The Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Chatham University creates economic opportunities for women through entrepreneurial education and training, mentoring, and networking. Building on Chatham University’s tradition of educating women for 145 years, The Center for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Chatham University has provided quality education and training for women entrepreneurs since 2005.

The Center participates in maker education and STEAM initiatives through its Prototyping & Design Lab, which is open to community-based women entrepreneurs as well as Chatham University students, faculty and staff who are interested in designing and prototyping physical products. The Lab provides access to digital fabrication tools in an inclusive environment to inspire creativity and innovation.

The Lab features a variety of easy-to-use tools and equipment from local startups and established companies. It contains small creative and crafts materials, and flexible small-space tools such as a multi-functional 3D desktop printer, sewing machines, microcontrollers, robotics kits, other fine machining and textile processing tools.

A variety of local subject matter experts will facilitate hands-on workshops at the Lab in addition to webinars and hours by appointment. Entrepreneurs and students can test and iterate their prototypes at the Lab with guidance from these experts. This allows them to prototype their products as the first step toward commercialization in the most efficient way using lean entrepreneurship and design thinking principles.