Werth Institute

At The Peter J. Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, we believe that an entrepreneurial mindset is the most valuable asset a student can own. It isn’t just about starting a business; it’s about the creativity to see a problem and the resilience to solve it. We serve as the University’s "innovation umbrella," linking students to the resources, mentorship, and real-world experiences they need to turn their curiosity into impact.

Your Gift Supports Innovation:

The Werth Innovators: At the heart of the Institute is the Werth Innovators program. This premier cohort brings together UConn’s most motivated students to develop leadership skills and professional grit. Gifts support these students as they move through a transformative journey, gaining the confidence to lead in any industry and becoming the next generation of global problem-solvers.

Building High-Impact Networks: We bridge the gap between campus and the professional world by connecting students with a lifelong support system of mentors and alumni. Through NetWerx, our virtual mentoring program, we provide students with direct access to a community that has walked the path before them. By facilitating these connections, we help students navigate their journey with increased networking skills confidence.

Prototyping and Showcasing Ideas: We provide a stage for students to test their creativity. Gifts support events like HackUConn, our 24-hour marathon of innovation where students build solutions from scratch, and the Innovation Expo, connect students to entrepreneurial resources on campus. These experiences teach students to "fail forward" and develop the resilience required by today's top employers.

Career Readiness for Every Major: Innovation at UConn isn't restricted to a single degree. Through our UNIV courses, "Using an Entrepreneurial Mindset to Find a Job or Start a Business and Conversations with Entrepreneurial Alum" we give students from the arts to the sciences practical tools to translate their passions into professional success. We empower them to treat their careers with the same agility and vision as a startup.

When you give to the Werth Institute, you aren't just funding a program, you are investing in the thinkers, the makers, and the doers. Help us unlock the entrepreneurial mindset for the next generation of Huskies!

Thank you and Go Huskies!

The UConn Foundation (EIN 06-6070722) is an independent, not-for-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization that exists to support the educational, scientific, cultural, research, and recreational objectives of the University of Connecticut.