The Scholar‐Entrepreneurial Organization: Lessons in Building an Academic Startup

Abstract

This article introduces the concept of a scholar‐entrepreneurial organization (SEO), defined as an entrepreneurial venture within an academic institution. We explore the case of the Negotiation Task Force (NTF), an SEO hosted at Harvard University’s Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies. Equipped with university seed funding, the NTF is intended to be self‐funded at the end of its 36‐month incubation period. We explain the NTF’s mission, minimum viable products, history, and now established flagship programs; explore the challenges and opportunities that a scholarly startup confronts; and conclude with recommendations for others seeking to launch an SEO.