February 2024 Newsletter
Derby Entrepreneurship Center at Tufts University (DEC)
We help Tufts students and alumni develop an entrepreneurial mindset and skillset
Tufts $100k New Ventures Competition: Application Deadline is Feb 25!
Working on a new venture? Applications are being accepted through Feb 25th for the Tufts $100k New Ventures Competition. Don't miss this opportunity to submit your idea, receive? feedback and coaching, make connections, and possibly win some award money! Not planning to apply but interested in innovation and entrepreneurship? Join us at the Joyce Cummings Center for the semi-finals and finals to cheer on the teams! Zoom option is also available.
Class and Event Highlights
There is some great energy this semester at the Derby Entrepreneurship Center! The ENT classes and a variety of DEC events are providing the opportunity for students to develop their entrepreneurial mindset and skillset. In ENT101 Entrepreneurship and Business Planning, students are learning how to #failfast. In ENT164 Intro to Making, students are building useful contraptions in a maker challenge.
On Feb 10th, DEC partnered with the School of Engineering for the First Year Engineering Design Challenge "Chain Reaction" where first-year students were responsible for a section of the overall machine, with a collaborative goal of a start-to-finish system.
Tonight, as part of Engineering Week, DEC is hosting 3D Printing Beginners. Join an upcoming event and get excited about innovation and entrepreneurship!
San Francisco Tech+Innovation Mixer
On January 29th, The Office of Alumni Engagement, together with the Derby Entrepreneurship Center and Tufts Entrepreneurial Network, hosted a large and energetic crowd at the Tech+Innovation Mixer at China Live in San Francisco! The DEC team was in attendance and enjoyed connecting with old friends and making new connections. It was inspiring to chat with MSIM alums, past Tufts $100k winners, and others in our ecosystem who continue to follow their passion for? innovation and entrepreneurship.?
Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Update
Entrepreneurial Initiative Fund: Spring 2024: Application Deadline is April 29!
The Tufts Entrepreneurial Initiative Fund (EIF) provides modest funding to individual students, teams or student clubs to support them in their entrepreneurial initiatives. The rolling grant application process runs fall and spring while school in session. Apply now to take advantage of this opportunity to receive funding to support your entrepreneurial goals.
Entrepreneurial Internship Program?
The DEC collaborates with Tufts Career Center to offer a limited number of $4,500 grants to students accepted into otherwise unpaid entrepreneurial summer internships. Alumni can post a job by February 29 for a chance to welcome a Tufts student to join you for the summer. Tufts students can apply for a job, get an offer, and apply for a grant through the Career Center by March 17.
Event Spotlights
"An Entrepreneur's Journey on the Road Less Travelled": A Keynote Address featuring renowned shoe designer and entrepreneur, Stuart Weitzman - Feb 22?
Stuart Weitzman has a passion for connecting with young people and passing along the message that business success and creativity are not mutually exclusive. Join the Tufts community at the JCC this Thursday, February 22 to hear about Stuart’s own personal journey to entrepreneurial success. SMFA faculty Kendall Reiss will be leading the discussion with Stuart Weitzman. Pizza will be served!
?This event is led by the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in collaboration with Derby Entrepreneurship Center at Tufts.
Tufts Consumer Product Fair - Feb 28
Did you know that many current Tufts students, faculty, staff and alumni have businesses selling consumer products and services like hoodies, packaged snacks, bottled beverages, photography services and more? Come learn about the retail businesses that Tufts students, faculty, staff and alumni are building. Become a customer and support a Jumbo!
领英推荐
Cross University Student Innovators Mixer (CUSI) @ Harvard - March 1
Are you making the most of this awesome city? With 74 universities and nearly 250,000 college students, Boston’s unique student economy is the engine that drives innovation. This is your chance to connect with other innovators eager to change the world, meet potential cofounders or team members, and chat with people who understand #startuplife.?
The CUSI is a multi-school collaboration among MIT, Harvard, Tufts, Babson, Boston University, UMass Lowell, and many more.?
Join a Tufts MSIM Virtual Information Session - March 14
Discover how the Tufts MS in Innovation & Management can help you gain the business, leadership, and entrepreneurial skills you need to make an impact in the world through technology! Register for an upcoming information session to hear how the program can accelerate your career and empower you with in-demand skills.?
Jumbo Wins!
Zach Gorman and James Rogers raise $2M for RealReport??
We are thrilled to celebrate the success of Tufts alumni entrepreneurs Zach Gorman, A10 and James Rogers,A10? who recently closed a $2M seed round. The team worked diligently to build their venture, RealReports, a home intelligence data provider to real estate professionals, from the ground up. Congratulations to Zach and James on their success!
Epic Cleantec recognized as a top startup 2024!
We are excited to share that Epic Cleantec was named to the Top 50 ConTech Startups 2024 list. Epic Cleantec provides onsite water reuse solutions for the built environment, helping owners save on utility expenses while conserving water. Read more on Top 50 ConTech Startups?
?Epic Cleantec was also named in the Real Leaders top Impact Companies. Real Leaders magazine recognizes Top Impact Companies? that have a clear intention to scale solutions today for the world’s most pressing issues. Read more on Real Leaders Top Impact Companies?
?Tufts Alum, Aaron Tartakovsky, Co-founder and CEO at Epic Cleantec was a Tufts $100k New Ventures Competition in 2017 with Epic Cleantec. We celebrate his venture's success and look forward to continued growth.
Upcoming Events and Opportunities at a Glance
MassChallenge Application deadline: February 29
Accelerate your startup and make connections with mentors, peers, and the MassChallenge community. Since 2010 MassChallenge has empowered over 4500 startups. Applications open January 23-February 29.
Startup Boston Dealflow Mixer: March 13
The Startup Boston Dealflow Mixer is a quarterly event. This mixer provides an opportunity for startup founders, accelerator leaders and investors to connect with each other.??
Join the student-led Food 4 Thought Festival - April 12-14
Food 4 Thought, or F4T, is a first-of-its-kind food festival bringing together students from global universities to envision the future of the food system. Over the course of three days, participants will embark on a journey through the food system with various student-run panels, workshops, activities, career networking, an Idea Lab, Research Incubator, interactive learning opportunities., and a plant-based/alt protein World Cultural Food Festival.
Join Techstars Boston Startup Weekend - April 26-28
Techstars Boston is hosting the second Boston Startup Weekend. In 54 thrilling hours, you will take an idea and turn it into an startup. Meet the best investors, co-founders, sponsors and mentors who show you how to get it done.
Engage with Nucleate's Activate program
Nucleate, a student-run nonprofit organization that facilitates the formation of new life science ventures, is recruiting mentors and experts for the Activator Program across all chapters. Fill out this form if you'd like to participate - your contribution is greatly appreciated. To see upcoming events and to get involved, visit this link (using the password "NucleateJan") and reach out to [email protected] to register.