By Alex Torelli ’15
The Idea Fund is excited to announce its latest partnership with the Innovation Competition at Dickinson. Like us, the competition is a student-led initiative to provide an entrepreneurial outlet for students to engage in pressing, real world issues that they are passionate about; we couldn’t be more excited!
The IC@D embodies the Dickinson education and spirit in ways that not many campus entities can. A critical mindset, passion for sustainability, and an interdisciplinary approach will be critical to ensuring success. Leveraging resources and expertise unique to Dickinson, the competition will provide a practical complement to the concepts and skills gleaned in the classroom.
In interdisciplinary student teams, participants will be competing for a chance to pitch their idea for an innovative social venture for a chance at the three cash prizes. Throughout the competition, teams will have access to a cultivated group of alumni mentors with startup experience as well as a network of subject matter experts through the College Advancement office. Student groups like us and the Student Investment Group will be providing workshops on specific skills needed to create a competitive business plan canvas and pitch presentation. After two rounds of elimination, the three best ideas will be selected to pitch their venture to successful entrepreneurs and venture capitalists; an opportunity seldom afforded undergraduate students.
Because this competition is so collaborative and interdisciplinary, it’s not only unique, but also it has an incredible potential to ignite social change. We know you have great ideas; we’ve even heard some of them. But whether you would simply like to get feedback and guidance from career entrepreneurs or you are confident you can emerge victorious, we encourage any and all ideas to enter.
There will be a mixer on February 5th at 7 pm in the Rector Atrium for students looking for teammates, and an information session on February 9th at 7 pm in Althouse 207. Hope to see you there!