Stitches to Startup</h1> <article> <h1>Stitches to Startup</h1> <p>tapplega — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 16:48:40 +0000</p> <span>Stitches to Startup</span> <span><span>tapplega</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-09-26T12:48:40-04:00" title="Tuesday, September 26, 2023 - 12:48">Tue, 09/26/2023 - 12:48</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>In the midst of a pandemic, while many were seeking solace in newfound hobbies, Andrea Muliawan ’26 was weaving her passion into a burgeoning online business: <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/andreasfiberarts?ref=shop-header-name&listing_id=1524180661">Andrea's Fiber Arts</a>. The initiative began with a crochet needle, thread, and a profound sense of creativity.</p> <p>As Muliawan’s designs took shape, so did her entrepreneurial spirit. With the support of a <a href="https://www.bdmorganfdn.org/oberlin-college">Burton D. Morgan Microgrant</a>, Muliawan realized how this small business could turn into a lifelong side gig. On September 27, the second-year <a href="/node/3346">biology</a> and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/history">history</a> student will share insights from her entrepreneurial voyage in a talk in Moffett Auditorium (lower level of Mudd Center) hosted by the Office of Entrepreneurship. Intrigued by her journey and keen to know more about how she manages her business aspirations alongside her dream of attending medical school, we caught up with Muliawan for a quick Q&A.</p> <p><strong>What sparked your journey into crocheting, and how did that transition into the inception of Andrea’s Fiber Arts on Etsy?</strong></p> <p>I began crocheting during the early days of the pandemic, with my mom’s knitting tools. Initially, I followed online patterns, but soon I felt the urge to freehand my designs, allowing for more creative expression. A few months after I initiated my Instagram account, I was propelled to start my Etsy shop. The platform seemed an apt space to showcase and sell my creations.</p> <p><strong>Managing a growing online store while balancing college studies must have been quite the challenge. How did you adapt your business model to fit your academic commitments?</strong></p> <p>My primary challenge was advertising my products while keeping up with my studies. I also participated in on-campus markets, which meant some of my Etsy-listed items were sold in person. This made fulfilling online orders on the fly quite challenging. I pivoted to making items to order for Etsy and later transitioned to selling digital downloads of my Hera Top pattern. This shift allowed me to focus more on school without compromising the business.</p> <p><strong>The Burton D. Morgan Microgrant was a game-changer for you. What made you apply, and how has it reshaped your outlook towards Andrea’s Fiber Arts and your future goals?</strong></p> <p>I initially applied for the microgrant after seeing it advertised in the Campus Digest. I had already made some pieces that I was excited about selling, so that spurred me on. Receiving the grant was an eye-opener. Before it, my professional goals were centered on attending medical school and embarking on a physician’s journey. That’s still a dream I’m ardently pursuing. However, the microgrant made me realize I could juggle a side gig that did not have to be a primary source of income but could serve as a creative outlet. It’s all about having fun, experimenting, and picking up interpersonal skills that can be applied anywhere—including in a medical profession!</p> <p><em>For those inspired by Andrea’s journey and wish to witness her creativity firsthand, you can explore her unique crochet designs on her Etsy shop, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/andreasfiberarts?ref=shop-header-name&listing_id=1524180661">Andrea's Fiber Arts.</a> To stay updated with her latest creations and entrepreneurial ventures, give her a follow on Instagram at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/andreasfiberarts/">@andreasfiberarts</a>.</em></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Andrea Muliawan recieved a grant that helped her turn a hobby into a budding business.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2023-09-27T12:00:00Z">Wed, 09/27/2023 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tyler Applegate</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2395">Entrepreneurship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2563">Grants</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2390">Events</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25251">Biology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25381">History</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/business" hreflang="und">Business</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/biology" hreflang="und">Biology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/history" hreflang="und">History</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">courtesy of Andrea Muliawan</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Virtual Business, Actual Visit</h1> <p>tapplega — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 17:39:48 +0000</p> <span>Virtual Business, Actual Visit</span> <span><span>tapplega</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-03-28T13:39:48-04:00" title="Tuesday, March 28, 2023 - 13:39">Tue, 03/28/2023 - 13:39</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>When we <a href="/news/business-virtual-learning">last heard from Bryan Rubin and Ben Steger</a>, the 2018 91ֱ�� grads and business partners had seen their 2018 venture—the online music education platform <a href="https://www.virtu.academy">Virtu.Academy</a>—soar in response to global pandemic restrictions on in-person learning. Each month, more than 5,000 virtual lessons were delivered by eminently qualified instructors—think Cleveland Orchestra musicians, and even Grammy winners—to students everywhere.</p><p>Since then, the world has gradually eased back into in-person education, but the possibilities that were revealed over the previous three years have shored up Rubin and Steger’s prescient business model.