The IDEA Center at the University of Notre Dame

We're excited to share that the University of Notre Dame, and in particular the ESTEEM Graduate Program, has been ranked #14 on the Top 50 Graduate Entrepreneurship Programs list by The Princeton Review. This is the third year in a row that Notre Dame & the ESTEEM Program has been ranked among the Top 50. We would like to congratulate all our amazing students, faculty, staff, and alumni who continue to make our entrepreneurial ecosystem flourish. ?? Read the Full Story Here: https://lnkd.in/gutzVA7y

Register for the IDEA Center's last Innovation Rally of the year. Keynote speaker Annie Voutsos will discuss her company, Iris Hall, which develops software that enhances event venues with photorealistic 3D visualizations. Register here: https://bit.ly/4fgtDXY ?? Friday, November 8th ?? IDEA Center, 1400 E. Angela Blvd, South Bend, IN ?? 12:00 pm EST

Join us for the final Innovation Rally of the year at the IDEA Center on Friday, November 8th at 12:00 PM! We’ll hear from ND alumnae Annie Voutsos, who will present her company Iris Hall, a software that enhances event venues with photorealistic 3D visualizations. We'll also honor the first-ever Amy Hirsh Guarino Force for Good Award, celebrating someone who embodies the University’s values of hard work, innovation, and community service. Don't miss it and register today! Register here: https://bit.ly/4fgtDXY

When the Notre Dame football team takes the field, the famous gold helmets and pads aren’t the only protective gear players don. Mike Bean, a longtime associate athletic trainer for the football team, developed the TayCo athletic brace as an over-the-shoe ankle support that an be custom-fitted to the shape of an individual athlete’s cleat. The brace is now used by 23 NFL teams and more than 80 college athletics programs: https://go.nd.edu/fd656c

Each year, the The IDEA Center at the University of Notre Dame receives hundreds of pitches for new business concepts and works with these campus entrepreneurs to further explore, refine and launch their ideas. Years ago, Mike Bean, a longtime associate athletic trainer for the football team, shared a novel concept: an ankle brace that would attach to the outside of a cleat. After collaborating with South Bend-based companies on the design, Bean and others were ready to expand the commercial impact of this research idea. The IDEA Center saw the group through the patent filing process, and helped the founders to find investors, structure the business, and build a board of directors. Now, these TayCo braces are used by 23 NFL teams and more than 80 college athletics programs. Learn more about this journey to entrepreneurship, and the outcomes that have followed, in Notre Dame Magazine: https://lnkd.in/eAsDjuW5

Have you registered for tomorrow's Innovation Rally? Don’t miss out—secure your spot using the link below! We’re excited to welcome Kalli Devaraj as our keynote speaker. Register and learn more about the event here: https://bit.ly/3Nd3eym

This Friday, Abbio XR will pitch at Innovation Rally. Join us to hear Notre Dame alumnus Seth Flatt discuss Abbio XR, a startup focused on extended-release peptide therapeutics. With roots in Dr. Webber’s diabetes research, Abbio XR aims to enhance compliance and reduce side effects of GLP-1 receptor agonist therapies. Their platform technology will allow medications like semaglutide (Ozempic?) and tirzepatide to be administered every three months instead of weekly. Register here: https://bit.ly/3Nd3eym ?? Friday, Oct. 11 ?? 12 - 1:30 pm ?? Innovation Park (IDEA Center) 1400 E. Angela Blvd, South Bend, IN

Join us this Friday at Innovation Rally as we welcome Kalyani Devaraj, founder of Carex Ventures! Kalli will share her journey, covering her startup’s beginnings, growth, and successful exit, inspiring entrepreneurs ready to embark on their own paths. Mark your calendars and register here: https://bit.ly/3Nd3eym

Rides2U has recently achieved significant milestones in its growth journey. The company closed a $300K bridge funding round, which is now oversubscribing to $400K. This achievement highlights the strong support from its investors, laying a solid foundation for future developments. Looking ahead, Rides2U is implementing new marketing strategies to increase brand awareness and attract more users. The company has set a goal to reach profitability by the end of Q1 2025. In early 2025, Rides2U plans to raise $3 million to support its expansion into Michigan, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Florida. Congratulations to Rides2U!

Join us tomorrow for Cleantech panel at Innovation Rally. Register now to explore the future of Cleantech from a legal, business opportunity, and technological perspective. Register here: https://bit.ly/4elsw96