The Academy’s Purpose-Driven Innovation and Entrepreneurship (PDIE) concentration prepares students to launch breakthrough technologies, products, and ventures at the intersection of purpose and profit. From ideation and development to branding, venture financing and market expansion, students learn powerful, purpose-based strategies to create profitable and sustainable advantages and accomplish change for a better world.

The Purpose-Driven Innovation and Entrepreneurship (PDIE) concentration equips students with the foundational skills, knowledge, and methodologies to launch successful ventures that have the potential to catalyze positive change. Building on the Lean Launchpad methodology, students will learn to evolve an idea into a minimum viable product (MVP) that addresses a meaningful problem with an identifiable market. Through integrated courses such as Entrepreneurship Essentials, Case Studies in Innovation, Design Strategy, Practice of Design, and others, students will gain a cradle-to-grave understanding of a product’s lifecycle – from ideation and prototyping, to development, user testing, validation, venture financing, and distribution. Students will also have access to electives at the USC Marshall School of Business to further deepen their business and financial expertise. 

Throughout their course of study, students will be immersed in team-based, experiential learning in collaboration with faculty and industry experts and mentors. PDIE students will also have access to industry advisors, connections to venture capital opportunities and career development and recruiting programs. The learning experience culminates with a two-semester senior capstone in which PDIE students will have the opportunity to develop go-to-market products in the courses The Garage Experience (Gx) 1 and 2. 

The Academy’s PDIE concentration develops leaders and innovators who seek to create impact through values-based entrepreneurship. Through the Academy’s interdisciplinary learning framework, students will gain: 

Knowledge, tools, methodologies, and strategy playbooks on how to launch purpose-driven ventures for positive impact

A critical framework to analyze the impact of an idea or solution within the context of broader environmental, social, and ethical considerations

Entrepreneurial mindset and leadership skills that are aligned with mission and values

Understanding and ability to analyze business strategies, competitive landscapes, and converging trends in technology and culture

Ability to lead, manage, and collaborate across diverse, cross-disciplinary teams

Communication strategies to persuade investors and build communities and loyal customer base

Access to a vibrant entrepreneurial network comprised of cohort members, alumni, faculty, industry partners at the Academy and USC

The Purpose-Driven Innovation and Entrepreneurship concentration prepares students with foundational skills and experience to launch a new venture, build a customer base, and secure funding during their course of study. The PDIE curriculum also prepares students to chart meaningful career paths and secure employment opportunities across a broad range of professions including strategic management, consulting and marketing. All of these job tracks are well-established, in high demand in industry, and well associated with advancement to C-suite positions.

In addition to the Academy’s industry pipeline of mentors, students have access to a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem and professional network at USC to support them as they launch their startups or careers. 

The Academy’s Purpose-Driven Innovation and Entrepreneurship (PDIE) concentration prepares students to launch breakthrough technologies, products, and ventures at the intersection of purpose and profit.

Purpose-Driven Innovation and Entrepreneurship

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