</p><p>“Originally, most people were skeptical of the quality of online lessons,” says Steger. “When the pandemic forced people online, they realized how high the quality of instructors we work with is. Parents won’t have to drive their kids to a lesson every week, or you won’t have to lug around your instrument to class. So the most interesting thing is that we haven’t really seen retention drop at all.”</p><p>Virtu.Academy initially took flight with support from 91ֱ��’s entrepreneurship accelerator program—through which Steger, a Biochemistry and Trumpet Performance major, and Rubin, an Environmental Studies and Politics major—gained essential mentorship and $10,000 in startup funds. Now they partner with consultants for guidance in growing the business and keeping up with technological needs. Most recently, Virtu.Academy earned a $1 million renewable grant from the state of Texas to provide teachers for students in numerous school districts who do not have readily available private music instruction.</p><p>This week, they’re back on campus to talk about their experience and encourage others to pursue their passions in creative ways. It’s all part of the Alumni Conversations and Careers series, and it happens <a href="/events/entrepreneurial_pathways_building_a_career_after_oberlin">Thursday, March 30, at noon in StudiOC’s Main Commons</a> (38 E. College St.). A pizza lunch will be served, and <a href="/node/453692">RSVP is required</a>.</p><hr><p><em>Steger and Rubin's presentation is made possible by the Conservatory Professional Development Speaker Series, 91ֱ�� College Musical Studies Program, and the Office of Entrepreneurship, with support from Alumni in Service to 91ֱ�� College (ASOC).</em></p><p><em>Learn more about Virtu.Academy and read our </em><a href="/node/317276"><em>2021 interview</em></a><em> with Steger and Rubin.</em></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">The Obies behind Virtu.Academy share their story in a March 30 career talk.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2023-03-28T12:00:00Z">Tue, 03/28/2023 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tyler Applegate</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2360">After 91ֱ��</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2395">Entrepreneurship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3714">Conservatory Professional Development</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3846">Engaged Liberal Arts</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/winds-brass-and-percussion" hreflang="und">Winds, Brass, and Percussion</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">courtesy of Bryan Rubin & Benjamin Steger</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-article-header field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">0</div> </article> <article> <h1>91ֱ�� Appoints Ted Evans as Director of Entrepreneurship and Instructor in Business</h1> <p>anagy — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 15:06:39 +0000</p> <span>91ֱ�� Appoints Ted Evans as Director of Entrepreneurship and Instructor in Business</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-03-18T11:06:39-04:00" title="Friday, March 18, 2022 - 11:06">Fri, 03/18/2022 - 11:06</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p> 91ֱ�� has selected Ted Evans as the new director of Entrepreneurship and Instructor in Business.</p> <p>Evans’ career reflects success in corporate, non-profit, academia, entrepreneurship, and management consulting with two top-tier global consulting firms. He has worked throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, and South America. He is an experienced industry professional, higher education practitioner, and management consultant who has 25 years of industry, education, and consulting experience as an executive with firms such as A.T. Kearney, Accenture, Aon Hewitt, and Grainger. He has consulted with and impacted several companies, including American Red Cross, Intel, General Electric, Siemens, Corning, Pfizer, Chevron, and Sara Lee. Through his work, Evans has interacted with and served various industries including distribution, finance, technology, healthcare, retail, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, and oil and gas.</p> <p>Prior to 91ֱ��, he was a senior director of several key areas—admissions, recruitment, corporate relations, placement, fellowships, internships—at the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. Immediately before CWRU, he served as an executive for a global technology commercialization management consulting firm where innovation, problem solving, and positive societal impact were basic to the role.</p> <p>Most notably, Evans is the namesake of the highly valuable and popular <a href="https://weatherhead.case.edu/events/ted-listens">TedListens</a> events and one-on-one sessions conducted at various educational institutions and corporations. TedListens brings a breadth of intellectual resources to individual students and professionals seeking business consultation, personal growth, connections/relationships, and interview/employment opportunities at firms around the country. These events often draw more than 100 participants to each session.</p> <p>Evans is very familiar with the values, teachings, and quality of students at 91ֱ�� College and the liberal arts curriculum. Not only has he worked closely with the Ohio 5 (<a href="https://ohio5.org/">Five Colleges of Ohio</a>) and met individually to assist those students, he led the signing of the 4+1 agreement between 91ֱ�� and Case Western Reserve University, enabling early graduate school admission and scholarships for 91ֱ�� students. </p> <p>Evans serves on the board of directors of the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and the Great Lakes Science Center, whose organizations work to build sustainability, conservation, innovation, STEM, creativity, and social awareness. Prior to that he was on the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Rainbows for All Children (serving children who have suffered traumatic loss in their life) board of directors.