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Entrepreneur Idol

Time: Friday, November 6, 2009 (Application Deadline) Saturday, November 21, 2009 (Event)

 

Entrepreneur Idol, which began in 2007, has grown to become a highly competitive national competition with over 30+ teams from 8 different universities in participation. The event is an elevator, idea pitch competition which provides students with the opportunity to express their innovative vision and creativity. Emphasizing students’ ability to succinctly deliver their business idea and capture the interest of the audience, Entrepreneur Idol hopes to encourage student innovators to pursue their dreams.

If you are interested in competing in Entrepreneur Idol, please click here to register.

 

Challenge: Future

Time: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 (registration deadline) Saturday, November 21, 2009 (competition starts)

 

Challenge:Future is envisioned as global collaborative student competition, focusing on issues of sustainability and innovation. All undergrad and grad students 18-30 years old are welcome to participate. It is free of charge, easy to participate, and fun!
Students have to post creative and sustainable solutions to some of the global and corporate challenges we are facing today (eg this year’s theme is the Future of Connecting). The first two rounds take place online on a specially designed platform (1st round: Nov-Jan; 2nd round: Jan-Mar), and the head-to-head finals will take place in inspiring Bled, Slovenia in April 2010. There are many prizes as the competition progresses, with the grand award of 20,000 EUR.

 

More information is available on: http://www.challengefuture.org
Entry details, timeline, selection criteria: http://www.challengefuture.org/us/entry-details
Challenge:Future video: http://www.vimeo.com/7138846

 

The Path to Commercialization: From "Beaker" to "Batteries"

Time: Wednesday, November 11, 2009, 3:30-4:30PM
Location: The lower level of the Transportation Center in Chambers Hall (600 Foster, Evanston, IL)

 

The Center for the Commercialization of Innovative Transportation Technology (CCITT) presents…
The Transportation Technology Commercialization Speaker Series

 

Mil Ovan,
Senior VP & Co-founder,
Firefly Energy Inc.

 

Mil Ovan is a Kellogg '82 grad and Senior VP of Firefly Energy, a company he co-founded in
May 2003 based on battery technology incubated at Caterpillar's vast R&D facility. Mil will discuss the curving path taken to bring this technology out of the labs and transition to a commercial battery product, and will conclude with some entrepreneur's "lessons learned".

 

Refreshments available at 3:00PM

 

Click here for a flyer

 

Purdue University Sixth Biannual Life Sciences Business Plan Competition

Time: Monday, May 18, 2009 (deadline) Tuesday, November 10, 2009 (event)

 

Purdue University announces the opening of registration for its Sixth Biannual Life Sciences Business Plan Competition, which will be held on Tuesday, November 10, 2009. Offering total prizes in excess of $100,000, the Purdue Life Sciences Business Plan Competition seeks commercially viable business plan entries for innovative products and services in the life sciences industry. The aim is to foster translational research and accelerate the commercialization of intellectual property in the life sciences arena.

Participating teams must represent an actual life sciences company that is no more than three years old; recent start-up life sciences companies are of particular interest. For more information and to register, please visit the competition website at http://www.purdue.edu/discoverypark/entrepreneurship/programs/lifesciences/registration.php.
The registration deadline is Monday May 18, 2009.

 

A Business Modeling and Product Development Workshop and Lecture Series: Innovate While You Graduate

Time: Monday, November 2, 2009 from 6pm-9pm in Tech L211
Keywords: Business plan, entrepreneurship

Ever thought about starting a company? Thinking about competing in one of several entrepreneurship competitions that InNUvation puts on at Northwestern such as Entrepreneur Idol, Applied Research Day, or NUVC??? Want to know what business plan judges and Venture Capitalists are looking for?

Then join us for Dan Brown’s kick-off lecture of the speaker series!

Professor Brown teaches entrepreneurship strategy at the Segal Institute and has been a successful entrepreneur and consulting engineer for over 30 years. He is also a business competition judge and will discuss what they look for! This “Kick-Off” lecture will briefly cover all of the main topics of a business plan presentation:
1. Identifying an unmet need - Is there a market or white space for your idea?
2. Setting the development goals - Differentiating your product or experience
3. Organizing the development effort - Managing the team based effort
4. Product development considerations - Intellectual Property and Trade Dress strategies
5. Developing a business case for your design - benchmarking the competition
6. Sales & Marketing - Commercialization & awareness considerations
7. Financial aspects of the plan - investment - Risk & Reward consderations
8. Organizing your business - Ownership issues
9. The Business Plan
10. The Elevator Pitch

This giant lecture will provide an overview of everything you need to
compete or even start your own business! Food provided!!!

