At 18 years old, Matthew Turcotte is no stranger to the business world.

The Clayton teenager designed and launched his own Web development firm, North Shore Solutions, while he was a high school junior.

His business has nearly 200 clients in its portfolio.

"It started as a hobby and I started doing Web sites for some family members and things and it grew and I actually started doing some businesses and townships and it blossomed from there," said Turcotte.
 
Turcotte has spent the past year as the first student to participate in Clarkson University's new Young Entrepreneur Program.

Turcotte sees the unique initiative as a chance to develop his business skills while at the same time helping pay off his college education.

That's because the university has acquired an ownership interest in Turcotte's business allowing him to attend classes through merit-based financial aid in lieu of tuition payments.
 
"It's great to go to a university who supports me and is as passionate about my business as I am," said Turcotte.
 
Clarkson officials say by buying into the student businesses in lieu of full tuition, it creates unique opportunities.

It's also something that could become trend-setting.

"Exchange of tuition for equity - that's what's so unique about what we've done," said Marc Compeau.                  
 
As director of Clarkson's Center for Entrepreneurship, Compeau says the new program has a lot of potential for innovative business-minded undergraduates looking to seize marketplace opportunities.
 
As for Matthew Turcotte, he hopes to be able to expand his thriving web business through his educational, financial and business partnership at Clarkson.

North Shore Solutions

Center for Entrepreneurship