</p> <p>Evans has an MBA from Case Western Reserve University. He enjoys spending time with his family and staying physically and mentally active. As an undergraduate, he played football at the University of Kansas. </p> <p>Evans’ office is located in Wilder Hall 205, and he can be reached at 440-775-8962.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">An experienced industry professional, higher education practitioner, and management consultant, Evans is the namesake of the popular TedListens events.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2022-03-18T12:00:00Z">Fri, 03/18/2022 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Communications Staff</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2359">Administration</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2551">Staff</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2395">Entrepreneurship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2363">Academics & Research</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Ted Evans is the new director of Entrepreneurship and Instructor in Business.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones '97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Computer Science Seniors Look Toward Careers at Facebook</h1> <p>anagy — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 21:26:13 +0000</p> <span>Computer Science Seniors Look Toward Careers at Facebook</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2021-03-11T16:26:13-05:00" title="Thursday, March 11, 2021 - 16:26">Thu, 03/11/2021 - 16:26</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Lam and Nguyen are originally from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Together with fourth-year Colton Potter and second-year Osama Abdelrahman, they won first place at the 2020 LaunchU pitch competition with their latest project, Twine. </p> <p>LaunchU teaches participants what it takes to grow an idea into a sustainable business, non-profit or social enterprise that can change people’s lives.</p> <p>Twine is a progressive web app that launched in fall 2020. Users can download Twine from a web browser onto their home screen, bypassing the App Store or Google Play entirely. Lam says that this design choice was intentional to further streamline the process.</p> <p>“I think progressive web apps are the future,” Lam says. “You don’t have to go through Apple or Android, so that saves time for the developer, and it’s not platform-dependent for the users.”</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-left"> <figcaption>Minh Lam. Photo credit: Yvonne Gay</figcaption> </figure> <p>Lam began development on Twine during Startup Weekend 2018, a program where students can bring their entrepreneurial ideas to life. Potter joined the team while groupmates with Lam in a computer science class project, followed by Nguyen and later Abdelrahman at LaunchU 2020.</p> <p>Lam was encouraged to enter Twine into the 2020 LaunchU competition, and it won first place in the LaunchU pitch competition and $15,000. At the time, Lam and Nguyen were studying abroad in Germany and Hungary, respectively, so working on next steps involved a great deal of careful scheduling.</p> <p>“We actually met in Budapest, Hungary, and we had to prepare for our presentation there,” Nguyen says, joking that the Twine team was working remotely before anyone else.</p> <p>Shortly after, the COVID-19 pandemic forced many more people to work and study remotely, and the Twine team had to shift its goals for the app. One of the biggest changes was how to streamline Zoom events instead of on-campus events.</p> <p>“When we first thought about how Twine would work, it would be a map-centered app,” Nguyen explains. “But then everything went online, which would not be helpful in our case. So we completely switched to another [interface] that concentrates more on Zoom links.”</p> <p>“Instead of making the map a main feature, now we try to make it really easy for people to find the Zoom link,” Lam adds.</p> <p>Overall, the team emphasizes accessibility, ease of use, and a streamlined and understandable interface on Twine. These goals are achieved through creating user profiles that recommend events by category based on the user’s preferences, similar to a streaming service such as Netflix.</p> <p>“We have recommendations, and it’s a work in progress,” Lam says. “Recommendations are not easy. Big companies have whole teams or multiple teams that work on recommendations. But right now we’re trying our best to recommend things people will be interested in.”</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-left"> <figcaption>Khang Nguyen. Photo credit: Yvonne Gay</figcaption> </figure> <p>Nguyen explains that the friend system is unique to Twine.</p> <p>“We discussed that we want our app to be more social,” Nguyen says. “We noticed that we’re more likely to go to an event with friends, so we’re trying to develop our app so that friends can find ways to go to events with each other and also make friends by going to these events.”</p> <p>While Nguyen noted the challenges of an all-remote internship, both students say their summer internship experience at Facebook was overall positive.</p> <p>“The work experience was pretty amazing,” Lam says. “I talked with other people who got internships at smaller companies and even big techs, [and] it was more hit-or-miss than Facebook. My program was very clear in the things I had to do. There was a 10-week plan, what I should aim to achieve, and it was very clear what I was evaluated on. Also, my team was super easy to communicate with… So it was very collaborative.”</p> <p>Khang and Nguyen both credit the invaluable network in 91ֱ��’s computer science department in helping them secure their positions at Facebook.</p> <p>“A lot of our peers are very helpful. They [encourage] you to achieve something more,” Nguyen says. “It really motivated us and gave us the right tools to prepare us for the job market.”