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Is Venture Capital Funding right for me? How about these possible Alternative Funding Sources?
Jan. 4, 2018—A recent, much-read analysis of venture capital funds drying up – and quickly – probably didn’t surprise entrepreneurs trying to round up support. It’s death by 1,000 coffee chats out there sometimes, meeting with potential investor after potential investor and always walking away empty handed. We’re coming to the end with a national romance with...
University Courses Team Develops Platform to Disrupt the Oil & Gas Industry
Dec. 30, 2017—Tackling Big Questions with Mobile Cloud Computing is a project-based University Course that allows teams comprised of engineering and non-engineering students to design technology solutions that can be implemented across campus and throughout Nashville. The course complemented my Innovation Garage Fellowship with Accenture during the 2016-17 school year. The Innovation Garage is one of the Wond’ry’s pillar programs that similarly challenges interdisciplinary teams of...
Mayor Megan Barry
Dec. 9, 2017—Last week I had the pleasure of hearing Mayor Megan Barry speak to the senior engineering class about ethics in engineering projects. She established that there are three primary approaches for ethical dilemmas–– rules-based, relationship-based, and consequence-based. When an ethical quandary is approached from the rules-based perspective, the decision maker focuses on what hard and...
The Heritage Months Project
Dec. 8, 2017—The mission of the Wond’ry at its very core lies in the way we foster innovation in all fields and act as a catalyst for building and strengthening creativity across campus. While students are provided the resources and opportunities to form new insights for becoming agents of innovation in today’s workforce, it is imperative that...
Economics senior Sasha Pines creates business sisterhood
Dec. 8, 2017—“I love entrepreneurship and the opportunity to make positive change by taking an idea and putting it into action,” she said. The San Diego native tested this philosophy at age 15 by launching a camp for children with special needs called Camp Let Loose. The camp was run mostly by high school students.
Familiar refrain in Nashville is collaborate, don’t compete
Dec. 6, 2017—Robert Grajewski is the center’s executive director. He described himself as a serial entrepreneur and venture capitalist who has worked in Silicon Valley and Washington, D.C. The Wond’ry opened in November 2016. Grajewski reports directly to Vanderbilt’s provost and chancellor. The center is funded from the school’s endowment with additional money from philanthropy and grants.
A chat with Mario Avila
Dec. 6, 2017—Hello Commodores! I hope the preparation for your approaching finals or presentations are going well. Not long before the Christmas break, which will be well deserved for all of us! I recently had a very interesting chat with Mario Avila, the Director of Turner Family Centre, which is a great association within Vanderbilt looking at...
Varun Kaushal experience at the Wond’ry
Dec. 4, 2017—Hello Commodores! I hope you all had a great thanksgiving break and are looking forward to the end of a work-filled semester. Thanksgiving is an interesting and awesome experience for me as an international student. For the past 2 years I have been celebrating it with my best friend’s family and have loved it. But...
Vanderbilt’s First Ever TOM Makeathon!
Dec. 1, 2017—The technological boom of the 21st century has fueled a growing market of assistive technology designed to improve the lives of people with disabilities. Gadgets fashioned by accessibility teams in corporate settings are changing the lives of these individuals by helping them perform everyday tasks with ease, an obstacle they previously had not been able...
Five gifts that show the entrepreneur in your life you care
Nov. 30, 2017—Can you believe it’s already time to start racking our brains about what gifts to give our friends, families and colleagues for the holiday season? That choice may be particularly hard to make with the budding entrepreneurs we know and love, because they’ve been spending a lot of time in the garage and with other...