Texas A&M Launches AI-Focused Entrepreneurship Center

Texas A&M University is giving business students something most colleges only talk about: the chance to build and buy real companies while still in school.

The new Center for Applied Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Mays Business School launched this month with a clear mission. Students won't just write business plans or pitch hypothetical ideas. They'll test products in real markets, acquire existing businesses, and use AI to strengthen their decisions.

Levi Belnap, a startup founder with multiple successful exits, leads the center as executive director. His approach focuses on what he calls "disciplined execution" over flashy pitches. "We are building an applied platform where students build, buy, and transform companies in real markets, under real constraints," Belnap said.

The timing couldn't be better. Texas sits at the heart of America's fastest-growing business corridor, stretching between Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio. Industries like energy, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing are booming across the state.

College Station's location puts students right in the middle of this growth. The center connects them directly with these expanding markets, giving them front-row access to real business opportunities as they learn.

One unique focus is entrepreneurship through acquisition, teaching students to buy and improve existing businesses rather than only starting from scratch. As the baby boomer generation retires, thousands of profitable small businesses need new owners. Students could graduate not just with a degree, but with a company.

The center welcomes all business students, whether they're curious beginners or ready to launch their first venture. Programs adapt to different experience levels and risk tolerances.

The Ripple Effect

This center arrives as AI reshapes how businesses start and grow. What once took teams of people and months of work can now happen faster with smart tools. Texas A&M recognized that tomorrow's entrepreneurs need to master these technologies today.

By training students in both traditional business fundamentals and cutting-edge AI applications, the center prepares them for an economy that demands both. They'll learn financial discipline alongside technological fluency.

The broader impact extends beyond individual success stories. As these students launch and acquire businesses across Texas, they'll create jobs, solve local problems, and strengthen communities throughout the state.

Dean Nate Sharp sees the center as an economic engine. "The Center for Applied Entrepreneurship and Innovation will bring together emerging technologies, market insight, and real-world application," he said.

Students will leave with more than classroom knowledge—they'll graduate with real entrepreneurial experience, tested ideas, and the confidence that comes from building something that actually works.