</p> <p>“The other [computer science] majors are so good and helpful in so many ways,” Lam added. “Some people are really creative, and that really fostered a [positive] environment. Twine would have never happened if there weren’t creative people.”</p> <p>Lam and Nguyen are in their last semester at 91ֱ��, but they are not finished with Twine. They have discussed plans to integrate the web app more fully into 91ֱ�� and using that as a model to pitch to other colleges.</p> <p>“We’re definitely looking to expand to other campuses,” Lam said. “I know Colton and Osama were in the process of talking with people at other schools. We’re really trying to build something that is useful [that] we can demonstrate in 91ֱ�� so we can show it to people from other schools.”</p> <p>To download Twine, users with an 91ֱ�� email account can visit <a href="https://gettwine.app/begin">https://gettwine.app/begin</a> on a mobile web browser. Students can also find the latest updates on Twine’s Instagram page, @twine.app. </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Minh Lam and Khang Nguyen land full-time positions as software engineers.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2021-03-11T12:00:00Z">Thu, 03/11/2021 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Jaimie Yue '22</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>After a summer interning for Facebook, fourth-year computer science majors Minh Lam and Khang Nguyen Do Gia are preparing for full-time positions as software engineers with the social media platform.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2395">Entrepreneurship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2363">Academics & Research</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25321">Computer Science</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/computer-science" hreflang="und">Computer Science</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Minh Lam and Khang Nguyen began development of their web app in 2018, and their team took the top prize in the 2020 LaunchU pitch competition.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Jack Lichtenstein '23</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>The Business of Virtual Learning</h1> <p>ygay — Wed, 20 Jan 2021 22:15:01 +0000</p> <span>The Business of Virtual Learning</span> <span><span>ygay</span></span> <span><time datetime="2021-01-20T17:15:01-05:00" title="Wednesday, January 20, 2021 - 17:15">Wed, 01/20/2021 - 17:15</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Rubin and Steger cofounded <a href="https://www.virtu.academy" target="_blank">Virtu.Academy</a> in 2018, as part of 91ֱ��’s entrepreneurship program. The academy’s mission is to make the highest quality music education accessible to students around the country, no matter their financial situation. Through the program, Rubin and Steger were taught the basics of running a company, received mentors in their field, and eventually won a $10,000 grant to help launch their endeavour. Today, Virtu.Academy recruits teachers from conservatories and institutions from around the world in order to connect them with students for virtual, private music lessons.</p> <p>“From the beginning, we knew that virtual learning would play a key role in the future of education, but we never could have predicted how quickly that would happen,” says Steger, who studied biochemistry and trumpet performance at 91ֱ��.</p> <p>“There are so many students in rural locations who simply do not have access to music teachers, so we knew that this was an important field to expand,” continues Rubin, who majored in politics and environmental studies. “Because of the incredible educators around the world who have worked to make virtual learning effective for their students, people are much more comfortable with the idea of learning online than they were when we first started Virtu.”</p> <p>Read more about Virtu.Academy and its alumni cofounders in this After 91ֱ�� Q&A.</p> <hr> <p> </p> <p><strong>Did you pursue further education after 91ֱ��? </strong></p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>Bryan Rubin '18 Photo credit: Alexandra Roman '19</figcaption> </figure> <p><strong>Rubin: </strong>I began a fellowship with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Multimedia, producing video and photo content for both internal and external use. I was there from November 2018 until June 2020, when we went full time with Virtu.Academy.</p> <p><strong>Steger:</strong> I started a research fellowship at the National Institutes of Health while applying to medical schools. I do plan on going back to school for an MD/PhD program, but we decided to delay that to continue working on Virtu full time.</p> <p><strong>How would you describe yourself and why?</strong></p> <p><strong>Rubin:</strong> I would describe myself as a creative who particularly enjoys visual storytelling. Essential to this and many other aspects of my life is the desire to keep learning new skills and workflows to improve whatever I may be working on—both for work and personal projects. And equally important, I enjoy having fun and taking a break from work to hang out with friends, even if that’s all virtual for the moment!</p> <p><strong>Steger:</strong> I love to learn! I think that is one of the most important things about me that has helped with running Virtu.Academy. While working on a startup, you have to do a little bit of everything, and I enjoyed learning the basics of skills like accounting, marketing, and web design that we needed to start the business. </p> <p><strong>What role/duties do you perform at Virtu.Academy?</strong></p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>Benjamin Steger '18 Photo credit: Courtesy of Steger</figcaption> </figure> <p><strong>Rubin:</strong> From the beginning both Ben and I have had to handle everything. For a long time we had to provide many hours of support—from emails to live chat to phone channels—before going full time. Luckily we’ve been able to bring on an amazing support team to help us in the last year. Currently, my main role is working with our creative teams to produce marketing materials as well as maintain our social media presence. </p> <p><strong>Steger: </strong>Right now, I mostly focus on recruiting teachers, building our website and platform, and the financial side of things. We’ve had to learn the basics of accounting, customer service, web development, marketing, and many other things that we needed, before we could afford to hire anyone.