February 2, 2012 New York, NY – Hoya Entrepreneurship hit New York City for an intimate gathering, the first of many, in the iconic 30 Rock building. Jeff Reid, Director of the Entrepreneurship Initiative at Georgetown University, welcomed a diverse handful of Hoyas including current students and an impressive lineup of alumni representing classes back to 1983. Jeff shared the a few highlights of the Entrepreneurship Initiative’s progress:
- Awarded hosting rights for October 2012 Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers annual conference
- DC Entrepreneurship Week and Global Entrepreneurship Week Kick-Off Event well attended and garnered lots of positive attention
- Hoya Challenge (business pitch competition) & Entrepreneurship Fellows Program (undergrad program) continue to grow
- DC Entrepreneurship Week and Global Entrepreneurship Week Kick-Off Event in the Hariri Building
- Venture Capital Investment Competition Southeast Region
Jeff Reid, Derek Webster('04), Dawn Bernsley('89), Al Periu(’01), Eliot Durbin('06) and Heather Gilchrist(Current JD/MBA) talk Hoya Entrepreneurship in New York.
Alumni interest in Entrepreneurship and the start-up scene has been exploding. Support from the University and energized alumni groups such as Georgetown Entrepreneurship Alliance (LinkedIn & Facebook) and The Georgetown Entertainment & Media Alliance has been stimulating a growing number of gatherings and added programming by alumni clubs across the country (for more contact your local alumni club). Al Periu, Co-Director of GEMA NY, says “We’re seeing increased interest from alumni in entrepreneurship and have been adding to nationwide programming with plans to hold an event in New York City in mid-May.”
Chris Thompson (’01), STUDENT, Holly Ormseth('13), Jeff Reid and STUDENT warm up for the Kairos Global Summit
Students joined the February 2nd event as a warm-up to their attendance of the Kairos Global Summit, a weekend conference where students create high-growth companies that solve the world’s most pressing challenges. These students representing Georgetown that came to meet the alumni represent a strong and growing theme at Georgetown, and universities across the country, in Entrepreneurship. As students broaden their interests and abilities to learn new skills the ever progressing reputation of Georgetown, and the future of global business, shows increased promise.
Elizabeth Jordan (’07), Director at Georgetown University, said “I was impressed by the group’s energy, curiosity and creativity. In an environment plagued by anemic job growth and bleak economic forecasts, Georgetown’s burgeoning entrepreneur community stood out in the vibrancy of the individuals and companies involved. Several projects and investments were discussed that are providing (or will provide) game changing products, technologies and ultimately solutions for the future. The entrepreneurial commitment to creative problem solving and collaboration is heralding the advent of a new economy.”
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