Click here for a flyer

 

Call for Nominations: The 2009 Whiteboard Challenge

Time: June, 2009
Keyword: Entrepreneurship, challenge, innovation

What do five minutes, a whiteboard and a chance to win cash prizes all have in common? Presenting the 2009 Whiteboard Challenge, June 16 2009.
Are you an entrepreneur with a product concept that just needs some recognition to take off?
Perhaps you're a scientist or researcher at a university or corporation with a world changing technology.
Or maybe you just have been inspired by a novel way to solve a big problem.
If you have a brilliant idea that is missing some public recognition, plan to join us at the 2008 Whiteboard Challenge on June 16. Finalist will have five minutes, a whiteboard, a captive audience and a chance to win cash prizes. This event is the highlight of the spring event season.
Everyone is eligible to submit their own innovative concept for consideration, and presenting finalists will be selected by a distinguished panel of judges.
Presenter applications are NOW OPEN!
Audience registration will be open after our May 20 event ¡°Stump the Innovators¡±.
For more information, visit the 2009 Whiteboard Challenge page.
To submit an entry, click to open the submission window.

NU Venture Challenge

Time: Apr. 9 (Round 1), Apr. 29 (Semifinals), May 21 (Finals), 2009
Keywords: NUVC, competition, prizes, entrepreneurship, ideas

InNUvation's 2009 NU Venture Challenge is Northwestern University's only university-wide entrepreneurship competition. The student-run competition is a platform for entrepreneurial students to experience first-hand the process of cultivating a business idea from scratch. Participants will have access to world-class faculty, veteran entrepreneurs, and early-stage investors. In addition, students can form teams by drawing on the diverse backgrounds, interests, and talents of individuals throughout the university.

 

NUCATS Innovation Day: Celebrating Translational Innovation

Time: Wednesday, May 20th Location: Baldwin Auditorium, Lurie Research Center
Keywords: Innovation, Chicago, Business, Entrepreneurship

Agenda

8:15 am - Continental breakfast in the Ryan Family Atrium, Lurie Research Center

9:00 am - Introduction, John Linehan, PhD, Director, Center for Translational Innovation

(CTI), NUCATS

9:10 am - Keynote Speech, Michael T. Flavin, PhD, CEO, Advanced Life Sciences

    Topics will include:

    How he went from an academic post-doc to running publicly traded companies Insights on key steps early in the drug development process that can ensure better translation of therapies from labs to the clinic How and why pharmaceutical companies do what they do

10:00 am - Panel Discussion: The Challenges and Rewards of Commercialization

    David Kelso (invited), PhD, Professor, Biomedical Engineering and Director of the Center of Innovation in Global Health Technologies; developer of numerous medical devices for industry and currently focusing on low cost devices for the developing world.
    Michael A. Peshkin, PhD, Professor, Mechanical Engineering; founder of Kinea Design, a spinout company developing robotic assistive devices for physical therapists.
    Richard B. Silverman, PhD, John Evans Professor of Chemistry; inventor of Pfizer's blockbuster drug Lyrica.
    C. Shad Thaxton, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Urology; co-founder of new startup diagnostic/therapeutic company.

11:15 am - Announcement of NUCATS CTI Pilot Grant Initiative Awardees
11:30 am - Program end

Please RSVP to reserve your seat or sign up for the webcast at:
http://www.nucats.northwestern.edu/events/innovation.html

 

Legal Issues Entrepreneurs Should Know

Time: Thursday, May 8, 2009 (Evanston) Friday, May 9, 2009 (Chicago) @Noon - 1PM
Location: Tech, L361 (Evanston) Lurie Center, Searle Room (Chicago)
Keywords: Legal, patents, intellectual property, entrepreneurship

Company structure: corporation vs LLC
The importance of legal documents and contracts
Picking the right name
What to pay attention to in leases
The importance of balancing thrift with protection
The Small Business Opportunity Center: a great low cost legal resource
And more!

 

Third Annual National Security Innovation Competition

Time: Jan. 28, 2009 (deadline) May. 1, 2009 (event)
Keywords: NSIC, competition, prizes, entrepreneurship, ideas

The Third Annual National Security Innovation Competition (NSIC) for college and graduate students will be sponsored by the Colorado Springs Technology Incubator (CSTI) and the Colorado Homeland Defense Alliance (CHDA) in Colorado Springs, Colorado on May 1, 2009.

 

NSIC 2009 is designed to stimulate interest by students in national security-related innovations and expose novel technologies to a broad audience including industry, academic, and government organizations involved in aerospace, defense, security, and first responder activities.