</p> <p><strong>How many classes are held through VirtuAcademy?</strong></p> <p><strong>Steger and Rubin:</strong> Right now, we have about 150 instructors who teach around 5,000 lessons per month, but this has been growing by 20 to 30 percent most months since we started.</p> <p><strong>Where do you see Virtu.Academy in the future?</strong></p> <p><strong>Steger and Rubin:</strong> We want Virtu.Academy to continue growing so every student can have access to high quality music education, and talented musicians from around the world can continue to do what they love and spread their passion for music. We have some exciting plans that we’re working on, such as expanding our scholarship fund and providing more performance opportunities and learning experiences for our students. </p> <p><strong>Did you participate in any internships while at 91ֱ��?</strong></p> <p><strong>Rubin:</strong> The summer after sophomore year I was an intern with the EPA’s Office of Multimedia, as well as my junior year winter term. Both of these internships helped me get the position within the same office after college while working on Virtu.Academy on the side. </p> <p><strong>Steger:</strong> During my first winter term, I interned at St. Louis Symphony’s education department and an education program at Jazz St. Louis. After that, all of my internships were science-related. During a few summers, I interned in labs at Washington University and the National Institutes of Health.</p> <p><strong>Any advice for students who would like to pursue a career in your field?</strong></p> <p><strong>Rubin:</strong> If someone is interested in starting a business, while the beginning can seem daunting, it’s also the most exciting—and personally, the part I enjoyed the most! I think people might believe that in order to start something, you have to have everything figured out, or at least a majority of it, but I don’t believe that’s necessary. It can start small, just from the idea stage that you share with a friend and grow from there. And almost more importantly, what you start doesn’t have to be your area of study or your expertise, or what your life work’s always going to be. After all, I was a politics and environmental studies major.</p> <p><strong>Steger:</strong> For anyone who is interested in starting a business, I think the most important thing is just to take the first step, no matter how small it seems. It might sound cliche, but so many people have incredible ideas for a business, but very few people actually start one. Even the smallest first step, like registering an LLC or buying a website domain, will turn your idea into a real business. Things like that only take a couple hours, and you will be much more motivated to continue building your business once it’s real.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2021-01-21T12:00:00Z">Thu, 01/21/2021 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Yvonne Gay</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Nearly a year ago many businesses and schools concerned about the spread of COVID-19 relocated onsite offices and classrooms to the internet. The transition to a virtual platform took some getting used to, but for Bryan Rubin ’18 and Benjamin Steger ’18 the future was finally here.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2395">Entrepreneurship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2360">After 91ֱ��</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=35266">Trumpet</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/chemistry-biochemistry" hreflang="und">Chemistry and Biochemistry</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/environmental-studies" hreflang="und">Environmental Studies and Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/winds-brass-and-percussion" hreflang="und">Winds, Brass, and Percussion</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Benjamin Steger ’18 (pictured on laptop screen) and Bryan Rubin ’18 demonstrate how Virtu.Academy works.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Yevhen Gulenko</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Twine, a Student Life App, Announces Launch</h1> <p>anagy — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 19:53:21 +0000</p> <span>Twine, a Student Life App, Announces Launch</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-10-01T15:53:21-04:00" title="Thursday, October 1, 2020 - 15:53">Thu, 10/01/2020 - 15:53</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Twine, a student-created app designed to increase access to events, student life, and organizations on campus, launches today.</p> <p>The app was developed by T. Colton Potter ’21, Minh Lam ’21, Khang Nguyen ’21, and Osama Hussein '23, and <a href="/news/launchu-awards-35000-startup-funds-students-and-alumni">won first place</a> in the 2020 LaunchU pitch competition. The team was awarded $15,000 to continue the development of its personalized mobile app.</p> <p>Potter, a double-degree student majoring in oboe performance and computer science, is one of the founders and the chief project manager. He explains that he created Twine as a way to bring cohesion to the various ways events and student clubs are marketed, including the 91ֱ�� events calendar, club fairs, and postering on campus. The pandemic has created new challenges for connecting students to virtual events, particularly first-years who may not be aware of the 91ֱ�� events calendar.</p> <p>Potter says academic departments will also benefit from wider exposure to the events they sponsor. </p> <p>The app provides a personalized experience for users. Students will have access to all the clubs and organizations on campus. If you miss out on an event like the Club Fair or the Ex-Co Fair, the app provides a second course of action to get involved. It will also recommend upcoming events.