A new lecture series offered by the Student Agencies eLab will help entrepreneurial undergraduates move from a napkin-sketched business to something worthy of venture capital.

The series, which started Sept. 29 and continues through Nov. 17, is taught by experienced entrepreneurs and covers such topics as idea generation, marketing basics, building partnerships and raising money.

"We designed this series with the intention of really covering the most important aspects of entrepreneurship," said Dan Cohen, eLab's Entreprenuer-in-Residence and a faculty member in the ILR School. "We want to make sure that these students graduate with a certain skill set that's key to being a successful entrepreneur."

The series was developed by Bill Trenchard '97, vice chairman of the eLab Advisory Board, an angel investor and founder of LiveOps Inc. Sessions are free and open to any student interested in entrepreneurship.

The lectures take place Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. in Sage Hall. A schedule of speakers and locations can be found at http://www.elabstartup.com/info.php?page=elablectureseries.

The eLab is a nonprofit organization supported by Student Agencies in collaboration with Entrepreneurship@Cornell. Located at 409 College Ave., it provides physical office space, access to a network of successful alumni mentors and investors, and a suite of professional services, including legal and accounting support.

Founded in spring 2008, eLab worked with three student businesses its first semester and nine last academic year. Five of those student teams have graduated, but the other four are returning this year and a fifth has been added. Cohen said he's been "inundated" with applications from new students interested in joining eLab.

Along with the Student Agencies Foundation and Entrepreneurship@Cornell, the eLab is supported by the Leland C. and Mary M. Pillsbury Institute for Hospitality Entrepreneurship and a group of dedicated Cornell alumni.

To find out more about eLab, e-mail Cohen at dc489@cornell.edu.

Kathy Hovis is a writer/editor for Entrepreneurship@Cornell.