 

The competition is open to full-time undergraduate or graduate students at any college or university, including students who have graduated in the last six months. The entries must be the original idea and work product of the student/advisor team. Cash scholarship awards will be made to the top three teams in the amounts of: First Prize - $5000, Second Prize - $2500 and Third Prize - $1000. NSIC 2009 is sponsored by the Science & Technology Division of the Department of Homeland Security and hosted by MITRE Corporation's Colorado Springs office.

 

The Entry Form must be completed and submitted by January 28, 2009. For more information, see http://www.coloradohda.org/index.php?p=nsic2009.

 

Bed, Bath, and Beyond: Live Product Search Submission

Time: Thursday, April 30, 2009 11:59PM - Pacific Time (deadline)
Keywords: Competition, prizes, ideas, product search, entrepreneurship

Do you have a great product idea for the home?
Your invention could be sold in Bed Bath & Beyond¢ç!
This year marks the 200th anniversary of the first U.S. patent issued to a woman.
To celebrate, Bed Bath & Beyond has teamed up with Edison Nation to host the American Women of Invention Search to find problem-solving product ideas for the home invented by women.

Use our Live Product Search to submit your ideas. If your idea is selected to be sold in their stores or online by Bed Bath & Beyond, you'll be paid a $2,500 advance and other compensation based on sales.

 

Kellogg Technology Conference 2009

Time: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 8:00AM - 5:30PM
Keywords: Conference, ideas, technology, entrepreneurship

The 15th Kellogg Technology Conference attracts the biggest names in the technology industry. This year's keynote speakers include Bill McDermott, Executive Board Member of SAP and former President and CEO of SAP Americas. Panels include VC & Entrepreneurship, with Raj Shah, CMO of NComputing, Charles Glavin, Entrepreneur-in-Residence, NEA, and Jasoh Heitzer, OCA Ventures.

Register now: http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/TechConference

 

Illinois Technology Development Alliance

Time: Monday, April 13, 2009 (Register here) Monday, June 8th, 2009 (Register here)
Keywords: Networking, technology, entrepreneurship

This is a quarterly networking and educational event that prepares early-stage entrepreneurs to raise capital efficiently.
The moderated event features three companies presenting their investor pitches to an audience of investors, industry leaders, service providers, state and local government representatives, and serial entrepreneurs.

Presenting companies receive constructive feedback on their presentations and business models and assistance in addressing questions and concerns that prospective investors would likely raise. In addition, the event is an excellent forum for any organization to build contacts with capital sources, potential business partners, possible suppliers, and prospective employees.

Summer@Highland 2009

Time: Thursday, April 9, 2009 (deadline) May 1, 2009 (event)
Keywords: Conference, ideas, technology, entrepreneurship

Are you a student entrepreneur with a business startup that you'd like to grow to the next level this summer? If so, the Summer@Highland 2009 program may be just what you need.

In its third year, Summer@Highland is designed to provide selected student entrepreneurs with the environment and resources for advancing their startup initiative/company to the next level. Participating entrepreneurs/teams will receive a financial stipend and complimentary work space in either our Lexington, Massachusetts or Menlo Park, California office. The teams will have access to Highland investment professionals along with further resources for injecting real-world advice, insight and perspectives into the entrepreneurial and company-building process. Full details on this year's program and an application form can be at www.hcp.com/summer.

Participating teams in the Summer@Highland 2009 program are under no obligation to Highland after the summer. That being said, advanced initiatives/companies may qualify for seed financing and/or additional involvement by the Highland team to help accelerate company growth. Further terms and conditions may apply for those that qualify for these options (evaluated on a case-by-case basis) and are interested in taking advantage of them.


Intellectual Property Presentation

Time: March 2, 2009, 6PM - 7:30PM Location: Ford Segal Design Institue, G211
Keywords: IP, Patent, Lawyer, Copyright, ideas

Mr. Bufalino will discuss the basics of the various types of patents and trademarks with examples. He will speak to the proper way to document, develop, and disclose your IP. Also he will be supplying a thorough reference guide on IP with sample basic documents for IP disclosure and protection. Food will be served.

Speaker: Angelo J. Bufalino

    Chair, Intellectual Property Practice Group
    Vedder Price

Co-Sponsors: InNUvation and Entrepreneurship and Innovation @ McCormick/Weinberg

A Community Building Grant From: The Graduate School


NUVC Kickoff and Team Building Social

Time: February 23, 2009, Location: Prairie Moon, 1502 Sherman Ave, Evanston, IL
Keywords: competition, team building, social, kickoff, NUVC, ideas

Come to the NUVC Kick-off and Team-building Social this Wednesday night!
The Northwestern University Venture Challenge (NUVC) is a business idea competition with over $20,000 in cash prizes!

  • Passionate about a competition where you can make your pitch to real venture capitalists?
  • Own a creative idea but looking for the perfect team to execute it?
  • Want to join a team working on a great idea?
Come find out what we're all about! Come share your ideas and meet teammates!