</p> <p>To get the app, visit <a href="https://gettwine.app/">https://gettwine.app</a> on your phone to install and login with your 91ֱ�� account. Connect with Twine on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/twine.app/">Instagram</a> (@twine.app) and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/twine.app1/">Facebook </a>for information and to get involved with building your 91ֱ�� community. </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2020-10-02T12:00:00Z">Fri, 10/02/2020 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Communications Staff</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2385">Community</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2379">Student Life</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2355">Student Organizations</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2395">Entrepreneurship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=37361">Oboe</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25321">Computer Science</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/winds-brass-and-percussion" hreflang="und">Winds, Brass, and Percussion</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/computer-science" hreflang="und">Computer Science</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">The creators of Twine, from top left: Khang Nguyen ’21, Osama Hussein ’23, Minh Lam ’21, and T. Colton Potter ’21.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Yvonne Gay</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Sage Aronson ’12 Develops Nasal Swab to Screen for COVID-19</h1> <p>anagy — Wed, 06 May 2020 16:26:54 +0000</p> <span>Sage Aronson ’12 Develops Nasal Swab to Screen for COVID-19</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-05-06T12:26:54-04:00" title="Wednesday, May 6, 2020 - 12:26">Wed, 05/06/2020 - 12:26</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>A partnership led by Sage Aronson ’12 is making 3D-printed nasal swabs to screen for COVID-19 in the San Diego area.</p> <p>The Swab56 Project targets under-represented or under-capitalized groups that are not able to access medical supplies on the open market. Aronson is the founder of <a href="https://neurophotometrics.com/">Neurophotometrics</a>, a microscope design and production company based in San Diego. The company halted its operations because of the COVID-19 outbreak, but through Aronson’s wife, Kelsey Ladt—an MD/PhD student at University of California, San Diego and cofounder of Neurophotometrics—he became involved in a <a href="https://searchcovid.info/">San Diego-area initiative</a> to tackle COVID-19 in a multifaceted manner. </p> <p>“One of the most critical supply shortages is a nasopharyngeal swab used to collect a sample to screen for COVID-19,” says Aronson, who was a neuroscience major at 91ֱ��. Based on our team's expertise in 3D printing and engineering, we set to the task of designing, prototyping, and manufacturing such a swab.”</p> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>3D printed nasal swabs.<br> Credit: Swab56 Project</figcaption> </figure> <p>Aronson explains that they call the project Swab56 because the team rapidly iterated through 55 prototypes over the course of 36 hours before reaching the final design. They worked with researchers and physicians at UCSD, Scripps College, and Rady Children's Hospital to fast-track the swab through clinical testing. Across clinical studies of 29 adult and pediatric patients, the swabs had a 100 percent validation rate with no mechanical failures or adverse events during sampling from 49 volunteers.</p> <p>“At first, our goal was to address the shortage in testing, with a secondary goal of keeping our employees full time,” Aronson says. “However, when the clinical and mechanical testing data on the swabs came in, our goals changed. Our swab resulted in a significantly lower false negative rate compared to the current state-of-the-art product on the market. False negatives are a huge problem with COVID testing, with rates as high as 40 percent. If our swab could reduce this rate, even by a few percentage points, that would have a massive effect on the number of people properly diagnosed—the time we are in quarantine—and lives saved.”</p> <p>Swab56 LLC is a collaborative effort between the teams at Neurophotometrics and Massachusetts-based metal and carbon fiber 3D printing company <a href="https://markforged.com/">Markforged</a>. The 3D printed design couples a 3D printed nylon swab base with a wrapped rayon tip to gather the viral specimens. Aronson says the team has been hiring 30 people per week, and Swab56 is currently the main supplier to San Diego, with more than 20,000 people tested.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2020-05-06T12:00:00Z">Wed, 05/06/2020 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Amanda Nagy</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2368">Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2389">Young Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2395">Entrepreneurship</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=4861">Neuroscience</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/neuroscience" hreflang="und">Neuroscience</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Sage Aronson '12 is founder of Neurophotometrics and a creator of the Swab56 Project.