W&L Connolly Entrepreneurship Society

Washington and Lee University has opened registration for its 2025 Entrepreneurship Summit to be held on campus April 11-12. The summit is a two-day event designed to encourage innovative business ideas and strategies while providing the perfect opportunity to connect, learn and grow the entrepreneurial spirit. The Entrepreneurship Summit is open to the entire W&L community and interested guests, alumni, faculty and staff can register through?Colonnade Connections: https://lnkd.in/ehK2TaU8 Read more on The Columns: https://lnkd.in/eZxQMhiZ

The Washington and Lee University Entrepreneurship Summit is less than three weeks away. The CES Executive Board will be hosting a panel at the summit where we will discuss our progress in the last year, what our members are working on, how CES fits within the W&L entrepreneurship program, and our goals for the future. Other highlights include alumni-led panels, student and alumni pitch sessions, and ample opportunities to connect with industry leaders. Don’t miss this chance to learn, network, and be inspired. Mark your calendars and prepare for a weekend of exploration and innovation. Register now: https://lnkd.in/ehK2TaU8 For more information, visit the official Summit page: https://wluesummit.com/

CES is proud to highlight another one of our student businesses. Biscuits & Bites fills a gap in Lexington for custom birthday cakes & treats, weekly pre-order desserts for students, and other catered events in town. Bailey Jordan ‘26 founded Biscuits & Bites this winter with a CES seed grant. Bailey has years of experience after successfully launching a biscuit company in 2020. Launching March & April 2025, we are excited to see where this goes!

Last Friday kicked off the Parents Leadership Council weekend at Washington and Lee University. It was fantastic having several alums back on campus, including Devon McAllister Rothwell and Ted Elliott, who generously took time to meet with our W&L Connolly Entrepreneurship Society (CES) board. Thanks to Devon and Ted for sharing their insights with our students—everything from nurturing student-led businesses to thoughtful advice on life beyond campus. Also, looking forward to seeing Devon again in just over a month when we visit the Bay Area with students for spring term! On Saturday, the CES board presented to visiting parents, highlighting the exciting progress of the Entrepreneurship Society, our future vision, and emphasizing the vital skill of taking calculated risks. It's always inspiring to see students confidently sharing their growth and aspirations. Grateful for such an engaged community! Pictured, L to R, the CES 25-26 Board: Jack Faulkner, Jake Schwartz, Sofia Iuteri, Ryman Smith, Ben Roberts

This is a great opportunity to learn about entrepreneurship at W&L.

The Connolly Entrepreneurship Society is proud to highlight one of our student businesses. This semester we have been hard at work evaluating start-ups for viability and scalability, as well as helping student businesses get off the ground. Today, we are proud to highlight the Experience Exchange. The Experience Exchange Magazine is a student-run publication dedicated to nature, self-discovery, and intellectual exploration. More than just a magazine, it’s a platform for stories that inspire, challenge, and connect readers. Set to launch in March 2025, the magazine will be available at local shops and campus locations. Follow @expowlu on Instagram for updates and sneak peeks!

The entrepreneurship program at Washington and Lee has seen tremendous growth. For the minor: from 12 to 34 students in the last year. Similarly, our Connolly Entrepreneurship Society has more than doubled—from 11 to 23 members—with twice as many applicants this year alone. Even more exciting: three student businesses in the Entrepreneurship Society are now actively generating revenue! Students are forming LLCs, have paying customers, and are working on raising funding. And we're not done yet. There are several big, game-changing announcements coming up—news we've kept under wraps until now. Want to be the first to hear? Join us at the Entrepreneurship Summit on April 11th and 12th. Learn about our incredible growth, celebrate student successes, and be among the first to discover what's next. Register here and see you at the Summit: https://lnkd.in/eDJnhJDB

I want to extend a big thank you to both Greg Barrow and Blair Garrou for being our Entrepreneurs in Residence in January and February at Washington and Lee University. While on campus, they immersed themselves in our entrepreneurship and engineering courses, advised the Entrepreneurship Society, and held 1:1 mentoring sessions with students. My independent study students in engineering and entrepreneurship got an extra boost from their extensive networks—connecting with the person developing the world’s first “Tesla of the sky,” along with a leading expert in sports-related investments. These kinds of experiences remind me why it’s so crucial to bring real-world innovators into the classroom. Thank you again, Greg and Blair, for your generosity and time. If any alumni are interested in joining us as our next EIR, we have slots open for academic year 2025/26. Don’t hesitate to reach out—I’d love to have you on board!

MEET THE PRO POP TEAM! - Chris Datz, Co-Founder & CEO - Jack Faulkner - Sophie Edwards - James Cardillo - Emma Marsh - Ciara Smith - Charlotte Head

Exciting news! The Washington and Lee University Entrepreneurship Summit is set for April 11-12, 2025, on our beautiful campus in Lexington, VA. This two-day event offers alumni, students, and guests the chance to engage in interactive panel discussions, networking sessions, and pitch competitions. We’re thrilled to announce that our keynote speakers are esteemed alumni Ward Waltemath and Ethan S.. Their entrepreneurial journeys promise to provide invaluable insights and inspiration. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur, an investor, or just starting your journey, the Summit offers something for everyone. Highlights include alumni-led panels, student and alumni pitch sessions, and ample opportunities to connect with industry leaders. Don’t miss this chance to learn, network, and be inspired. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for registration details. For more information, visit the official Summit page: https://wluesummit.com/ #WLU #Entrepreneurship #WLUesummit #Innovation #Networking