Thinc. Entrepreneurial Week, March 23-27, once again will bring an array of innovators to UGA to stimulate entrepreneurial thinking.
This is the third year that Thinc. has sponsored a weeklong celebration of entrepreneurship with events organized by the university’s colleges and programs as well as community organizations. Throughout the week, workshops, panel discussions, competitions and networking events promise to engage, inspire and build the confidence to take ideas from concept to reality.
Thinc. Week events include:
Thursday, March 26
• Slingshot: Sensory Overload Conference on Big Data Perceptualization. 8:30 a.m., March 26 through noon March 27, Richard Russell Building Special Collections Libraries, Room 271
World-class scholars will present artistic and useful tools for the analysis of big data using sonification, visualization and advanced analysis. This is part of the Athens Slingshot Festival, a hybrid event that engages a diverse audience with music, art and technology.
• Learning Social Entrepreneurship Through Movement, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Studio 276 in the dance building
A workshop led by Stanford University dance instructor Aleta Hayes, who uses dance and free movement to increase leadership and collaboration. Lunch will be provided after the workshop.
• UGA Alumni Startup Panel, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Sanford Hall, Room 313
UGA alumni will discuss their journeys to entrepreneurship: Ty Frix, founder of Ichor, a biomedical technology company seeking to integrate experience from health care and athletics; Cali Brutz, founder of Borrowing Magnolia, a digital brokerage service for high-end wedding dress rentals and sales; Sean Durkin, founder of Axon Tutors, a company seeking to empower students and provide better jobs for tutors; and Ashley Edmonds, founder of Lilywrap, pioneer of an innovative stretchy gift wrap.
Friday, March 27
• TEDxUGA, 1-5 p.m.
The third annual TedxUGA is an independently organized TED event featuring ideas worth spreading with talks by UGA students and faculty. TedxUGA is sold out, but will be streamed live from www.tedxuga.edu.
Previous events:
Monday, March 23
• Second Annual Local Arts & Culture Business Summit
This was a public forum for local arts and culture business owners to share experiences, best practices and ways to support local arts entrepreneurs. The event featured local artist Michael Lachowski and entrepreneurs from Agora Vintage, Look-Listen, the Broad Collective, KA Artist Shop, Double Dutch Press, Treehouse Kid & Craft and Community Boutique. The UGA Career Center and a lawyer to creative professionals wwer also on hand to offer advice to budding entrepreneurs.
• Agrobioscience Startup Company Safari
A behind-the-scenes tour of the research and production facilities of companies associated with UGA’s Innovation Gateway startup incubator. The tour, led by the founders or chief scientific officers of these companies, was perfect for those interested in innovation, technology and entrepreneurship in the modern agrobiosciences.
• Innovation Gateway Open House
Participants learned about companies started by UGA faculty who are working on cures for diabetes, cancer and other diseases. They found out how these companies engage students and industry partners. This session included a tour and reception.
• Yik Yak Day
This talk featured Tyler Droll and Brooks Buffington, founders of Yik Yak.
Tuesday, March 24
• Digital Disruption: The Latest Ideas Driving Change
Panel members representing the College of Family and Consumer Sciences shared their experiences with technology. Moderator: Debbie Phillips, UGA alumna and owner/founder of The Quadrillion. A reception followed the discussion.
• Students 2 Startups
Formerly “Talk Tech,” this twice-annual event on the UGA campus connected students with the Athens tech startup community to make connections and discover opportunities.
• Rapid Prototyping with Emerging Technologies
Students learned how to create engaging products with the latest technologies, including laser cutters, digital scanners, 3-D printers and more in UGA’s new Makerspace.
• eHub Pitch Camp: Powered by Four Athens
Participants in eHub’s Business Idea Accelerator program took the stage to pitch their business ideas to a panel of entrepreneurs and investors for prize money.
Wednesday, March 25
• Entrepreneurship Opportunities in Landscape Architecture & Engineering
This was a roundtable discussion among three generations of design professionals on the highs and lows of being an entrepreneur in engineering, planning and landscape architecture. Panelists represented International Development and Energy Alliance, Lorberbaum Odrezin & Associates and Sustainable Design Consultants.
• UGA/Athens Startup Ecosystem Design Thinking Session
Participants brainstormed about how to create a better entrepreneurial community at UGA and in Athens.
• Idea Generation with Kyle Williams
Participants used design thinking to generate ideas for new projects and businesses, collaborate with diverse students and learn the techniques to continue developing the entrepreneurial mindset. Williams is the conservation director for Athens Land Trust.
See a complete listing of Thinc. events, times and locations at www.thinc.uga.edu/events.