Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute at Arizona State University’s Post

Harvard Innovation Lab’s director Jodi Goldstein shares 10 things every (aspiring) entrepreneur should know: 1. It’s not just about the IDEA:
- it doesn’t have to be a brilliant idea
- just do it better than it is being done right now
- most startups change their original idea anyway
Eg: Google: Create a search site that doesn’t suck
 2. It’s all about the PEOPLE:
- Good people can fix bad ideas, but good ideas can’t fix bad people
- it’s a marriage, choose your partners wisely
- have the difficult conversations early
 3. Make something customers want to BUY:
- All companies (not just startups) will fail if they don’t give customers what they want
- launch something and get customer feedback as early as possible 
- be willing to change your strategy if no one cares
 4. Focus 
- find a niche market and do one thing very well
- you better be able to explain what you do in 1-2 sentences
- don’t try to be everything to everyone 
 5. Don’t reinvent the wheel
- opportunities for disruption are everywhere
- do it better, cheaper
- easier to make a cheaper product better than a powerful product cheaper
 6. Don’t be afraid of competition:
- be concerned if there is no competition 
- competition validates your industry
- just make sure you do it better than they do
 7. Don’t sweat the equity
- so many companies fail because entrepreneurs are unwilling to part with equity 
- you would rather own less of something successful than all of something that fails 
- trade stock for something that improves your chance of success (investors, co-founders, employees)
 8. Don’t do it for the money
- must love what you are doing for the sake of doing it
- it will take you 5 times long and cost 10 times as much as you originally thought 
- very high chance you will fail so you better love what you do 
 9. Be confident - but not arrogant 
- confidence is important, but humility is too
- don’t be afraid to say I don’t know, but DO be willing to fight what you believe
- EGO destroys so many startups 
 10. Don’t be afraid to fail
- if you aren’t willing to take a risk, you shouldn’t be an entrepreneur 
- you must embrace the possibility of failure
- everyday your idea will be challenged 

 Enjoy the process!

Midwest Innovation & Entrepreneurship Summit The Midwest has a rich history of entrepreneurship and innovation. Building on this proud legacy, College of DuPage and Innovation DuPage invite you to a dynamic, all-day summit celebrating the region's entrepreneurial spirit. This inaugural event will provide transformative resources for aspiring founders, share success stories from local innovators, and foster influential connections between educators, funders, industry experts and the greater business community. The summit is structured around three powerful tracks: -Resources for Entrepreneurs & Small Businesses: Learn how to secure funding, attract your first customers, and leverage incubators to scale. -Knowledge for Educators: Empower the next generation of business leaders by gaining insights into entrepreneurship education. -Industry & Economic Development: Understand how innovation centers are driving regional economic growth, with special focus on construction and AI-driven solutions. In addition, three keynotes will feature Midwest entrepreneurs who have exploded onto the national stage, alongside national speakers explaining why the Midwest is fast becoming an epicenter for innovation and entrepreneurship. Join us as we champion the next wave of Midwest innovators and entrepreneurs, working together to ignite growth and build a stronger regional ecosystem: -What: The Midwest Innovation & Entrepreneurship Summit -When: Wednesday, November 13, 2024, 9:00 am - 5:15 pm -Where: College of DuPage Jack H. Turner Conference Center Student Resource Center (SRC 2000) To register: https://lnkd.in/gGx26vAi

#ICYMI The ASU Chandler Innovation Center (ACIC) has become a hub for learning, community gatherings, and entrepreneurship in Chandler. Learn about what has been accomplished over the past year at ACIC, including how a city and ASU partnership called Chandler Endeavor is helping launch and grow new businesses.   “With us being the city of innovation, Chandler had this idea of how we can create this space for not only our residents, but entrepreneurs across the Valley to be able to come into our space and launch their ideas,” Angel Encinas said.   “And with ASU’s participation and involvement, we’re bringing in people from across the Valley, and hopefully, once they're launching their businesses or their ideas, they’ll be able to scale up and have those businesses here in Chandler.”   Read more: https://lnkd.in/g4jraQ58 LinkedIn Login, Sign in | LinkedIn Login to LinkedIn to keep in touch with people you know, share ideas, and build your career.   https://lnkd.in/g4jraQ58 #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #yesphx #ChandlerAZ | City of Chandler, Arizona, Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute at Arizona State University

