The Arthur Rock Center for Entrepreneurship opened in its headquarters building on the HBS campus in 2003 with the generous donation of $25 million by famed venture capitalist Arthur Rock, MBA 1951
Arthur Rock has always been very good at getting in on the ground floor. In a 50-year career as one of the world's most effective and influential venture capitalists, he helped seed the success of economic powerhouses such as Teledyne, Intel, and Apple Computer. And in 2003, through an unprecedented gift, he launched a new venture at Harvard Business School, one with very promising prospects: the Arthur Rock Center for Entrepreneurship.
"The future of this nation lies with new ventures,” Rock said. “They supply the new ideas, the new technologies, the new jobs. HBS has long been at the forefront of understanding the many facets of the entrepreneurial process, from the intricacies of finance to the art of leadership, and I am delighted to be able to support those efforts both now and for the future."
Historically, approximately 50% of HBS graduates become entrepreneurs by the time they are 15 years out of school. Half of this number have started two or more businesses. Most graduates wait until they have a high potential idea they are truly passionate about. Often, such ideas come through in-depth experience in a market and exposure to unsatisfied customer needs – experience that may be tough to get within the bounds of a full-time educational experience.
Nevertheless – whether by dint of past experience, summer internship or just good fortune, there are usually at least 100 potential new ventures being explored in any given year.
As it has grown, the Rock Center has earned a reputation as the top program for entrepreneurial studies in the nation. Our initiatives—from the New Venture Competition to the Rock Accelerator to the Rock 100—have emerged as potent tools for would-be entrepreneurs to experience the practical reality of chasing a dream. The faculty includes some of the top names in the field and includes practitioners as well as academic standouts. And with a global alumni network second to none, the opportunity regularly presents itself for our students to meet with and learn from some of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world.