Interested in web marketing, software programming, or starting your own company? Wondering when is a good time to start your own company? Meet two former Duke students who became entrepreneurs as undergraduates.
Join us this Thursday, September 17th, for a talk on the basics of entrepreneurship with two Duke Alumni: Jesse Lipson, CEO of ShareFile, and Brooks Bell, CEO of Brooks Bell Interactive. A self-taught software programmer and entrepreneur, Jesse Lipson '00 has been involved in several successful startups including Rapidata.net, Brooks Bell Interactive, and ShareFile. As CEO, Jesse has overseen the growth of ShareFile to over 7,000 customers in less than four years. Brooks Bell '02 co-founded novelProjects, a web design and development firm, when she was a senior at Duke. After graduating, she founded Brooks Bell Interactive, which is now one of the top five marketing firms in the Raleigh-Durham area.
Join us this Thursday, September 17th, for a talk on the basics of entrepreneurship with two Duke Alumni: Jesse Lipson, CEO of ShareFile, and Brooks Bell, CEO of Brooks Bell Interactive. A self-taught software programmer and entrepreneur, Jesse Lipson '00 has been involved in several successful startups including Rapidata.net, Brooks Bell Interactive, and ShareFile. As CEO, Jesse has overseen the growth of ShareFile to over 7,000 customers in less than four years. Brooks Bell '02 co-founded novelProjects, a web design and development firm, when she was a senior at Duke. After graduating, she founded Brooks Bell Interactive, which is now one of the top five marketing firms in the Raleigh-Durham area.
What: Entrepreneurship 101, Part of the Duke Entrepreneurship Education Series
When: Thursday, September 17th, from 6pm-8:30pm
6pm-7pm - Food and Networking
7pm-8pm - Entrepreneurship 101 Talk by Jesse Lipson '00 and Brooks Bell '02
8pm-8:30pm - Speed Networking (optional)
6pm-7pm - Food and Networking
7pm-8pm - Entrepreneurship 101 Talk by Jesse Lipson '00 and Brooks Bell '02
8pm-8:30pm - Speed Networking (optional)
Where: Teer 203 and Lobby
Who for: Open to any Duke University student
Please register for this event on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=162783901200&ref=ts
Visit our website at http://www.dukedees.com/ to check for the latest schedule and for more information. All events subject to change.
And mark your calendars for the Duke Start-Up Challenge Finals Event on Friday, November 20th with Google Ventures co-founder, Bill Maris, and the Elevator Pitch Competition / Entrepreneurship Week starting November 16th, 2009!
About Jesse Lipson '00
A self-taught software programmer and entrepreneur, Jesse has been involved in internet technologies since 1999, when he co-founded a software company focused on the personalization of online advertising. In 2001, he became President of Rapidata.net, a pharmaceutical marketing research company. In just two years, he helped grow revenues at Rapidata.net by over 500% and laid the foundation for the company's acquisition by Greenfield Online (SRVY). Subsequent to Rapidata.net, Jesse co-founded the internet services firm novelProjects and served as the company's CEO. Over the years, novelProjects has evolved into Brooks Bell Interactive and ShareFile. Jesse serves as the Vice President of Brooks Bell Interactive, an online advertising services company with clients such as AOL, AARP, and Nickelodeon and 20 employees. He currently serves as President and CEO for ShareFile, an inte rnet software company. In less than 4 years, ShareFile has grown from zero to over 7,000 customers and 17 full-time employees. In September 2006, ShareFile registered its 10,000th user after introducing their services to the international market less than a year before. Jesse graduated Magna Cum Laude from Duke University degree in philosophy in 2000.
About Brooks Bell '02
Prior to founding Brooks Bell Interactive in 2003, Brooks Bell co-founded web design and development firm, novelProjects, during her senior year at Duke. She is founder and president of Brooks Bell Interactiveand a self-taught designer and marketer. Now in its sixth year, the company has grown to a team of 19, with growth fueled by word of mouth, great service and high quality standards. The company has gained national clients such as AOL, The Wall Street Journal, Nickelodeon and XM Radio adding its newest clients, Chase, ServiceMaster, and the Washington Post within the last year. Brooks Bell Interactive is now a top five interactive marketing firm in the Raleigh-Durham area. Brooks' frequent speaking engagements include presentations at the 2009 MarketingSherpa Email Summit and 2009 DM Days Conference, the 2008 Internet Summit in Chapel Hill, HOW Magazine's "Mind Your Own Business" for agency principals in 2008, and Duke University Entrepre neurship classes for several years. Additionally, Brooks has been published as an expert in the fields of direct marketing and conversion path optimization in iMedia Connection, Tech Journal South, and Duke Magazine. She is an active member of Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO). She graduated with a degree in psychology as part of Duke University's class of 2002.
Hosts
Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Club, www.dukeevcc.com
Duke Start-Up Challenge, www.dukestartupchallenge.org
Fuqua's Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, www.fuqua.duke.edu/centers/cei
Duke's Center for Entrepreneurship and Research Commercialization, http://cerc.duke.edu
DUHatch Student Business Incubator
Sponsors and Supporters
Intersouth Partners, a leading venture capital firm - http://www.intersouth.com
Intersouth Partners, a leading venture capital firm - http://www.intersouth.com
Hughes Pittman & Gupton, an accounting firm for startups - http://www.hpg.com
Hutchison Law Group, a law firm for startups – http://www.hutchlaw.comiContact, email marketing software - http://www.icontact.com
Square 1 Bank, a venture bank for startups - http://www.square1bank.com Wyrick Robbins, a law firm for startups – http://www.wyrick.com
To see the full Fall 2009 schedule, go to http://www.dukedees.com/schedule
To review past presentations, go to http://www.dukedees.com/session-downloads
About the Duke Entrepreneurship Education Series
The Duke Entrepreneurship Education Series (DEES) is a comprehensive program designed to introduce all Duke students – from graduate, professional and undergraduate schools – to the key concepts necessary for a future in entrepreneurship or venture capital.
The Duke Entrepreneurship Education Series (DEES) is a comprehensive program designed to introduce all Duke students – from graduate, professional and undergraduate schools – to the key concepts necessary for a future in entrepreneurship or venture capital.
The series intends to connect students from all parts of the Duke community, including liberal arts, business, law, engineering, public policy, medical and science fields, with the goal of increasing the likelihood that exciting developments in the lab will find the key collaborators needed to translate innovations into full-fledged companies.
The sessions alternate between Fuqua and Teer. The events run as follows:
The sessions alternate between Fuqua and Teer. The events run as follows:
1) Each session will begin with a social hour at 6pm, including food and drink.
2) The speaker will go on at 7pm, and will talk for 40-60 minutes, followed by a Q&A.
3) Finally, after the speaker there will be an additional opportunity for networking with classmates and speakers.
