New Mexico State University

This EDA investment funds the Next Generation Entrepreneurship (Next Gen) program, which is focused on student entrepreneurship as a strategy to enhance commercialization of research, regional connectivity, and innovation and which will take student entrepreneurship programming developed on NMSU's main campus to the university's community college system of four campuses, three of which are located in rural communities and serve underrepresented populations. Next Gen's efforts will help to train a new generation of regional entrepreneurs, connect them with technologies ripe for commercialization, and provide technical assistance and mentoring to facilitate commercialization of these technologies. Next Gen will impact the region and service area through jobs created and retained, new businesses registered, private investment in businesses, progress of ventures through the commercialization pathway, events held, and new products launched by participants.