Applied Research Day

Time: February 19, 2009, Location: Technological Institute
Keywords: Research, graduate, ideas

Applied Research Day (ARD) returns to where is free hidden object games free the free spongebob game blog Northwestern University Technological Institute on February 19, 2009. Organized by McCormick, Weinberg, Kellogg, and Medill students from the entrepreneurial and innovation club InNUvation, the event will focus on the importance of translational research. More specifically, it seeks to combine the technical expertise of scientific researchers with the entrepreneurial knowledge of aspiring businessmen. For scientific researchers, this is a unique opportunity to learn to present to a non-technical audience and to consider the broader context of taking research beyond the lab bench. For business students, it provides an opportunity to collaborate with actual researchers to create novel business ventures.

 

Cash prizes will be awarded to outstanding poster presenters, and there will be opportunities to meet with venture capitalists. Further, this event provides an opportunity to create collaborations for the InNUvation Venture Challenge later in the spring, where substantial cash prizes provide funding to bring ideas to market. Please consider presenting posters at Applied Research Day. Research that has already been publicly disclosed is appropriate, as is new research.

 

12:30 - 1:00pm - Opening remarks (Ryan Auditorium)

1:00 - 1:30pm - Registration (Tech Lobby)

1:30 - 4:30pm - Poster Presentations (Tech Lobby)

5:00 - 6:00pm - Dinner (Cohen Commons)

6:00pm - Award Announcements (Cohen Commons)



iVentures10 Entrepreneurial Internship Program

Time: January 28, 2009 @5PM, Location: Technological Institute LR4
Keyword: Entrepreneur, ventures, internship, job, opportunity

Looking for an internship or a summer job opportunity? Have a great business idea but don't know where to start? What if you got 10 weeks and up to $25,000 to create the next big online business?

iVentures10 is an innovative internship program that gives students with great ideas for a software/web based start-up company a chance to develop their ideas into working products. Accepted teams receive guidance and capital to help get their company started.

Interested in this unique opportunity to get your business idea off the ground? Representatives from the iVentures10 program will be holding an info session on campus.

 

Free Pizza! Ask questions. Get information. Make your idea the next big thing. Start here.

If you have any other questions or comments about the event, contact Jonathan Cagadas (jonathancagadas2007@u.northwestern.edu) or visit the iVentures10 website (www.iventures10.com).



Entrepreneur Idol Classes (open to public)

October 18th to November 8th, 2008
Keywords: business model, classes, competition, entrepreneurship, finance, IP, pitch

Entrepreneur Idol Class Series I

Saturday, October 18th, 2008 5:30pm, ITW Room, Ford Building

"How to build a business model" - Eric Olson from Portage Ventures will guide you through the first steps of building a successful venture.


Entrepreneur Idol Class Series II

Sunday, October 26th 2008, 5:30pm, ITW Room, Ford Building

"Intellectual property - Protect your Idea!" - IP Lawyer Bob Brill from the law firm of Wood Phillips will instruct and guide on the best ways to protect your new venture.


Entrepreneur Idol Class Series III

November 1st, 5:30pm, ITW room Ford Building

"Finance Workshop" - Bhavan Suri, Manager at William Blair.

Seasoned entrepreneur and finance expert Bhavan Suri will teach you how to build a five year financial projection and other tips to build the financial basis of your strt-up.


Entrepreneur Idol Class Series IV

November 8th, 5:30pm ,ITW room Ford Building

"Sell ice to Eskimos - with a good pitch" - Michael Marasco, Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Learn from the pros how to sell your idea and practice your elevator pitch for the Entrepreneur Idol Competition.



Entrepreneur Idol

November 15th, 2008, 1:00-3:30pm, McCormick Tribune Center
Keywords: Business plan, entrepreneurship, Undergraduate

We are proud to host the 2nd Annual Entrepreneur Idol, an idea pitch competition emphasizing fun, vision, and delivery with competing schools across the Midwest.


Schedule

Semi-finals Round 11:00am - 12:30pm

    Teams are given 2.5 minute to pitch for a panel of judges. There will be rooms with teams from all universities competing at all times. The Preliminary Round Judging Panel will be comprised of experienced entrepreneurs, social entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, academics, non-profit founders, legal professionals, and patent experts.

Networking Lunch 12:30 - 1:00pm

    Lunch is served. Sponsors will be introduced. Businesses with info booths can use this time to recruit. Students will use this time to network with the different organizations and distribute resumes. Judges will meet during this time to whittle the competition down to eight teams.

