Thursday, January 29, 2009

Thanks to the efforts of Chris Defilippo, we're hosting the second Fuqua Planapalooza (the first was held in the fall as the Business Plan Review project).

"If you haven’t signed up yet, don’t miss this opportunity to get involved with local start-ups and entrepreneurs. 

 
The 
Fuqua Planapalooza business plan review series gives you an opportunity to review business plans of North Carolina start-ups.  In conjunction with the CEI, EVCC, and NC IDEAyou choose what business you're interested in including: 
- Biotechnology & Medical Devices 
- Greentech/Clean Tech 
- IT Software & Wireless IT System
 
- ... and a range of other industries and applications. 
 
The Fuqua Plananpalooza will take place on Wednesday, February 11 from 9 am -1 pm including an informal networking lunch with local entrepreneurs and some of the team at NC IDEA.  Additionally, we will host a VC Crash Course with Jeff Boardman of 
learnvc.com, next Tuesday (February 3) from 6:30-7:30 pm. 
 
Teams of students will be assigned a few business plans in their chosen industry area and asked to make recommendations on their viability.  This feedback will be the basis for anyone interested in working with the start-ups on later application rounds or possibly in a longer-term relationship with the entrepreneur.   
 
Please sign up by Sunday, Feb 1. 
http://duke.qualtrics.com/SE?SID=SV_38eVByQ8x1FgxEM&SVID=Prod 
 

Contact Chris DeFilippo if you have any questions or check out the website for more details. 
https://sites.google.com/a/fuqua.duke.edu/evcc/Home/events/business-plan-review-series"

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Vcic teams grilling the entrepreneur

VCIC internal competition

We have two entrepreneurs here today and four teams of students competing in our internal VCIC competition.

Nice work putting this together, Stephen and Amy.

-Howie

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Raise funds for your Duke startup here

Hi everyone, 

Do you have an idea for a great startup? Are you trying to raise funds for your startup? 

I'm working with an alumnus that has had a couple of successful exits and is now looking to invest in Duke entrepreneurs. He is working with a couple of friends and they have agreed to look at a few opportunities. 

So we've created the following simple form. If you're interested, please fill the form out. 

http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=cHBzeVlyYlRmSlFyMGR5RkxjY2djVGc6MA .. 

-Howie

Check out the Grand Challenges Summit

I received the following email.  It seems like a pretty star packed group.  In addition to Charles Vest, formerly president of MIT, and Steven Chu (incoming Secretary of Energy for President Obama), there is also Tom Byers of Stanford University (Panel at 3:15pm, March 2nd).    Worth checking out the program.

This will be held right around the corner at the Durham Performing Arts Center.

http://summit-grand-challenges.pratt.duke.edu/summit-program


Howie

"I am writing regarding an upcoming event which I feel sure will be of interest you.  It is the *Summit on the National Academy of Engineering Grand Challenges to be held at the Durham Performing Arts Center on March 1-3 (receptions will be held at the Marriott Convention Center and the Washington Duke Hotel & Golf Club).

 

Please see the link below for a detailed program for this event.

http://summit-grand-challenges.pratt.duke.edu/

 

This event is being hosted by Duke, USC Viterbi School of Engineering and Olin College and supported by the National Academy of Engineering.  It is sponsored by Duke Energy, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Duke Energy, RTI International and others.

 

Dr. Steven Chu, Nobel Laureate (1997 in Physics) and Dr. Moira Gunn, Host of Tech Nation and BioTech Nation will be speaking along with Dr. Charles Vest, president of the National Academy of Engineering and more.

 

If you'd like further information regarding this event please feel free to contact me via reply email, Kathy Kay at kathy.kay@duke.edu or Deborah Hill at deborah.hill@duke.edu."