In response, the school has set up a program called the Yale Entrepreneurial Institute, or YEI. The highlight is a 10-week summer program, now wrapping up its second year, that allows student entrepreneurs to work with experienced area businesspeople on their business plans. The students’ majors are irrelevant, and they don’t need to have taken any business classes.

While the vast majority of students so far have been building tech companies, a few non-techies have slipped in, like one microfinance securitization outfit that’s looking for guidance this summer.

So far, says YEI director James Boyle, it's working - at least a little bit. Two of last summer's crop of six start-ups remain in New Haven. Just as important, Mr. Boyle says, is that the program leaves students and potential students with the impression that Yale is an incubator for student-run businesses, just like Stanford or MIT.

"It has been pivotal in demonstrating to the student body that you can start high-tech companies at Yale - a space where Yale usually isn't known," he says.