Keynote Speaker 1:00 - 1:30pm

    Harper Reed and Scott Van Den Plas from Threadless.com/Skinnycorp will be kicking off the event and talk about their experience turning a custom t-shirt design website into a $30 million business and their upcoming adventures with Skinnycorp.

Final Round 1:30 - 4:30pm

    All audience will move into the main auditorium. Eight teams will be competing in front of a panel of four judges: An experienced entrepreneur, an entrepreneurship professor, a venture capitalist, and last year's Entrepreneur Idol winner. Each team will be allowed 3 minute of presentation, using any visual aid to give its elevator pitch.
    Entertainment will be provided at the break time and an audience vote will be conducted at the end of the competition for an Audience Favorite Award. While the judges deliberate for a winner, another presentation will be given by a successfully run student business. Winner and Audience Favorite Awards will be announced promptly afterwards.

The Competition

Entrepreneur Idol posts students with ideas against a panel of judges and audience members who will critique them based on the quality, creativity, and delivery of their concepts.

The competition will be a full day extravaganza filled with passionate competition and lively entertainment. Elimination Rounds on Saturday will narrow the field for the Finals later that day. Helping competitors and audience through the stress and excitement of competition will be good food, educational speeches by successful entrepreneurs, and informational booths from leading organizations.


Participating Institutions:

Undergraduate students from more than half-a-dozen Chicago-land universities are expected to compete in Entrepreneur Idol. Students may work as individuals or as teams and will be allowed whatever aids they feel are necessary for their presentations.

  • University of Chicago
  • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  • Northwestern University
  • Loyola University
  • DePaul University
  • Illinois Institute of Technology
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • University of Dayton

The Awards:

  • 1st Place - $25,000 funding with the Iventures10 program - Turn your idea into reality!
  • 2nd Place - $1500 cash + Free Kaplan Prep Courses (GRE,GMAT,LSAT) for the winning team.
  • Audience Favorite Award - $1500 cash prize. You decide who wins!

For more info and registration check www.EntIdol.com



Becoming Your Own Boss: Entrepreneurship in the Current Economic Climate

Wednesday, November 11, 2008 at 6:30PM RSVP Required.
Keywords: Entrepreneurship, speaker, Larry Levy

Want to learn tips for how to succeed as an entrepreneur? Want to meet other students and alumni interested in entrepreneurship?

Come hear NU alum Larry Levy discuss: "Becoming Your Own Boss: Entrepreneurship in the Current Economic Climate"

This event is designed to offer advice to aspiring entrepreneurs in today's day and age. Mr. Levy will share his own experience of starting and running a highly successful business and then field questions from the audience. A networking reception will follow.


Event Details:

6:30-7:30pm: Discussion hosted by Larry Levy

7:30-8:30pm: Networking Reception (Includes Limited Bar and Beverages, Appetizers and Dessert)

Registration: Space is limited, Click here to register!


Where: Northwestern University Chicago Campus, Wieboldt Hall, Ray Connelly Lounge

339 E. Chicago Avenue, Chicago, 60611


Take the free bus: http://www.univsvcs.northwestern.edu/shuttles/pdf/intercampus08.pdf. The map doesn't show the Chicago campus but the bus route ends at the Montgomery Ward building at 303 E. Chicago Ave. This is just down the street from Wieboldt Hall.

Price: Alumni: $25, Students: $5

Dress code: Business Casual

Sponsored by: NU Club of Chicago and InNuvation

Questions? Contact Matt Znameroski at mznameroski2009@kellogg.northwestern.edu


About Larry Levy

Larry Levy (UB '66, KSM '67) is the Chairman of Levy Restaurants and Chairman and CEO of The Levy Organization, his real estate development company. Since its founding in 1978, Mr. Levy has built Levy Restaurants into a dynamic culinary and hospitality business known nationwide as the innovator and market leader of sports and entertainment dining. From its base of award-winning restaurants, including Spiaggia and Bistro 110 in Chicago, and Fulton's Crab House and Portobello Yacht Club at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, the company has grown to 66 locations including convention facilities, music/performance venues, and stadiums and arenas for all major sports leagues in 39 markets worldwide.


About the Levy Institute

In 2003, Larry and his wife Carol founded the Levy Institute of Entrepreneurial Practice at Kellogg Graduate School of Management. The institute is responsible for shaping and managing the entrepreneurship curriculum at Kellogg.

http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/levyinstitute/



InNUvation Undergraduate Kickoff Meeting

October 11th, 2008, 5:30pm, ITW room Ford Building
Keywords: Entrepreneur, Panel, Undergraduate

Find out how you can get involved in InNUvation, learn more about the Entrepreneur Idol Competition, and hear about InNUvation mentorship opportunities and events.



