WashU Skandalaris Center for Interdisciplinary Innovation & Entrepreneurship’s Post

Fourth-year biomedical engineering and former UH Ventures intern, Evelin Urbancsok, is learning about entrepreneurship through an investor lens. "Being an entrepreneur is not a one-person job—you need a network to rely on for feedback, mentorship and advice," Urbancsok said. "Eventually, I want to help other people grow their businesses." Through the CWRU Veale Institute for Entrepreneurship, she became a leader in CWRU’s chapter of the Northeast Ohio Student Venture Fund, which performs due diligence on startups and then makes investments. Great work, Evelin Urbancsok, Michael Goldberg and CWRU Veale Institute for Entrepreneurship! https://lnkd.in/eY6nMV35

New Forbes article by Abdo Rianii makes the case that by understanding and applying these chemistry concepts in the startup world can help founders drive innovation, efficiency, and balance in their businesses. #founders #wisdomwednesday #forbes #startuplife #startupfounder Michael Saba, Mendel Lakein, Ric Valdez, Sacha Griguer

I had a swell time on the FastForward U Intersession East Coast Trek! We explored the tech and entrepreneurship scenes in Baltimore, D.C., and New York City, connecting with brilliant entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and Johns Hopkins alumni. It was incredibly inspiring and a definite highlight of my time at The Johns Hopkins University - Carey Business School Huge thanks to all the alumni and industry leaders who shared their wisdom with us. Want to learn more about this awesome experience? Check out the full article below #FFU #JohnsHopkins #entrepreneurship #startups #biotechnology #biotechinnovation

🚀 Exciting News from Towson University StarTUp! 🚀 We are thrilled to announce our newest cohort, selected from a record number of applications, representing the pinnacle of talent and innovation in our region's entrepreneurial scene. Among the accepted founders are esteemed medical doctors, award winners from prominent national entrepreneurship competitions, PhDs, and even a former Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl champion. This eclectic mix truly reflects the diversity and depth of talent driving our entrepreneurial landscape. The ventures featured in this cohort cover a wide spectrum of industries, demonstrating the breadth of innovation in our community. From consumer packaged goods to green technology, from healthcare innovation to water treatment solutions, each venture brings a unique perspective and solution to the table. But wait, there's more exciting news - this cohort boasts the most ventures we can accept thanks to new sponsors and this cohort boasts the highest revenue with the lowest capital raise to date! We can't wait to juice them up even more. Additionally, we're thrilled to announce that we are running a concurrent cohort with TU Student Ventures. Stay tuned as we embark on this journey with our talented cohort, supporting them every step of the way as they work towards realizing their visions and changing the world. We can't wait to see what they'll accomplish! #Accelerate #Innovation #Entrepreneurship Femi Devin Ayanbadejo Sr. Mike G. Mack Anderson Michael Gaumer Nancy Johnston Adedayo Fashanu Alexander Zanders Dustin Hux Olivia "Livv" Mills Casey Jones Mitchell Turley Anders Sideris Allison Benson O'Brien

On Thursday, I was very kindly invited to spend a full day with Pete Hitchings, Incubator Manager for Loughborough University’s business incubator, called LUinc. We discussed the challenges faced by their incubator startups, explored various options, and talked about how to make these businesses attractive candidates for investors while preparing them for future anticipated growth. Despite the diverse array of innovative businesses across different sectors, the principals still felt uncertain about securing investments for growth. The current economic climate presents significant risks to obtaining funding. Although government programs are in place to support small businesses, the overall environment remains challenging. Fund managers and business angels are exercising caution and are becoming increasingly selective in their investment choices. In the vibrant world of entrepreneurship, this talented group of individuals thrive, fuelled by a contagious passion for their ventures. Under Pete's dynamic leadership, their innovative startups were carefully preparing for growth, in an environment that fosters rich creativity and collaboration, a great venture and a real pleasure to spend time with surrounded by such enthusiasm We also explored potential commercial relationships with other businesses I’m involved with in the North East, which will be further investigated this coming week. The entrepreneurs and their innovative ventures: - **Ed Gibbins & Jacob Straus** – LinkedIn – Chase Labs (AI Sales Development Representatives that feel like part of your team) – Chase Labs  - **Joe Fuggle** – LinkedIn – The Athlete Place (a platform for supporting athletes and their supporters) – The Athlete Place  - **Richard Naylor** – LinkedIn – Hawksfield Ltd (sustainability strategy specialists) – Hawksfield Ltd  - **Owen Jones** – LinkedIn – EngiGreening (developers of compostable plastic technologies)  - **Jack Seton** – LinkedIn – Tzuka (makers of the world's most durable earbuds) – Tzuka  - **Peter Smith** – LinkedIn – Real Purpose (assisting long-term unemployed individuals in returning to work) – Real Purpose  - **Kate Allan ** l– LinkedIn – ExpHand Prosthetics (creating life-changing 3D printed prosthetics for children that can grow) – ExpHand Prosthetics