Panel on entrepreneurship @ Stanford I joined a panel this week hosted at Stanford University aimed at aiding entrepreneurs and moderated by Trudy (Geertrui) Vanhove, MD, PhD.  One inquiry was centered around identifying the most effective method for selecting a new startup venture. To streamline the discussion, I outlined three pivotal criteria: 1. Possession of specific knowledge, intellectual property, or a distinctive advantage relevant to initiating the business. 2. Identification of an existing market pain, rather than merely fulfilling a luxury, with the aim of offering a solution. Aspirin vs. vitamin.  3. A genuine passion for addressing the identified problem, serving as a steadfast anchor during the inevitable challenges. Reflecting on how these principles align with WoPa.ai, my latest venture designed to guide individuals towards discovering their Work Paths to Work Passion: 1. Drawing from over two decades of immersion in talent processes and decision-making, coupled with the innovative capabilities of AIFund generative AI, the potential for transformative synergy is evident. 2. Statistics from Gallup reveal that a staggering 77% of the global population is either silently or vocally disengaged at work, with only a mere 23% experiencing fulfillment. 3. Since the age of 17, the pursuit of optimizing one's time allocation has remained a central question. For me, this translates into the quest for the ideal vocation, recognizing that our professional endeavors consume a significant portion of our lives. My hope is that this reflection serves as a source of inspiration for fellow entrepreneurs. Embrace the journey, work with passion!

Check out the full Destination for Innovation conversation with Jeremy Alan Woods, Associate Professor of Management and Faculty Director at CSUB Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation.

We'd like to celebrate a great panel last week with guest speakers and McCormick School of Engineering alumni Carolina Fong Guzzy, Eric Horler, and Vysak Venkateswaran! Moderated by Farley Center Director Hayes Ferguson, the discussion covered how the speakers approached building and launching successful businesses. The speakers considered their most significant challenges and successes, citing the importance of taking risks and experimental learning to drive innovation in startups. We'd like to thank our wonderful panel of speakers, our moderator, and all students and alumni in attendance! #northwesternuniversity #entrepreneurshipeducation #alumni #startups #innovation

Celebrating Entrepreneurs' Day: Fueling Innovation in #Industry5.0 Today, on Entrepreneurs' Day, we celebrate the bold visionaries who dare to dream and the relentless innovators who turn those dreams into reality. At River Venture Studio, founded by our visionary CEO, Dr. Viveka Kalidasan, PhD. we recognize the immense power of #entrepreneurship as the driving force behind open innovation and the advancement of #DeepTech in the era of #Industry5.0. The Entrepreneurial Spirit: Entrepreneurs are the backbone of innovation. They see possibilities where others see challenges, and they create value through relentless pursuit and perseverance. In the context of #Industry5.0, entrepreneurs are not just adapting to change; they are shaping it, using cutting-edge technologies to build a future that is human-centric, sustainable, and resilient. Open Innovation and #DeepTech: At River Venture Studio, we believe that the future of #entrepreneurship lies in open innovation and DeepTech. By breaking down traditional barriers and fostering collaboration across industries, geographies, and disciplines, open innovation enables startups to access new ideas, technologies, and markets. DeepTech, on the other hand, is the engine of Industry 5.0, driving groundbreaking advancements in AI, robotics, biotechnology, and more. Empowering the Next Generation of Innovators: River Venture Studio is committed to supporting entrepreneurs who are leading the charge in Industry 5.0. By offering a unique, cohortless approach, we provide tailored support to startups globally, guiding them from ideation to exit. Under the #leadership of Dr. Viveka Kalidasan, PhD, we empower these innovators to turn their groundbreaking research into market-ready solutions that can transform industries and improve lives. Why #Industry5.0 Needs #Entrepreneurs: Industry 5.0 represents a shift towards a more inclusive, sustainable, and human-centric industrial model. Entrepreneurs are essential to this transformation, as they bring fresh perspectives, innovative solutions, and the agility needed to navigate the complexities of this new era. Through open innovation and DeepTech, they are not just contributing to Industry 5.0; they are defining it. Join Us in Celebrating Entrepreneurs: As we honor the incredible contributions of entrepreneurs today, we at River Venture Studio reaffirm our commitment to fostering a thriving ecosystem of innovation. Together, let’s continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible and build a future that is driven by creativity, collaboration, and impact. #EntrepreneursDay #Innovation #Industry5 #DeepTech #OpenInnovation #VentureStudio #Sustainability #FutureOfWork #RiverVentureStudio