Undergraduate Entrepreneur Panel

Thursday, May 29th, 2008, 5 pm to 6:30 pm Ford Motor Building, ITW (Room 1-350).
Keywords: Speaker, Undergrad panel, starup

Come hear how your peers started their businesses!

There will be free food.


Bios:

Matt Cohlmia is a senior in Industrial Engineering originally from Wichita, Kansas. He has been president of Chicago Unzipped for one year, and in that year turned the business from printing 1,000 copies of the 2nd edition to a planned 5,000 copies of the 3rd.

 

Li learned about money and finance from his penny-pinching grandmother and was fortunate to be born into a family with many business savvy people. He got his start in entrepreneurship when he joined a small company The Boxing Co., a Northwestern started summer storage and shipping company. As a consultant for Northwestern Student Holdings, Li has helped start two other student companies, NUTutors and Wildcat Express Delivery. He is passionate about real estate and Goldman Sachs.

 

Neal Sales Griffin has done everything from selling Christmas trees to starting two companies. Griffin's interest in business began when he sold Christmas trees during junior high school for money. His interest was piqued and he began selling more items. When he graduates, this Learning and Organizational Change major in the School of Education and Social Policy, would like to do the impossible: become a venture capitalist. As a freshman, Griffin also worked with a startup, Context Media, founded by two Northwestern students: Rishi Shah and alumni Derek Moeller.

 

William Pulte, Jr., a Medill sophomore, has created two new ventures during his time at Northwestern. His first company, Campuslist, co-founded by himself and Jon Drake, is a online marketplace for college students. The second company that he is currently running is Great Lake Helicopters, a service that specializes in aerial photography in the North Shore area.



InNUvation Alumni & Student Social

(Co-hosted by Kellogg Alumni Club of Chicago)
Tuesday, May 20, 2008, 5:30-7:30pm Prairie Moon, Back Room (1502 Sherman Ave, Evanston, IL 60201)
Keywords: Alumni, Chicago, entrepreneurship, innuvation

Come meet Chicago-area Alumni with entrepreneurial experience. Hear about experiences after graduation and maybe find new opportunities!

Appetizers will be provided.



NUVC Finals

Sunday, May 11, 2007 from 1PM to 5PM McCormick Tribune Center (1870 Campus Dr., Evanston, IL 60208)
Keywords: finals, innuvation, NUVC

Come watch the exciting business plans by our 6 finalists!

Biotic Laboratories

Element Bars

Februus

Opthometrics

Passaggio

The Next Big Sound


    1:10PM - 1:30PM: Sign In (Participants, judges and audience arrives)
    1:30PM - 2:30PM: Presentation I (First three finalists present: 10 min presentation + 7 min questions from judges)
    2:30PM - 2:45PM: Break
    2:45PM - 3:45PM: Presentation II (Second set of three finalists present: 10 min presentation + 7 min questions from judges)
    4:00PM - 4:30PM: Keynote Speaker - Gordon Segal (Crate & Barrel, Founder and CEO)
    4:30PM - 5:00PM: Awards Ceremony (Announcement of winners followed by networking reception)


ThinkorSwim

April 30th, 2008, 2:45pm
keyword: Events, Tech, ThinikorSwim

InNUvation's field trip to Chicago's leading online brokerage company.

The only broker ranked in the top two places in Barron's Annual Broker Comparison for the past three years - 2006, 2007, 2008

Come with us to the company's headquarters and Q & A with the company founders.

 

Vans leave in front of the Technological Institute

Limited spaces available!

Registration is closed. Thank you for your interest!



Start-up Social and Recruit Event

May 1st, 2008, 4:30-6:30pm in the Cohen Commons, 4th floor of the Technological Institute
Keywords: e-business, Events, Recruiting, Tech, Undergrad

Don't have a job yet?

Want to meet new and upcoming Chicago companies?

 

Come to InNUvations's informal recruiting event and meet top Chicago firms on the rise. Some participating companies are Natropolis Inc., Zaplee.com, Greenamericaproject.com, ParkWhiz LLC, and more..

 

Free Dinner!

Informal dress code

Bring your resumes

This event is open to public



Intellectual Property Workshop

Wednesday April 9th from 5:15-6:15 Jacobs 101
Keyword: idea, intellectual property, IP, patents

Professor Jim Septa (Northwestern Law)


This is the fourth and final NUVC workshop. Some topics that will be covered are:

  • Differences between patents, trademarks, and trade secrets and when to consider using each
  • What the process is for filing a patent
  • How to pick a good attorney and also when is it necessary to pick a specialist versus a generalist
  • How to protect the ability to patent an idea by maintaining confidentiality of the idea
  • What are some of the common mistakes entrepreneurs make regarding IP


InNUvation Speaker Series: David Weinstein

Monday April 7th from 5:15-6:15 Jacobs 160
Keywords: entrepreneurship, Innovation, networking, Speakers

Founder and Managing Director of Illinois Innovation Accelerator Fund a $10M seed stage VC fund

Come listen to Kellogg alumnus, David Weinstein '00, talk about his journey to helping found and serve as the managing director for the Illinois Innovation Accelerator Fund, a $10MM seed stage venture capital fund in Chicago. David will talk about some of the lessons he learned along the way and also offer advice to aspiring entrepreneurs and students trying to maximize their school experience. David will also discuss the importance of having sales experience and a strong network, and how they proved invaluable in his career.



