The Kehoe Family Initiative for Entrepreneurial Excellence

Hillsdale College has fought to preserve the blessings of learning, character, faith, and freedom for over 175 years. True to this endeavor, we have remained steadfast in championing the free market as the most economically sound means for individuals to provide for their families and communities. Naturally, we are proud that many of our students wish to join the free market as entrepreneurs, and it is our responsibility to prepare them for such an endeavor.

Through a commitment to academic excellence, moral formation, and a free market economy, the Kehoe Family Initiative for Entrepreneurial Excellence (KFIEE) is dedicated to student success in enterprise. KFIEE provides current students with the practical and philosophical training to start businesses guided by the principles of free enterprise and virtuous civic engagement.

KFIEE is open to students of all majors—a business background is not necessary. Because of this, our curriculum begins by focusing on the fundamentals of business and entrepreneurship. During the first two semesters, fellows are put into groups and challenged to start their own business from scratch. Along with this practical experience, they are also taught how to identify their customer base, research their target market, create a business organization chart, craft a sales pitch, and evaluate business performance. During the third and fourth semesters, fellows delve into a more technical education, learning about e-commerce, online marketing, data analytics, and management strategy. Each fellow graduates from the program after having completed their capstone project: creating a business plan to guide their business in the years after leaving Hillsdale College.