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Courtesy of Sage Aronson</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Radio Journalist and Entrepreneur Alex Blumberg ’89 Talks Future of Audio</h1> <p>anagy — Thu, 12 Mar 2020 16:44:50 +0000</p> <span>Radio Journalist and Entrepreneur Alex Blumberg ’89 Talks Future of Audio</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-03-12T12:44:50-04:00" title="Thursday, March 12, 2020 - 12:44">Thu, 03/12/2020 - 12:44</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Radio journalist and podcast entrepreneur Alex Blumberg ‘89 told students that narrative storytelling skills will be critical for anyone hoping to break into a career in audio during a recent talk sponsored by 91ֱ��’s Center for Innovation and Impact. </p> <p>Blumberg is the cofounder of <a href="https://gimletmedia.com/">Gimlet Media</a> <span aria-hidden="true" class="fa fa-external-link"></span>, an award-winning podcast network that has produced the critically acclaimed shows <em>Reply All</em>, <em>Startup</em>, <em>Homecoming</em>, and <em>Heavyweight</em>. He got his start in public radio as a producer for <em>This American Life</em> and creator of <em>Planet Money</em>. </p> <p>Blumberg <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/oberlin/sets/72157713385866682/">spoke about his experiences</a> <span aria-hidden="true" class="fa fa-external-link"></span> as a radio journalist, podcast producer, and entrepreneur as a prelude to 91ֱ��’s annual LaunchU <a href="/news/launchu-awards-35000-startup-funds-students-and-alumni">pitch competition</a>. </p> <p>“I think we’re in the second ‘golden age’ of radio,” said Blumberg, explaining that on-demand audio changed the media landscape drastically, and it’s the reason why serialized storytelling is so common today. “The path for audio will continue to widen, but the biggest thing we need is talent.” </p> <p>Blumberg shared with students the important elements of narrative storytelling—skills that he acquired on the job at <em>This American Life</em>. </p> <p>“When I started <em>Planet Money</em>, we were watching digital audio take off. Seeing the trends happening, I decided to start a company. I had learned the narrative bootcamp of <em>This American Life</em> with Ira Glass; I had learned a lot of tricks about ‘what is audio good at.’ I thought I could make a business out of that knowledge.”</p> <p>In 2019, his company Gimlet Media was acquired by Spotify for more than $200 million. Blumberg told students he didn’t see himself as an entrepreneur, though.</p> <p>“I was in nonprofits my entire life. My first job in the public sector was when I started Gimlet. What 91ֱ�� taught me was to care about things other than money. That’s really important for entrepreneurship. What makes you a good entrepreneur is that the money is secondary—because you’re trying to do something differently or solve a problem or address a need. </p> <p>“The world changed around me by the time I became really good at what I was doing. All the conditions were in place, and I kept saying, ‘somebody should do this.’ Once I jumped into the waters, I realized that what was helping me was that I wasn’t in it for the money. I was in it for the craft and the vision.”</p> <p>Blumberg was invited to campus by fourth-years Johan Cavert and Sarah Dalgleish, producers of <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-weekly/id1299557943"><em>The Weekly</em></a> <span aria-hidden="true" class="fa fa-external-link"></span>, a podcast in collaboration with the <em>91ֱ�� Review</em> and 91ֱ�� College and community radio station WOBC-FM. </p> <p> </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2020-03-12T12:00:00Z">Thu, 03/12/2020 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Amanda Nagy</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2395">Entrepreneurship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2406">Innovation and Impact</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2368">Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2569">Alumni-Student Connections</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25416">Politics</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/politics" hreflang="und">Politics</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Alex Blumberg '89 reflects on the 91ֱ�� entrepreneurial spirit, his experience with storytelling and podcasting, and the recent acquisition of his company by Spotify.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Yvonne Gay</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>LaunchU Awards $35,000 in Startup Funds to Students and Alumni</h1> <p>anagy — Wed, 11 Mar 2020 17:55:50 +0000</p> <span>LaunchU Awards $35,000 in Startup Funds to Students and Alumni</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-03-11T13:55:50-04:00" title="Wednesday, March 11, 2020 - 13:55">Wed, 03/11/2020 - 13:55</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>LaunchU awarded a total of $35,000 in startup funding to entrepreneurs of the 91ֱ�� community, including students and alumni, in its eighth annual pitch competition on March 6.</p> <p>A cornerstone of 91ֱ��’s <a href="/innovation-and-impact/about-center-innovation-impact">Center for Innovation and Impact</a>, the LaunchU competition begins in September and culminates in March with final pitches. Teams of budding entrepreneurs undergo a series of intense training sessions, professional development and networking opportunities, and a boot camp during winter term in January to prepare. In March, they present their ideas to a panel of judges who determine awards and distribute the funds. This year, LaunchU trained 14 teams, 11 of which presented at the competition.</p> <p>First place went to Twine, a mobile recommendation service for college students interested in joining different clubs and organizations. The team was awarded $15,000 and will use the funding to work side by side with more schools to expand their business. Twine is led by chief project manager Colton Potter ’21 along with Minh Lam ’21, Khang Nguyen ’21, and Osama Abdelrahman '23. </p> <p>According to Potter, “students lack a personalized window into campus life that they care about. There’s no quick way for them to find events that they’re interested in, and there’s no resource with updated information on student organizations,” and Twine is the solution to that problem, he says. The service will launch in August 2020 as part of 91ֱ�� College’s New Student Orientation program.</p> <p>Second-place winner Henry Aberle ’16, CEO and founder of TVSensei, was awarded $12,000 for his product, ChaCha, cofounded with Kefan Yang. ChaCha is an online marketplace for language learning. The product brings together intermediate to advanced language learners with native instructors for online lessons that are centered on video.