Entrepreneurship Week

February 26 to March 1, Various Locations
Keywords: Entrepreneurship Week, NUVC

Northwestern's university-wide entrepreneurship competition presents...


Entrepreneurship Social

When: Tuesday, February 26, 6pm-8pm

Location: Cohen Commons (L482), Tech Institute

Looking to be part of a winning business plan? Searching for people to help launch your business plan? Meet other students interested in entrepreneurship at this event!


Speaker Series: Daphne Mazarakis (Founder of Tula Foods)

When: Thursday, February 28, 5:15pm-6:15pm

Location: Jacobs 165 (Kellogg)

Hear Daphne's story about starting a food company. She will talk about her decision to become an entrepreneur and her recent experiences with fundraising.


Selling Skills Workshop

When: Saturday, March 1, 10am-12pm

Location: Jacobs 101 (Kellogg)

Learn how to pitch your business idea to gain investors and customers.



Steve Olechowski - Co-Founder and COO of Feedburner

Wednesday, February 20, 2008, 4:00pm - 5:30pm Ford Building, ITW Auditorium (1-350)
Keywords: Speaker, founder, Alumni

Come meet, hear, and chat with Steve Olechowski, an NU alum whose company, Feedburner, was recently acquired by Google. Learn about how his struggles, how he did, and how you can do it, too!

 

This event is to promote the new Principles of Entrepreneurship Class being offered this Spring in a joint effort between the Business Institutions Program and the Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences Department (IEMS395 & BIP390). This class will cover the main principles and basics of entrepreneurship and of starting a business.

 

This event is being co-sponsored by BIP, IEMS, InNUvation, and ISBE (the Institute for Student Business Education).

This even is open to both undergraduates and graduate students alike.

Food will be available.



NUVC Team Building Social

Wednesday, January 30, 7:30-9:30PM Prairie Moon, 1502 Sherman Ave, Evanston, IL
Keywords: Social, NUVC, teambuilding

Northwestern's university-wide entrepreneurship competition presents...


Team Building Event

LOOKING to be part of a winning business idea?

SEARCHING for people to join your team?

Light appetizers provided.


We'll have booths set up by interest to help you find the ideal group:

Hi-tech, Retail, Clean Energy, Biotech, & Social Entrepreneurship



NUVC Finance Workshop

Saturday, Februrary 2, 10am-12pm Jacobs Center (Kellogg), Room 101
Keywords: NUVC, workshop

Northwestern's university-wide entrepreneurship competition presents...


Finance Workshop

Taught By Bhavan Suri

Learn how to build sound financials for your business plan.

Bhavan is an exciting and experienced entrepreneur, having co-founded Elytics, an enterprise software company and worked with Answerthink and OCA Ventures. He also is on the Board of Advisors of Next Step Technologies, CoboTech Inc, the Aspire Group, Liquid Pixels, and the One Acre Fund. Bhavan is a graduate of Kellogg and Brown University, and currently is an Associate Analyst at William Blair.

Free lunch provided.



NUVC Marketing Workshop

Saturday, January 19, 10am-12pm Jacobs Center (Kellogg), Room 1246
Keywords:Marketing, NUVC, workshop

Northwestern's university-wide entrepreneurship competition presents...


Marketing Workshop

Taught By Prof. Alexander Chernev

What role will marketing play in taking an innovative idea to market?

Gain hands-on experience marketing your idea!

All students welcome. No registration necessary.

Free lunch provided.



InNUvation Speaker Series: Professor Razeghi's - The Riddle

Monday, January 14th, 5:15PM - 6:15PM Kellogg, Room 1246
Keywords: speaker

Looking for your eureka moment to start your own company? Ever wonder why you get your best ideas in the shower? Come hear Kellogg's Professor Andrew Razeghi speak about his latest book, The Riddle, which reveals the precursors that stimulate creative insight. Razeghi combines the latest findings in neuroscience, interviews with current innovators, and studies of history's most creative minds to provide a practical framework for creating conditions to make successful innovation a repeatable process.



