance that will help you succeed.

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Key Steps To Start a Business

Learn more about the steps you need to take to launch a business.

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Freelancing

For those interested in having a freelance practice as part of their career, we have the advice and resources you need to be successful.

freelancers in NYC
How To Be a Successful Freelancer

Freelancers should be prepared to learn basic business skills as well as commit to marketing their abilities. Explore some of the key things to consider when freelancing, along with some helpful resources you can use.

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Business and Finance Education

RISD has partnered with Creative Study to provide students free access to educational videos to bolster their business knowledge.

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Creative Study

Watch videos for creatives, by creatives that will help you better understand topics such as budgeting, taxes, art world economics, intellectual property, business entities, and more.

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Work at a Startup

These programs provide paid opportunities for students to work at top startups.

A group photo of KPCB Design Fellows
KP Fellowship

Over the course of a paid summer internship, KP Design Fellows join tech startups, where they develop their skills and are mentored by an executive within the company.

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civic digital fellows
Civic Digital Fellowship

A paid summer intern program for mission-driven student coders and designers to innovate at the intersection of technology and public service.  .

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Venture for America

VFA is a program for talented recent grads to spend 2 years in the trenches of a start-up with the goal to revitalize American cities.

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