Blurb about the Duke Global Entrepreneurship Network

Wrote the following blurb about DukeGEN - thought it might be useful to post here as well.

-Howie

The Duke Global Entrepreneurship Network (DukeGEN) is an online network for Duke's community of entrepreneurs (both  alumni and students). Through DukeGEN, Duke entrepreneurs can both connect with other Duke entrepreneurs and get answers to their questions related to starting a company.

The goal of DukeGEN is "to be a sophisticated and active network that helps create debate, dialogue, and lucky encounters between Duke entrepreneurs."  Founded by T. Reid Lewis '84, Michael Cann '95, Jon Fjeld '90, and Howie Rhee '04, there is a small committed group of volunteers that are "providing the energy and coordination to encourage Duke entrepreneurs, around the globe, to connect and increase their chances of success."

Since DukeGEN was started in April of 2008, the group has successfully proven it's value to Duke's entrepreneurial community. Notably, DukeGEN now has over 700 members on LinkedIn (and about 90 on Facebook, and 188 members on the Google Group).  In addition, there are some good discussions going on (94 discussions on the Google Group, 26 on LinkedIn).  

Questions that have been posted on DukeGEN have ranged from "how to split equity between founders" to "whether the venture capital model is broken" to getting specific advice for starting companies in "wound care" and "apartment rentals".

All Duke alumni and students are welcome to join.  Go to www.dukeGEN.com for more information.

CEO workshop! 22 startup ceos meet w 22 student startups

Recent event - this was the CEO Workshop we held here at Fuqua in Faculty Hall on Thursday, February 5th. We had 22 local startup CEOs and about 30 students, and they "speed networked" for 10 minutes each, to talk about startup issues.

The CEO Workshop is part of the Duke Entrepreneurship Education Series (www.dukedees.com). The co-organizers are Fuqua's Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital Club, the Duke Start-Up Challenge, and Duke's Center for Entrepreneurship and Research Commercialization.

It was a solid event.

-Howie Rhee '04
Managing Director, Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

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 IDEA, you 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"

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

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."