Entrepreneur Idol

Sunday, December 2nd, 12:30pm McCormick Tribune Center (south of Norris and east of Kresge)
Keywords: Undergrad

The Northwestern and University of Chicago Undergrad Entrepreneur Idol Competition:

Four Teams from Northwestern. Four Teams from University of Chicago.

 

Entrepreneur Idol is an idea pitch competition which emphasizes creativity, vision, and delivery. On December 2nd, four teams from each university will present their ideas for new businesses/social causes to a panel of three judges and an audience of entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and hopefully you!

 

Not to mention, in Entrepreneur Idol, the audience has a vote on the team that wins the $1000 top prize!

Come support your friends and learn about entrepreneurship, new business ideas, and social change.

 

LUNCH PROVIDED

Sponsored by the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Please visit www.nuchicagoidol.com for information.



1st Team Building Event

Tuesday, Dec. 4th, 6-9 pm Tech Institute 4th Floor Faculty Lounge
Keywords: Teambuilding

LOOKING to be part of a winning business plan?

SEARCHING for people to help launch your business plan?

This first team building session will provide an opportunity for those interested in the NUVC to start brainstorming ideas and meeting people to form teams. There will be a session for people to briefly pitch their ideas. Those with or without ideas are welcome to attend. Food will be provided.



InNUvation Downtown Campus Social

Thursday, November 29, 2007, 6:30 - 8:30 PM Elephant & Castle, 160 E Huron, Chicago, IL
Keywords: Social

Come mix and mingle with other entrepreneurially minded students on the downtown campus. Appetizers will be provided.



Applied Research Day

Tuesday, Novemeber, 13, 2007 Technological Institute on Northwestern's Evanston Campus
Keywords: ARD, Research

Applied Research Day (ARD) is a university-wide research poster forum showcasing some of the world class research being performed at Northwestern. One of the primary goals of ARD is to enhance collaboration and exchange of ideas across the different departments and schools at Northwestern. Cash prizes will be awarded for outstanding poster presentations.

For more information and to register please visit: http://ard.innuvation.org/

Abstracts are due by October 31, 2007



Idea - Pitch Workshop

Thursday, November 15th, 5:15pm-7:15pm LR2, Technological Institute
Keywords: Idea, pitch, workshop

Is your idea going to make millions?

Learn from the pros how to pitch to investors that you are the next big thing.

Having great ideas is only half the battle, while selling them is the secret to true success.

Come to our workshop and learn how to present your idea professionally, succinctly, and convince everyone that you are the real deal.

Open to everyone, including NU Venture Challenge and Entrepreneur Idol participants. Free Pizza!

Have any questions? Please email Elan at ezamri@northwestern.edu



InNUvation Speaker Series: Genevieve Thiers

Monday, November 5, 5:15 - 6:15pm Jacobs 160
Keywords: Speaker

Genevieve Thiers, Founder of Sittercity.com & Graduate of NU School of Music

Hear the story of how a professional opera singer created one of the hottest web companies. Named by TIME magazine as one of the "50 Coolest Websites," Sittercity is the leading parent-sitter matchmaking site for child care and pet care.



2008 NU Venture Challenge Kickoff

Monday, October 8th , 4:30PM - 5:45PM Tech Institute, L211
Keywords: NUVC

Open forum on entrepreneurship with:

Paul Sagan (CEO of Akamai) & Mary Lou Song (3rd employee of eBay and Director of Community Development)

Hear about what it takes to create and lead a successful firm and learn about Northwestern's largest entrepreneurship competition.

2008 NUVC Kickoff Powerpoint



2007 Summer Seminar Series on Product Development

August 28 - TBD, Ford ITW Classroom
Keywords: Summer, seminar, product development

What is Product Development? As an entrepreneur, how should I handle it?

Come learn about Product Development from the experts in this 3 part series!


Our guests come from Herbst LaZar Bell (HLB), one of the nation's leading product design and development firms, and Loggerhead Tools, the creators of the bionic wrench. Whether you are just curious or you have specific questions related to your own idea, this series is for you!


Session 1: Product Development 101

Learn the basics

When: Tues. August 28, 2007, 5pm

Where: Ford ITW Classroom 1-350

Speaker: Prof. Walter Herbst, HLB, Director of Master of Product Development

Food will be provided.


Session 2: Panel Discussion

Ask experienced designers and entrepreneurs about their PD practices.

When: Wed. August 29, 2007, 5pm

Where: Ford ITW Classroom 1-350

Speakers:

Dan Brown, Founder of Loggerhead Tools

Howard Dittmer, Sr.VP Engineering, HLB

Greg Holderfield, Director of Design, HLB

Food will be provided.


Session 3: Ideation Session at design firm HLB

Date TBA