The Consurgo Initiative partners Smeal student entrepreneurial and sustainability focused teams with teams in developing nations who seek assistance with starting a business venture. Past Consurgo teams have worked with entrepreneurs in Guatemala and Haiti to build businesses that provided water filtration devices, solar lighting in homes, vermiculture enriched soil for gardening, and a poultry coup project. Each of these ventures provides Smeal students with an opportunity to research and develop a business plan, communicate and successfully work on teams with international partners, learn about the culture and business environment in developing economies, present their plans at a competition judged by a panel of experienced business executives, and ultimately implement their plans.
See the Consurgo Initiative in action:
Hear team Haiti (Spring 2017) discuss the magnitude of the problem facing people in Haiti and why this is a worthwhile problem to solve.
Hear team Haiti (Spring 2017) discuss the impact of their project, including returns, meals and employment.