Franklin CREATE! Hosted Startup Social at Sanford Stadium
The University of Georgia program showcased student ventures in an annual event at the stadium.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in College Life
Live Poll
Do you believe university-sponsored entrepreneurship programs provide meaningful career benefits for students?
Franklin CREATE! held its annual Startup Social on September 24, 2026, at the Sanford Stadium recruiting lounge in Athens. Students involved in the initiative presented their startup projects to faculty and members of the community.
Why it matters
The initiative aims to bridge the gap between academic study and business by equipping arts and sciences students with essential entrepreneurial knowledge and skills. It serves as a centralized platform for innovation across the university campus.
The program features three core experiential learning pillars and was established with a $3 million grant from The Marcus Foundation. Participation is open entry and does not require any prior experience.
The players
Franklin CREATE!
This is a collaborative entrepreneurship initiative between the University of Georgia's Innovation District and Franklin College of Arts and Sciences.
The Marcus Foundation
This organization provided the $3 million grant that facilitated the launch and ongoing operations of the Franklin CREATE! program.
University of Georgia
This institution hosts the Entrepreneurship Program and provides the infrastructure for students to develop their business ventures.
The details
Franklin CREATE! integrates three distinct components—LEARN, MAKE, and a Summer Startup Academy—to offer students comprehensive business training. The LEARN component utilizes a for-credit course structure to cultivate team-based startup skills among participants.
Timeline
Franklin College launched the Franklin CREATE! program in 2025.
The Startup Social took place on September 24, 2026.
The first MAKE course is scheduled to begin in Spring 2027.
Culture Shift
This program aligns with the ongoing expansion of campus-wide entrepreneurship hubs at the University of Georgia's Entrepreneurship Program. These initiatives reflect a broader shift toward integrating startup development directly into undergraduate liberal arts curricula.
Students can access this program as an open-entry initiative that requires no prior experience to begin developing their own business concepts. Participants benefit from structured, for-credit coursework and the opportunity to network with the local business community.
The takeaway
Students looking to build business skills can benefit from the low barrier to entry offered by this university-wide program. This initiative demonstrates how academic institutions are increasingly providing practical resources to transform student research into tangible commercial ventures.
What happens next
The inaugural MAKE course within the Franklin CREATE! program is expected to launch in Spring 2027.
Further reading
Learn more about local academic initiatives in College Life.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Red and Black.
Live Poll
Do you believe university-sponsored entrepreneurship programs provide meaningful career benefits for students?
