Roberts Blog
How Nashville is now coming together to create the next great innovation conference- SXSE (South by Southeast)?
Aug. 28, 2018—What makes Nashville such a vibrant place for innovation and entrepreneurship can be summed up in one word: camaraderie. Perhaps it’s purely our southern charm, or maybe it’s the fact that our city’s initial growth was built on the aligned entrepreneurial spirt of individuals chasing that neon dream of musical successes. One thing is clear....
NSF I-Corps Program- Is your STEM idea commercially viable?
Aug. 12, 2018—Find out in less than two months whether your research is commercially viable. You may have already seen something about the first Vanderbilt team to complete the National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps since the university became a designated site last year. Their invention got a significant amount of media attention. Michael Goldfarb, H. Fort Flowers...
Be more like the Nashville Predators: Three winning strategies
May. 8, 2018—Let the Predators serve as your innovation muses With the recent rise and success of NHL’s Nashville Predators – the “Preds,” as we call them — Nashville has transformed into a true “hockey town” and being rated one of the best in the league to watch a game. How did this transformation happen? How did...
Putting innovation education over entrepreneurship broadens impact
Apr. 30, 2018—Putting innovation education over entrepreneurship broadens impact In this blog and at the Wond’ry, we talk a lot about entrepreneurship. In principle, we take an educational approach that includes entrepreneurship but goes far beyond readying students to launch their own businesses. The model we use is innovation education. University students simply may not be at...
40 under 40
Apr. 23, 2018—40 Under 40 list highlights diverse experiences, influx of perspectives It was incredible honor to be selected to Nashville Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 list, and I’m humbled to be included among some of this city’s brightest luminaries – change agents, thought leaders and influential decision makers who gathered from across Nashville this week to...
The Importance of SXSW and now my responsibility
Mar. 19, 2018—This past week, I had the honor to present at SXSW in Austin, Texas. For those who don’t know South by Southwest — or its cool acronym SXSW — it’s one of the top innovation and entrepreneurial conferences in the world, often drawing more than 500,000 visitors to Austin, Texas, for a two-week period each...
Think you’ve got a great idea? Stop talking, start listening
Jan. 18, 2018—One of the biggest challenges for first-time entrepreneurs is falling too much in love with their ideas. You’ve spent so many sleepless nights with it, so many fascinated days, watched it grow – and now it’s your baby. That’s understandable, but emotional attachment can keep you from listening to constructive feedback and lead you down...
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...
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.
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...