Past Events
2020
Startup Weekend Athens 2020
Startup Weekend is a 54-hour weekend event, during which groups of developers, business managers, startup enthusiasts, marketing gurus, graphic artists and more pitch ideas for new startup companies, form teams around those ideas, and work to develop a working prototype, demo, or presentation by Sunday evening.
2019
Global Entrepreneurship Week 2019:
Careers and Entrepreneurship in the Sciences: Drugs, Devices, Diagnostics
Ohio University’s Center for Entrepreneurship celebrated Global Entrepreneurship Week from 4 – 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19 in Walter Rotunda with an event focused on careers and entrepreneurship in the sciences, exploring innovators in drug discovery, medical devices and diagnostics.
Women in Entrepreneurship Week 2019
An Afternoon with Ohio Women Entrepreneurs
Ohio University’s Center for Entrepreneurship celebrated Women in Entrepreneurship Week by hosting multiple Ohio female entrepreneurs for a panel and networking event from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23, in Walter Hall Rotunda.
Venture Café:
Rock Your Business Co-Founders Ed Oates and Michelle Fox
On April 25, Ed Oates (co-founder of Oracle) and Michelle Fox (OHIO alum, Journalism & Executive MBA) visited CoLab to discuss their newest venture, Rock Your Business. Rock Your Business, an affiliate of Rock n Roll Fantasy Camps, brings in rockstars to facilitate team-building and leadership workshops with corporations. The event drew about 225 attendees.
Venture Café:
The Importance of Small Town Business
On April 23, local entrepreneurs from Donkey Coffee, Casa Nueva, Stuart's Opera House, and Passion Works discussed their involvement in the Southeastern Ohio community.
Expo Pitch Competition 2019
On April 11, the Center for Entrepreneurship hosted the annual Expo Pitch competition, where students presenting work with commercial potential at the Student Expo can pitch to a panel of judges and win cash. We had 42 teams present that morning (an over 100% increase from 2017!), and finalists presented that afternoon in CoLab to win up to $1,000. Congrats to the following winners:
Top prize ($1,000): Ashwin Ramanujam - Rapid Electrochemical Detection of Escherichia coli Using a Rotating Disc Electrode
Runner up ($500): Mitchell Cook, Dylan Wright, Kellye Blosser, and William Grey - Adventure VR
Honorable mention ($250): Kyle Devine, Mayooran Wigneshwaran, James Tirbaso, and Andrew Stroud - Acid Mine Metal Recovery
Honorable mention ($250): Marissa Dyck - The proof is in the poop: estimating occurrence and density of bobcats in Ohio using eDNA from scats
Honorable mention ($250): Raziyeh Ghahremani - Electrochemical Oxidation of Lignin for the Production of Value-added Chemicals
Honorable mention ($250): Matthew Perlman - A New Paradigm for Psychotherapist Development: Alliance Focused Training and Facilitative Interpersonal Skills
2nd Annual OHIO Music Industry Summit
On March 28, the Center for Entrepreneurship expanded 2018's wildly successful music industry panel discussion into the 2nd annual OHIO Music Industry Summit, drawing over 400 attendees. The Summit featured an exclusive gathering of national and regional music industry leaders and artists for a day of informative panels and compelling interviews, a networking meet-up for panelists and registrants, and an evening showcase of music.
2nd Annual OHIO Business of Games Summit
On February 22, the Center for Entrepreneurship and the GRID Lab partnered up to host the 2nd annual OHIO Business of Games Summit, which drew over 300 attendees.
2018
Venture Café:
Building a Bio-Enterprise with Jon Snyder
On November 2, the Center for Entrepreneurship hosted entrepreneur and OHIO alum Jon Snyder. Jon spoke to students about how he started his bio-enterprise company, Neuros Medical, Inc. Students learned about technology commercialization, fundraising, and the roadblocks Jon faced on the path to fulfilling his dream.
From Students to Startups
On November 1, the Innovation Center in partnership with the Career Network hosted From Students to Startups, a career event connecting Southeastern Ohio-based startups with Ohio University students. The event launched with a keynote address from Brian Tedeschi, a 1988 OHIO graduate. Tedeschi co-founded Think Communications, Inc., a fully integrated product launch communications agency serving clients in healthcare (device and services), consumer (shopper marketing and food) and specialty markets (product launch, creative, public relations, advertising, marketing). Following the keynote, startups pitched their companies and career opportunities to attendees in Baker University Center. The event culminated in a networking reception in the fifth floor atrium of Baker University Center.
CoLab Opens!
On October 18, we celebrated the opening of CoLab, OHIO's space for creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship, as well as the Center for Entrepreneurship's new home.
Make It Work In Fashion: Entrepreneurship in the Fashion Industry
On October 15, the Center for Entrepreneurship and the Retail Merchandising and Fashion Product Development Program hosted fashion entrepreneurs from around the country for a fashion show and panel discussion. These fashion pros shared stories about making their hobbies into a career. Panelists included:Zack Hurley and Jesse Dombrowiak, co-founders of Indie Source, Forbes 30 Under 30 awardees, and OHIO alum Pebby, founder of Pebby Forevee, Andrew McEwen, founder of McEw, Coral Wedel, founder of Coral Marie
Expo Pitch Competition
On April 12, the Center for Entrepreneurship hosted the annual Expo Pitch competition.
