Article by Alex Bansleben (Q18)

The Incubator: one of the newest initiatives of the QUEST program as it turns 20 years old. Very much like some current students reaching this age, QUEST is beginning to take on some new challenges and focus on the “real world” (as students often say). I had the opportunity to speak with QUEST Executive Director, the one and only Dr. Bailey, about the newest program initiative- the QUEST Incubator.

At its essence, the Incubator is a program that is designed to give our QUESTees the opportunity to develop business and some entrepreneurial experience, while working with corporate partners and the Quality Guild. The program was opened to select Cohort 17 students this year after the completion of their capstone 490 projects. Two small teams were created to work with the QUEST staff and corporate partners to form small businesses. QUEST senior John Walsh (Q17) praised the program: “the Incubator has been great, especially as a practical application of the QUEST ideals.” Linda Rassenti (Q17) also valued the program and the insight it has given her in terms of what it means to start a company (“it’s a lot harder than I imagined”).

Dr. Bailey explained that the students have been taking advantage of the corporate partners as a source of input and feedback as they develop business plans and develop into full-time companies. However, it is the students themselves who are largely creating these business ideas. And of course, Dr. Bailey and Nicole are always there to help. Linda said that it has been great getting to know them outside of the classroom—on a different level.

So this sounds pretty cool, right? How do you get involved? The QUEST staff has decided to keep the Incubator open to students who have completed the capstone 490 project. Students have hopefully developed some innovative solutions throughout their 490 projects. It is, at this point, when the Incubator seeks to grab hold and transform these ideas into actual businesses. Unfortunately, there were more applicants than spots open in this test year of the Incubator, for reasons that are certainly understandable. Dr. Bailey has mentioned that the staff has taken some chances with the Incubator, and already learned things to do and not to do in the future.

As a rising senior in the QUEST program, I have to say that I am incredibly excited by the idea of the Incubator! Every QUEST project I have seen has had some “real life” context and impact. That being said, many of these projects unfortunately stop at the end of the semester (there are definitely some great exceptions!). The Incubator seems to be an excellent platform within QUEST to take an idea and develop it into the foundation of a successful business. Linda praised “Qinc.” as an incredibly fun and exciting learning service that has opened her eyes to the world of business. Of course, no one would discount the ideas, methodologies, and fundamentals we learn every day in class. However, I think John Walsh said it best: “the Incubator allowed me to think outside the box and worry not about a grade but investors, industry connections, and prototypes.”