It's a short work week for many of us 🥳 Before you sign off, take a moment to read these THREE lessons innovators can learn from Theranos' mistakes, shared by Christina Tamer, head of our Venture Development Program → https://lnkd.in/ewjwN5Zr Student innovators: don’t miss your chance to apply for our E-Team Program! Applications are open through January 29. Apply via the link in the comments! #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #Startups

👇💙😢Rest In Peace Prof Ed Roberts. A giant of his era. He was always willing to listen, always willing to provide advice, always was supportive when I asked for help. An #enterpreneurship genius, that helped spark several industries over almost 7 decades. Your wit and wisdom will be missed! #innovation #corporateventure #venturecapital #startups #technology #systemdynamics #mitsloan MIT Sloan School of Management Massachusetts Institute of Technology https://lnkd.in/dzRSBX-Y

We recently sat down with members of the MTEC SmartZone team (Katherine Kirsch, Patrick Visser, Grace Hsia Haberl, Ms.E. (She/Her/Hers)) to discuss the unique innovation ecosystem in Michigan's Upper Peninsula (the U.P.), and building resources for early-stage entrepreneurs through their upcoming Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Program (AMMP) Accelerator. The MTEC SmartZone is an entrepreneurial hub serving Michigan’s Western Upper Peninsula to accelerate the growth and commercialization of local start-ups through mentorship and resource support. To learn more about the MTEC team, their work supporting early stage start-ups click the link below: https://lnkd.in/eVfgDVJu Applications close March 7th. To learn more about the AMMP Accelerator, click the link here: https://lnkd.in/eU6Edmxc #humancentereddesign #startupacceleration #startup #innovation #acceleration #michigan #manufacturing #advancedmaterials #entrepreneurship #accelerator #openinnovation #externalinnovation #global #technology

During today's NEXT176 Summit, I was gifted an invaluable gift - a book. A #BookBook! 😅 (Harry Hare and Ouko Joseph, this one will be in my office library to show off 😅 - I just got a digital copy for reading! 🤣) Linda Yates' **The Unicorn Within: How Companies Can Create Game-Changing Ventures at Startup Speed** is a comprehensive guide for large organizations aiming to innovate and launch new ventures similar to successful startups. Published in 2022, the book emphasizes leveraging the unique advantages of established companies—such as resources, brand recognition, and customer bases—to create successful new ventures. Yates outlines a structured, repeatable innovation process that encompasses the entire venture creation lifecycle: from ideation to incubation, acceleration, and scaling. She identifies five essential preconditions for success, including:- 👨👨👦👦 building a dedicated team 💰 securing funding and 👥 establishing an engaged venture board. This methodology not only helps companies disrupt from within but also fosters a culture of innovation that can sustain long-term growth. The book is particularly valuable for corporate leaders and entrepreneurs, providing actionable insights and tools that can be applied immediately. Yates encourages organizations to embrace a mindset of experimentation, suggesting that they should place small bets on multiple ideas to mitigate risks and maximize potential returns. Ultimately, The Unicorn Within is a call to action for companies to harness their inherent strengths and transform into dynamic engines of innovation. David Charpie, MBA, and Mark Simoncelli thank you for your great engagement today and for the #BookBook! 😀

Last Part of the series AquaHacking Challenge Explained 🏆 The Grand Finale 👀You missed a part? Don’t worry, it’s all in our new blog! The program’s Grand Finale isn’t just a pitch competition, it’s a celebration of collaboration, determination and the unyielding passion to protect the planet! hashtag #freshwaterinnovation After months of intense preparation, the finalists present their groundbreaking solutions and compete for $35,000 in cash prizes. 🚀 A panel of judges made up of senior experts in innovation, technology, entrepreneurship, and the freshwater market to assess their business case and decide the winners. Thanks to our network of generous partners, the top teams are offered crucial support for provisional patent applications, competitive landscape analysis, and other legal needs as they launch their startups. Plus, they’ll have the chance to be paired with one of our incubator partners, accelerating their journey from idea to impactful enterprise. ✨ Over the past few weeks, we've revealed all the key stages of an AquaHacking Challenge. If you missed any part of our Timeline series, don't worry; we've recapped it all in our new blog! Check it out here 👉 https://bit.ly/3SVnBmK Soham Dalal, P.E., gener8tor, Bill Palladino, Krios Consulting, Cindy Warner, 360ofme, Joe Blondia, The Leelanau School, Goudreau Gage Dubuc maintenant/now Lavery Avocats, Aurora Patents, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Alward Fisher Rice Rowe & Graf PLC, 2 Degrés, Centech Mtl, Garage&co, Montreal Startup, Esplanade Québec, District 3 Innovation, McGill X-1 Accelerator, Office of Possibilities