When Bill Gates, Class of 1977, left Harvard after his sophomore year to found his own computer software company--now known as Microsoft--few predicted how successful he would be.

Since then, many other Harvard students have followed in the now billionaire's footsteps and have created their own start-up companies--a trend that is not going unnoticed at the Office of Career Services (OCS).

While OCS is regarded more for its resources for students seeking jobs in traditional fields like investment banking and consulting, the office is trying to make its own operation reflect the newfound interest in entrepreneurship that is dramatically reshaping the world economy.

"Some students are moving away from the traditional large-bureaucratic-business world," says OCS business counselor Nancy E. Saunders. "What we've been seeing in the marketplace is students are taking an interest in starting their own companies."

And today, in recognition of this trend, OCS will hold the first of several major events for students interested in start-up companies

The event--entitled "Step Up to Start Ups"--will be held at the Gutman Conference Center at the Graduate School of Education and will consist of a panel discussion on various aspects of start-up companies. It will also include a fair in which students will be able to network with representatives from more than 30 companies.

"This is where we see business in the next century," says OCS business counselor Robert M. Cohen, who has worked with Saunders for the past few months to plan the event.

Jack of All Parts of the Trade

OCS organizers say that within the last year, the number of students asking how they can get involved in start-up companies has grown dramatically, leading them to push forward with plans for the event.

Saunders and Cohen say they hope the fair will appeal both to students who want to start their own businesses and those interested in working for a start-up, either as a career or an internship.

"There's something for everyone-- both budding entrepreneurs and people who want to work for them," Saunders says.

She says she hopes the event will help convey the notion that start-up companies do not necessarily have to be computer-oriented.

"People think start-ups must be Internet related," she says. "Instead, we [define start-ups] as companies that are between zero and five years old. They are not necessarily technology dependent."

Although the event will feature mostly for-profit "dot-com" Internet companies, it will also include online "dot-org" service organizations, and even companies that are not technology- based at all.

But even in those companies that are technology-related, Cohen says there is plenty of room for individuals without computer skills.

"They think 'Oh no, I'm not a [computer science] major,'" Cohen says. "But there are no limitations there."

Many of these "dot-com" companies, he says, have underdeveloped management teams and might benefit from employing students with a general liberal arts educations.

MyOwnBusiness.com

Today's event, according to OCS, will be a mini-testament to the success of Harvard grads in the realm of start-up companies.

Six Harvard students and alumni will lead the panel discussion. They are Richard M. Powell '01,

founder of Fuxito.com; Nick Mehta '98, founder of Chipshot.com; Ben Choi '98, senior associate of Zefer; MaSoba executive Clarence Mah '92,; Leverett House tutor Rami Armon of MyBestHealth.com; Michael Wertheim '95, marketing manager of SmarterLiving.com; and Steve Papa, a Harvard Business School graduate and creator of

Optigrab.com.

For Daniel Saul '95, whose company SmarterLiving.com will be represented at the event, today's seminar is an acknowledgement of the legitimacy of working for a start-up company.

Saul says he took a job as a management consultant after graduating from Harvard, but eventually decided to pursue his website hobby as a full-time career option.

"Working as an entrepreneur is really exciting," Saul says. "The personal development possibilities are unmatched, but you have to be passionate about your idea to follow through with it."

On His Way and Already There

In addition, company participants say they hope to recruit some willing Harvard talent today--a goal which some students say they are excited to share.

"There's a possibility that the companies will have jobs available this summer," said Matthew W. Victory '03, who says he plans to attend the fair.

"I'm going because I'm interested in meeting people who have started their own companies," he says. "The time is now to start in the career path I'm interested in--there's no reason to wait until graduation."

Alex M. Rampell '03, founder of Rampell Software, Inc., says he appreciates the attempt to give start-up companies more importance in the College's career services department.

"I think start-ups are a viable alternative for people who like to be their own bosses--independent," says Rampell, whose three-year-old corporation produces, markets and sells various software programs. "I enjoy making my own decisions. I enjoy the managerial side."

Rampell's most popular program prevents America Online users from being signed off. This program now has about 100,000 clients--the earnings from which allow him to pay for his own college tuition.

But Rampell says he hopes the event will help people realize that starting a company is not for everyone.

"There's a great possibility for reward, but also for risk," he says. "You have to be willing to take the risk."

And OCS organizers say they are optimistic that this event and similar ones in the future will help educate students about what it takes to be entrepreneurs--including the inherent risk involved.

But risk, according to Cohen, is one of the things with which Harvard students deal best.

"Start-ups are reflective of the Harvard personality," he said. Harvard students are "people who have initiative and are not afraid to make mistakes."

A list of the 30 firms participating in today's start-up event is available on the OCS website at www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu/html/startup.