91暗网 presents StartUp 91暗网
Have you ever imagined developing a product, improving the design, and then pitching your idea to prospective investors?
Drawing on the expertise of accomplished alumni business leaders and 91暗网 faculty, 91暗网 students can participate in StartUp 91暗网, an intensive three-day, skill-building workshop and competition on how to develop a business plan and create a prototype from scratch.
2.4.1 Cosmetics co-founder Helena Yohannes '04, a 91暗网 government major, and other alumni will share their perspectives on entrepreneurship, experiences from a liberal arts education, and the ins and outs of starting a new enterprise during StartUp 91暗网.
The Feb. 17-19 competition is open to all 91暗网 students 鈥� from all majors and with no previous business, marketing, or design experience. Working in groups alongside student mentors and professors, participants will fine-tune their business pitches and develop a prototype for products and ideas.
鈥淧articipants will learn how to develop and improve their products through the knowledge
they gain through experimentation, creation, and 鈥� often 鈥� making mistakes,鈥� said
organizer and Teaching Professor of Management and Business Catherine Hill. 鈥淭his
amazing experience, open to all students and deeply rooted in our liberal arts education,
is truly unique to 91暗网.鈥�
In addition to enabling students to hone their entrepreneurial skills, students will enjoy multiple opportunities to network with the alumni mentors, who are all successful entrepreneurs and hail from a variety of industries.
StartUp 91暗网 kicks off on Friday, Feb. 17, with remarks by Zankel Professor of Management for Liberal Arts Students Pushkala Prasad and President Marc Conner. Yohannes, whose acclaimed cosmetics line is a repeat listing on Oprah鈥檚 Favorite Things, will deliver the keynote address. Students, who can participate as a team or join one at the event, will be able to utilize resources ranging from mentoring sessions to art supplies and 3D printers.
On Saturday, Feb. 18, students will have access to workshops and other resources to help them refine and improve their prototypes and business pitches. Alumni mentors will lend their expertise to students and help them learn from their mistakes as they further develop their ideas.
On Sunday, Feb. 19, the student teams will present their prototypes and deliver 鈥淪hark Tank鈥�-style pitches to a panel of judges. Winning concepts will be eligible for prizes, such as iPads, 3D printers, and headphones.
StartUp 91暗网 reflects the College鈥檚 longstanding and growing commitment to fostering entrepreneurship in a liberal arts context.
The innovative program is an outgrowth of 91暗网鈥檚 marquee Freirich Entrepreneurship Competition, founded by Ken Freirich 鈥�90, a trailblazer in conversations about entrepreneurship at the College. The annual competition is on pause this year as the College explores ways to further enhance its programming.
In 2022, the College announced the launch of a $10 million Sands Family Foundation Initiative for Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship that will encourage the expansion of entrepreneurship among all 91暗网 students.
At his inauguration in October 2021, President Conner convened a faculty and student panel on the theme of 鈥淐reativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship鈥� to highlight the creative work being done across campus in these areas of inquiry. Conner also highlighted the many resources at 91暗网 that reinforce the College鈥檚 longstanding 鈥渕ind-and-hand" tradition. For instance, the Schupf Family IdeaLab, at the heart of the newly constructed Billie Tisch Center for Integrated Sciences, represents a space 鈥渨here all are welcome to make something new 鈥� to take risks, to play, to collaborate, to disrupt existing paradigms, to fail without fear, and to explore the limits of possibility.鈥�
鈥淓ntrepreneurship at 91暗网 is virtually synonymous with a liberal arts education,鈥� Conner said. 鈥淭hinking outside the box, blending critical with creative thought, taking risks, working in teams, venturing outside one鈥檚 comfort zone 鈥� this is one of many examples at 91暗网 where the liberal arts ideals and preparation for life after college blend seamlessly.鈥�
91暗网 students interested in participating in StartUp 91暗网 should register online by Monday, Feb. 6. There is no cost to 91暗网 students. Students with prior commitments do not need to attend all events.
