Abstract
Most senior project based design courses focus on demonstrating that students have shown an ability to design a system, component, or process that meets desired needs within realistic constraints as described in ABET Criterion 3(c). This paper describes an approach that has been used for the past four years in a senior project based design course which embeds these criteria within an entrepreneurial approach to design. The entire class functions as a startup company with management, marketing and two design divisions. The instructor and teaching assistant play the role of the Venture Capitalists (VCs) investing in the company. The goal of the company is to develop two first generation working prototypes that could be used by the VCs to attract additional funds to produce the final product. All prototypes were successfully tested and evaluated against the appropriate standards and major performance requirements. Course evaluations indicate that this entrepreneurial approach is well received by the students.