Some well-known entrepreneurs who started their businesses while in college include Bill Gates (Microsoft), Michael Dell (Dell computers), and Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook). Entrepreneurs are, by and large, risk-takers. College students are prone to take risks because they are usually unencumbered by family and financial obligations. They have grown up with technology and their skills lend themselves too many tech-based businesses.

Business ideas are often stimulated in the rich intellectual atmosphere of a college campus. Professorial advice is freely available and a market of eager, young consumers is at the fingertips of the college entrepreneur. A college campus is also a great incubator for student businesses because of the pool of students hungry to work. Students also have access to online databases for researching businesses. Influential people and possible investors may also be more open to being approached by a college student than they would be to others.