We're the entrepreneurial hub for DePaul students, faculty & alumni. We grow student entrepreneurs and partner with the Chicago business community.
The Coleman Center stimulates entrepreneurship in DePaul's current students and alumni, complements DePaul’s academic programs and provides the advising needed to launch and grow businesses, non-profits and social ventures in Chicago's entrepreneurial community.
05/13/2026
We had the honor of hosting Joan Leech in our MGT 270 Intro to Entrepreneurship class led Bruce Leech this week. Joan shared her incredible career trajectory and reminded us that building a business (and a career) starts with building yourself first.
Between the career gems and a McDonald’s lunch courtesy of the CEC, it was a session to remember. 🤜🤛
The biggest lesson? Embrace change and always say "yes" to the right opportunities. 📈
Mooski Bites have officially arrived. 🥣✨
We didn’t think it could get any better than the bars, but just leveled up. The new Overnight Oat Bites are officially available at select Target locations! 🎯
Thank you Mooski for fueling the CEC team - these were gone in about five minutes. High-quality ingredients, 80 calories, and the perfect office snack.
Go grab a box at your local Target before they’re all gone! 🏃♀️💨
Shark Tank vibes, live at DePaul. 📈🏙️
On May 21st, the Purpose Pitch Competition is back. Come see what it really looks like to pitch a business in under 5 minutes.
Why you should be there:
✨ Hear fresh business ideas from DePaul students.
🤝 Network with the Chicago startup community.
🍕 Enjoy free food and drinks while you watch.
RSVP is required! Hit the link in our bio to join us from 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM. 🔗🤜🤛
04/29/2026
We are so happy to announce that The Coleman Entrepreneurship Center is officially a 2026 Bronze Sponsor with Chicago Innovation, one of the largest organizations in the region dedicated to supporting innovators across all industries. 🏙️✨
Through this partnership, our community of students and founders will gain unprecedented access to multiple resources, events, and mentorship opportunities.
We are excited to create more opportunities for our people to connect, learn, and grow within this incredible community. 📈
This is all for you and because of you. Thank you! 🤜🤛
⭐️ STUDENT HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH: Alexandria Kuzak from our Social Impact Incubator
Meet Alexandria, the founder of Shimmer Shield. Despite only being a freshman, Alexandra has been incredibly engaged with the CEC (she even was one of the winners of the Student Innovation Expo back in February.)
She is a great example of how to hit the ground running at DePaul. Swipe through to hear her advice for every student sitting on a crazy idea in their dorm right now.
Question timestamps to skip to the point:
✨ PROTOTYPE AND INITIAL STEPS: 0:17
✨ HARDEST JUDGE QUESTIONS: 0:37
✨ WHY THE CEC: 0:54
✨ SHIMMER SHIELD SOCIAL IMPACT: 1:16
Drop any questions you have for Alexandria in the comments below! 👇 Also, make sure to follow her to keep tracking Shimmer Shield’s growth. 📈
04/22/2026
Happy birthday to the most amazing Associate Director we could ask for. 🎂 We should all be a little more like you, Kathia!
We wanted to highlight not just your career accomplishments, but how you inspire us as a person. You are exactly the type of leader the CEC is proud to have on our team. 🤜🤛
P.S. Scan the QR code on Slide 5 to support her Chicago Marathon journey! Even $5 makes a huge difference in helping her reach her goal. 👟💰
It’s a special day at the CEC: Happy Birthday to our Executive Director, Bruce Leech! 🥳🎂
In honor of Bruce’s birthday, we’re sharing some of his “Certified Tips” to help you scale your venture. Bruce has spent his career mentoring founders, so we thought what better way to celebrate than by passing on some of the knowledge he’s shared with us?
Bruce, thank you for the constant guidance and wisdom you pour into the DePaul community. We are so lucky to have you at the wheel! 🎈
03/20/2026
$25,000 is on the line. 💰
Applications for the 10th Annual Purpose Pitch are officially OPEN! If you are a DePaul student or alum building a purpose-driven business, this is your chance to pitch your vision, make a massive impact, and win a share of the prize pool to fund your venture.
Does your startup have a mission beyond just profit? We want to hear from you.
🗓️ Applications Close: April 16th
📍 The Big Pitch: May 21st
Scan the QR code on the flyer or hit the link in our bio to submit your application today! 👇
02/03/2026
We know being an entrepreneur means wearing every hat: CEO. Editor. Designer. Social media manager. Marketer.
We’re here to make content creation a little easier with tools that help you create faster, smarter, and better, without doing it all from scratch.
Which one’s your favorite? 👀👇
✨ Inspired by:
01/30/2026
A few weeks ago, our DePaul MBA program kicked off in no other place than Bahrain 🇧🇭
Here are a few words from CEC Executive Director Bruce Leech, who’s leading the program:
Wrapping up our second MGT 570 class this year, with an incredible group of MBA students. Huge thanks to Joan Leech for sharing her career journey and insights from McDonald’s, and to Vahap Uysal for helping coordinate such a strong program.
And a special shoutout to our Bahrain students for the thoughtful gesture at the end of class - an unforgettable moment.
Global learning at its best 🌍
| Monday | 8am - 10pm |
| Tuesday | 8am - 10pm |
| Wednesday | 8am - 10pm |
| Thursday | 8am - 10pm |
| Friday | 8am - 5pm |
| Saturday | 8am - 5pm |