Supporter of entrepreneurship: Dr. Donald F. Kuratko.

• Author: Johnson, J. Douglas
• Position: Indiana's Entrepreneurs of the Year

SUPPORTER OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Dr. Donald F. Kuratko

Ball State University

Muncie

Behind his back, his students might call Donald F. Kuratko "Mr. Goader." For seven years he has prodded, pushed, pressured and, yes, goaded students in his small business management/entrepreneurship program to get a vision of the "real world," where you succeed or fail. In his hard-breathing classes at Ball State University you get an "A," or you flunk. Not much difference. In a "risk it all, do or die" atmosphere Kuratko says his students are "challenged to teach themselves, so they can enter the business world with the confidence to do things they never believed they could. With theory plus practice they are more prepared to take on the challenges of the corporate environment." Well more than 100 of his students have taken their Kuratkogained entrepreneurial knowledge into indiana business enterprises. Some, which had their origins in his classes, now are making a contribution to the Hoosier economy.

Class members are required to research every facet of a new business venture and to explain in detail how it would operate. Their 50- to 200-page proposals are evaluated by a board of indianapolis businessmen and businesswomen that includes accountants, investment bankers, venture capitalists and management consultants. Later, students find out whether their business plans did or died. if the latter, they have to go around again a year later, because the top grade is required for graduation.

Beyond developing, coordinating and...