New Kelley School of Business group to offer more than classes

About 90 students crowded into a classroom to hear what the new business student organization, Kelley in Private Equity and Venture Capitalism, has to offer. \nSophomore Kunal Khosla stood at the front of the classroom at the organization’s call-out meeting last week. He welcomed the students and talked about the group’s three primary motives. \nThe organization teaches members new tactics in a fast-growing field and provides extensive networking opportunities from fellow members and a variety of guest speakers along with hands-on experience and insight into the real world. \n“I want to give people an opportunity to learn,” said Khosla, president of the group. \nWith venture capitalism expanding at an unbelievable rate, Khosla said, it is important that students become more exposed to this area of the business world. \nHowever, business students only are offered the opportunity to take a venture capitalism class after they complete a semester in I-Core, an intensive business program. Regardless of the limited number of classes on venture capitalism, this group might might be able to offer students something more than Kelley can, Khosla said. \n“There is only so much you can learn in a classroom,” said Tom Hagenberg, a sophomore in the Kelley School and group treasurer. \nMeetings will occur periodically when the group can provide an effective guest speaker, a good message or an opportunity to receive real-world experience, Khosla said. The administration created this group so its members will become more business-savvy entrepreneurs, and wasting time is not part of that mindset. \n“We don’t want students to come for the sake of coming,” Khosla said. \nAt the first call-out meeting, the members had the chance to listen to Jim Schultz, managing partner of Open Prairie Ventures. Schultz introduced students to the competitive business world by describing the industry, his day-to-day and basic terms and jargon. Questions were encouraged and tended to with diligence. At the end of this speech, Schultz announced internship positions and his contact information. \nThe real world experience will come from case competitions that the group administration is working toward. Students potentially will be able to work with venture capitalist companies. \n“It benefits the students and it benefits the company, so it’s a win-win situation,” said Royan Mody, sophomore and vice president of the group.\nThe organization doesn’t stop with internship, networking and real world opportunities. The group will prepare ambitious students for their futures through of learning and growth.\n“I think this group offers them something that Kelley does not,” Khosla said. “People that join here will get a head start above everyone else.”