Idea Central: An Entrepreneurship LLC

The Entrepreneurship LLC (Living Learning Community) is open to all freshmen who have a keen interest in entrepreneurship. This LLC will focus on connecting its members to Chattanooga's entrepreneurial ecosystem; connecting members to the UT System's resources for entrepreneurs; and exposure to ideas and innovations happening across the UTC campus.

Libby Santin, the Director of the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at UTC oversees the LLC. Santin is an entrepreneur herself and has been a business owner in Chattanooga for many years. She is very active in Chattanooga's entrepreneurial community and teaches entrepreneurship classes at UTC. Libby earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Design from Georgia Tech, an Executive MBA from UTC, and was trained in entrepreneurial education at Babson College.

Goals of Idea Central

Connect: Student members will create a community of entrepreneurs on UTC's campus that will grow each year with every new cohort. This bond will foster connections to both current and future entrepreneurial opportunities for all members.

Engage: Student members will learn about and participate in Chattanooga's entrepreneurial community through thoughtfully planned engagements with the various entrepreneurship support organizations in the community.

Think: The entrepreneurial mindset is defined as “the ability to quickly sense, take action, and get organized under uncertain conditions”. *  The members will have ample opportunity to develop their entrepreneurial mindset through experiential learning.

* Neck, Heidi (2018) Entrepreneurship

Our Residence Hall

Members of the LLC will live as a community in UTC's newest residence hall - West Campus Housing. Just steps from the Library, University Center, McKenzie Arena and Aquatics and Recreation Center, students will be living in the heart of campus.

Complex includes community rooms, laundry, kitchen, conference rooms, multipurpose rooms, parking garage, Einstein Bagels, Dippers Chicken, P.O.D. Market (food and snacks) and front desk staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Learn as a Community

Members in the LLC will take a 1-hour course credit class together that will focus on the entrepreneurial mindset, as well as provide exposure to entrepreneurs and resources in Chattanooga. Members will also participate in E-Club (Entrepreneurship Club), a student-run organization affiliated with the Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization. Members will have opportunities to prep for and pitch ideas at a number of UTC and local pitch competitions, many of which offer significant financial prizes. 

Students interested in applying to Idea Central:

• Must be admitted to UTC
• Have a keen interest in entrepreneurship
• Apply for housing with UTC's Housing Department
• Submit the online Entrepreneurship LLC application no later than March 31, 2021. If you have a problem submitting the online application, please email a copy of your response to [email protected] by March 31, 2021.

After you apply to Idea Central, you need to:

• Pay the $25 non-refundable housing application fee
• Pay the $225 reservation fee within 10 days of your housing assignment
• Choose your desired meal plan