</p> <p>“We’re less of a solution for learning a language, and more of a solution for maintaining your language abilities,” said Aberle, who cited ChaCha as a solution to the “use it or lose it” mentality around language learning.</p> <p>The third-place prize of $6,000 went to Iliana Zamorska ’12, CEO and founder of Yoga For Thinking Machines, and McLean Sammon ’19 for their product, Grownote, an app that helps people use social media mindfully by tracking their usage and incorporating mindfulness practices. The team will use the funds to develop a prototype for beta testing at 91ֱ��.</p> <p>Zamorska called Grownote “a new kind of digital community,” one that fosters “authentic expression.”</p> <p>View our <a href="https://flic.kr/s/aHsmLT5Ro5">Flickr album</a> <span aria-hidden="true" class="fa fa-external-link"></span> for more photos from the pitch competition.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2020-03-11T12:00:00Z">Wed, 03/11/2020 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Kyra McConnell ’22</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Eighth annual pitch competition awards seed funding to three teams to further develop their business ventures. </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2395">Entrepreneurship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3238">LaunchU</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2406">Innovation and Impact</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2410">Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2368">Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2389">Young Alumni</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/computer-science" hreflang="und">Computer Science</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">The first-place prize was awarded to Twine, a venture developed by third-years Colton Potter ’21, Minh Lam ’21, Khang Nguyen ’21, and Osama Abdelrahman '23.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Jack Lichtenstein '23</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Panel Discussion Celebrates Entrepreneurship in 91ֱ��</h1> <p>anagy — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 21:14:44 +0000</p> <span>Panel Discussion Celebrates Entrepreneurship in 91ֱ��</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-01-28T16:14:44-05:00" title="Tuesday, January 28, 2020 - 16:14">Tue, 01/28/2020 - 16:14</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>LaunchU teamed up with the city of 91ֱ�� on January 21 for a panel discussion dedicated to entrepreneurship in 91ֱ��. The event was open to the public and took place in the event space at CoWork 91ֱ��, a collaborative workspace for local freelancers and entrepreneurs. The audience consisted of 91ֱ�� community members and business owners, as well as participants in the <a href="/innovation-and-impact/launchu">LaunchU</a> 2020 Winter Term Bootcamp and pitch competition.</p> <p>The panel, moderated by 91ֱ�� College Director of Entrepreneurship <a href="/bara-watts">Bara Watts</a>, featured four local entrepreneurs who spoke about their unique journeys.</p> <p>“If you’re thinking about being an entrepreneur, then you should be thinking about how your ideas are going to fit into this changed world,” said panelist <a href="/john-petersen">John Petersen ’88</a>, Paul Sears Distinguished Professor of Environmental Studies and Biology.</p> <p>In 2004, Peterson cofounded Lucid Design Group, a platform dedicated to energy efficiency in commercial buildings, with a group of 91ֱ�� College students. Now, his work focuses on Environmental Dashboards, which provide information about sustainability and energy consumption to large communities of people. Petersen cited climate change as one of the most important factors entrepreneurs should consider as they enter the market.</p> <p>Another panelist, Dave Sokoll ’10 of 91ֱ�� Food Hub, encouraged the self-starters in the room to learn from their mistakes.</p> <p>“There are things you don’t know until you’re there,” said Sokoll, who emphasized the importance of striking a balance between preparedness and self-preservation.</p> <p>For participants in LaunchU especially, the diverse room of both seasoned and budding entrepreneurs of all ages proved a fertile ground for collaboration and networking.</p> <p>Kieran Minor ’19 is working on his startup curriculum model dedicated to arts and environmental education as a participant in the 2020 LaunchU pitch competition. For Minor, the panel showed him that “the bubble that is 91ֱ�� has a lot of ideas and a lot of opportunities for exchange.”</p> <p>A recurring theme throughout the evening was the power of entrepreneurship to make a difference in one’s community. </p> <p>“Entrepreneurship is about who you are as much as what you do,” said Watts. “There’s no other job out there that will give you the breadth of experience both for knowing yourself and engaging with people, and feeling like you’re actually making an impact.”</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2020-01-24T12:00:00Z">Fri, 01/24/2020 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Kyra McConnell ’22</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3238">LaunchU</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2395">Entrepreneurship</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2402">Winter Term</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25351">Environmental Studies and Sciences</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/john-petersen" hreflang="und">John Petersen ’88</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/environmental-studies" hreflang="und">Environmental Studies and Science</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Local entrepreneurs spoke about their journeys during a panel discussion at CoWork 91ֱ��.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Osama Dawood</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> </main></body></html>