🌟 Exciting times ahead! The first day of the Carlsen Center Global Entrepreneurship Week is here, and we’re ready to dive into a world of innovation and collaboration! 🤝🏽✨ I’m attending to learn and network with team leaders as I continue to build Transformative Spaces for future growth in entrepreneurs. Together, we can create environments that foster creativity, resilience, and success! What’s your vision for the future of entrepreneurship? Share it with us in the comments! 💬👇🏽 #TransformativeSpaces #EntrepreneurGrowth #InnovationJourney

If you’ve worked in innovation and entrepreneurship, two things are almost certainly true: you like to build and you realize building is a team sport.    While the first of these truths is widely recognized, the latter is underappreciated. As a culture, we tend to idolize entrepreneurs for their ability to develop novel solutions to known problems, but we also tend to pretend they’re lone wolves and overnight successes. Pick up any issue of Entrepreneur or Inc., Fortune or Forbes, and you’re likely to find a cover story that credits a single person with rapidly changing an entire industry, or of a founder who built some wildly original product and achieved staggering wealth in no time at all.   Go beyond the headlines, read the full story, and you’ll find the truth: these founders had great teams, and their “overnight success” came after years of customer discovery, prototyping, and pivoting. Innovation and entrepreneurship are the outcomes of consistent process and teamwork. Anything else is just a hyped headline—a lead it’s better to bury.   And speaking of buried leads, the reason for this message is to let you know I’m moving on from my role as Inaugural Director of The Hatchery, to an exciting opportunity elsewhere at Emory. I have truly enjoyed the work of helping to build The Hatchery—from our inauspicious launch straight into the Pandemic; to three semesters of customer discovery, prototyping, testing, and pivoting; to eventually landing on the solid programming model of “The Hatchery Skills Builder” and “The Hatchery Incubator,” which has made The Hatchery a valuable resource for all Emory partners has allowed us to support nearly 200 student ventures and help 60 of them to launch.    I’m confident this track record of success will continue after my departure, because every feature of The Hatchery—from strategy to program development, physical space optimization to material resource acquisition—is the result of a consistent human-centered design process we call “responsive by design,” where we not only lead with customer discovery but co-design solutions with our target audience to ensure that whatever we deliver is on point and likely to scale. More importantly, all of our successes are the work of a great team that collaborates effectively: The Hatchery is forever an MVP (minimum viable product) of a university innovation center, and the team here knows how to iterate upon that MVP to deliver the best product for each and every use case that comes through the door.   Stop by any time, meet The Hatchery team, and join in the team sport of building a more innovative future. https://lnkd.in/eHhWugWD

What do we mean when we talk about innovation and entrepreneurship? Innovation, is the process of transforming ideas into solutions that create value—be it through new products, services, or ways of doing things. Innovation challenges the status quo and pushes boundaries. Entrepreneurship, on the other hand, is the pursuit of opportunity without regard to resources. It’s about building something from nothing, driven by the vision of creating change or addressing problems and needs. Entrepreneurs are the daring individuals who implement innovations, turning visions into reality. Why am I drawn to these areas? Well, recently our region has made waves in the global market, with new support mechanisms recently announced such as Ormeau Baths Founder's Labs, Catalyst Open Innovation, and some exciting programmes looming at our very own Digital Catapult (which will be announced soon). My work life's career in innovation and my passion for entrepreneurship frequently cross paths, revealing a pattern where innovation feeds entrepreneurial ventures, and entrepreneurial actions spur further innovation. This close relationship peaked my interest, and I am keen to document the journey of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in our region. With that in mind, what does innovation mean to you? How do you see entrepreneurship and/or Innovation in our region evolving?