New Music Entrepreneurs: Building A Life & Living in the Music Industry
On March 27, the Center for Entrepreneurship hosted a panel about entrepreneurs in the music industry. The panel was moderated by Ohio Music Production and Recording Industry professor Josh Antonuccio who is also Owner/Producer of 3 Elliott Studio. The panel included:
- Bobby Booshay - Electronic DJ & Musician
- April Kulcsar - Artist Management & Tour Manager
- Tim Peacock - Executive Director, Stuart's Opera House & Producer of the Nelsonville Music Festival
- Angela Perley - Touring Artist, Lead Singer, The Howlin' Moons
The event attracted 160 students from various colleges across campus.
From Athens to Silicon Valley (and back)
On February 7, the Center for Entrepreneurship hosted a Venture Café panel discussion with two Ohio alumni: David Pidwell and Rob Painter. Pidwell and Painter had each just recently been awarded the Konneker Medal for excellence in innovation, invention, commercialization, and entrepreneurship.
2017
Making It In Real Estate
On November 29, the Center for Entrepreneurship hosted a discussion with John McNellis, founder of McNellis Partners. McNellis is a real estate developer in California and author of "Making It in Real Estate: Starting Out as a Developer." He shared his story with students, and gave advice about how they could break into the real estate industry.
Kelly Weber: Leading From Your Strengths
On November 14, the Center for Entrepreneurship hosted a workshop with Ohio alumna Kelly Weber. Weber is founder and owner of The Wander Project and co-owner of Found. As part of Global Entrepreneurship Week, Weber led students in a workshop on discovering their strengths and use their strengths to lead.
Business of Games Summit
On September 14, the Center for Entrepreneurship and the Game Research and Immersive Design (GRID) Lab hosted the inaugural Business of Games Summit. The all-day event focused on all aspects of rapidly growing game industry with panels, exhibitors, and a case competition. The event had over 700 attendees during the day.
Venture Café: Ryan Watson
On January 18, the Center for Entrepreneurship hosted Ryan Watson. Watson was the co-founder and principal of Upsourced Accounting and now is the head of finance and operations for Ahalogy. While at Upsourced Accounting, he created Sqrl, a tool used for accounting software. There was high demand for this tool, so Watson decided to sell it to other accounting firms.
2016
The Missing Piece: Doing Business the Donatos Way
On November 7, the Center for Entrepreneurship hosted Jane Grote Abell, Chairwoman of the Board for Donatos Pizza on Women in Entrepreneurship Day. Donatos was originally started by Abell's father, and she has worked in various roles for the company over the past four decades. She helped the company become acquired by McDonalds in 1999, and then bought back the company in 2003. She shared with students her "4C's of Success" and her story of being successful in her career as a female entrepreneur.
Food Truck Round-Up
On October 11, the Center for Entrepreneurship hosted a panel with owners of four local food trucks and a member of Ohio Catering. The panelist included:
- Marla Rutter - owner of the Burrito Buggy
- Nisar and Brenda Shaikh - owners of Ali Baba
- Stacy Peters - owner of Petru
- Evelyn Nagy - owner of Holy Guacamole
- Elizabeth Dahlen - Assistant Manager of Catering at Ohio University
Each individual shared their success story and gave advice to students about starting your own business and following your dreams.
2015
Crushing Mediocrity: The Sure Way to Become a World Changer
On November 19, the Center for Entrepreneurship hosted Rene Banglesdorf in celebration of Women & Global Entrepreneurship Week. Banglesdorf's company, Charlie Bravo Aviation, in 2009 became the first broker and dealer of an aircraft to be certified as woman-owned. She told her story and how she continues to be a leading voice for women in the business aviation industry. Her talked empowered students, especially women, so strive for excellence in business and life.
Stev Guyer: Live Performance Innovator
On March 9, the Center for Entrepreneurship hosted Stev Guyer, co-founder of Shadowbox Live, America's largest resident theater company, based in Columbus, Ohio. The company is heavily involved in the community, donating more than $250,000 to Central Ohio youth.
2014
Entrepreneurship NOW
On April 23, the Center for Entrepreneurship hosted Ohio alumnus, Michael Giuliano, at an open forum for engineering and business students. Giuliano shared his experience in product development and launch of new products. He has directly trained over 35,000 professionals and has authored Lean-Sigma Programs.
Founders of Reddit and Imgur Visit OU
On February 24, the Center for Entrepreneurship hosted Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit, and OHIO alumnus, Alan Schaaf '10, founder of Imgur. Ohanian shared his entrepreneurial story of how he became the man that Forbes dubbed, "Mayor of the Internet". He stressed that ideas are great, but action and execution are what make an entrepreneur.
2013
Cameron Mitchell Visits Ohio University
On November 18, the Center for Entrepreneurship hosted Cameron Mitchell, one of the nation's premier restaurateurs. When Mitchell was 18, he had a goal to be a restaurant general manager by age 35. At age 30, he started Cameron Mitchell Restaurants (CMR) and opened his first restaurant. Now CMR has grown to 32 restaurants. For Mitchell's determination and drive, he was recognized as Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst and Young.