Past Entrepreneurship Events: Fall 2007 & Spring 2008

All events are open to the public unless otherwise indicated.

University-wide Events

Kauffman Entrepreneurial Year (KEY) Calendar

Kalmbach Lecture Series (Simon Business School)

Farash Lecture Series (Simon Business School)

Biotechnology Management & Entrepreneurship Seminar Series

Mark Ain Business Model Workshop Series and Competition

Rochester Clinical and Translational Curriculum Seminar (UR Medical Center)

Sustainable Energy Lecture Series (A KEY Student Project)

Rochester Regional Business Plan Competition

Undergraduate Leadership Workshop Series

University-wide Events

Friday, September 7: 3:00pm-4:30pm
Student Activities Fair (UR Entrepreneurs Table)
Dandelion Square (Rain location: Goergen Fieldhouse)

Friday, September 14: 7:30pm
Jerry Greenfield (of Ben & Jerry's) Lecture: "An Evening of Social Responsibility and Radical Business Philosophy"
Strong Auditorium ($3 for students, Ice Cream to follow lecture)

Thursday, September 27: 6:00pm
Society of Women Engineers Lecture Series: Georgina Terry, Founder, Terry Precision Bicycle
1657 East Park Drive, Macedon, NY
*Please RSVP to jakanik@rochester.rr.com

Wednesday, October 3: 3:00pm-7:00pm
Extreme Entrepreneurship Tour
Gleason 318/418

Wednesday, October 10: 11:30am-1:30pm
Wilson Wednesday Fall Harvest (co-sponsored with Grassroots)
Hirst Lounge

Wednesday, October 10: 3:00am-5:00pm
An Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship (Free transportation for UR students)
His Branches, Inc. - 342 Arnett Blvd., Rochester
*Please RSVP to Sam Nichols - snichols@ur.rochester.edu

Thursday, October 11: 4:30pm
Jeff Timmons Lecture: "Cultivating the Entrepreneurial Mindset"
Gleason 318/418, followed by a reception in the Rotunda (Schlegel Hall)

Friday, October 12: 9:00am-12:00pm
Faculty Seminar: "New Directions in Entrepreneurship Education"
Goergen Biomedical Engineering-Optics Building 109

Thursday, November 1: 4:00pm
Kauffman Entrepreneurial Year (KEY) Application Due
Lattimore 311

Friday, November 9: 4:00pm-6:00pm
Club Rochester (co-sponsored with UR Entrepreneurs Club and Simon Graduate School)
The Meliora, Salon D

Monday, November 12: 5:30pm
Peace Corps Interest Meeting
Wilson Commons 202

Wednesday, November 14: 7:00PM
Maurice Zauderer, Ph.D., Founder and CEO of Vaccinex Corporation:
“Forming and Financing a Biotechnology Company"
Twenty Dollars ($20.) per person
Hosted at the Country Club of Rochester
RSVP to Sid Sobel: Phone 585-442-3802, or e-mail: oncsid@aol.com

Thursday, November 15: 9:00am-10:00am
"Patent Reform Legislation and How to Respond to It"
Office of Technology Transfer F.I.R.E. (For Inventors, Researchers, and Entrepreneurs) Series
Louise Slaughter Conference Room (B CC 1-9555)

Tuesday, November 27:
29th Annual Economic Seminar
Charles Plosser, Federal Reserve Bank Chairman of Philadelphia
Sponsored by the Simon Graduate School of Business, Rochester Business Alliance, and J. P. Morgan Chase & Co.
Hyatt Regency Rochester
Advance registration is required at $40 per person.

Tuesday, December 12: 7:30pm
"Entrepreneurship, Politics, Hip-Hop and Def"
An Evening with Mos Def
Free to UR, $5 for General Public

Wednesday, January 16: 5:30-7:00pm
Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) Investor Panel
Interfaith Chapel, UR River Campus

Thursday, January 17: 4:30-5:45pm
Mark Ain Business Model Workshop 1
“Articulating your Idea and Constructing Business Model Prototypes”
Schlegel 102

Wednesday, January 30: 4:00-8:00pm
Rainmaker Series: “You are Invited to Create a Brand Called You”
Memorial Art Gallery, Bausch & Lomb Room
View the event PDF
RSVP: debra_hafner@urmc.rochester.edu

Wednesday, February 13: 5:00-6:30pm
Student Entrepreneur Trade Show
Hirst Lounge, Wilson Commons

Thursday, February 14: 9:00-10:00am
For Inventors, Researchers, and Entrepreneurs (F.I.R.E.) Lecture
Tina McKeon, Fish & Richardson
“Anyone Could Have Invented That! A Matter of Common Sense?”
Medical Center, Louise Slaughter Conference Room 1-9555

Tuesday, February 19: 4:30-5:30pm
Dennis Rebelo, UR alumnus
"The Engaged Life Worth Living-Entrepreneurial Identity & Lifestyle"
View Event Details
Schlegel 102

Saturday, February 23: 9:30am-1:30pm
Participatory Design Charette: Retrofitting Urban Housing for Energy Efficiency
Goergen Hall Atrium, River Campus
View the event PDF
RSVP: ahead@che.rochester.edu

Sunday, February 24
Eastman School of Music
Esa Tapani, Professor of Horn, Hochshule, Frankfurt
Time and Location TBD

Thursday, February 28: 4:30-5:45pm
Mark Ain Business Model Workshop 2
“Market/Business Feasibility: Research the Startup Way” 
Schlegel 102

Thursday, March 6: 12:00-1:15pm
"Financing Your Company"
Presented by David Hessler, HTR Entrepreneur-in-Residence
Lennox Tech Enterprise Center, Multimedia Center
150 Lucius Gordon Drive, Suite 100, West Henrietta, New York 14586

Free, but pre-registration for lunch/presentation is required:
Call or email Janet Causyn 585-214-2400 janet.causyn@htr.org

Thursday, March 13: 9:00-10:00am
Jon Scahill, and Tim Scahill, Quest Patent Research Corporation.
"Bringing Technological Innovation to Market - Strategies and Resources for Bridging the Gap Between Innovation and Commercialization; Partnerships, Protection, and Profitability."
Medical Center, Natapow Conference Room 1-9545

Thursday, March 20: 5:00pm
KEY Applications Due
Lattimore 311A

Friday, March 21: 4:00 – 5:00pm
Leadership and Vision with Dr. Delos “Toby” Cosgrove,
President and CEO of the Cleveland Clinic
Gowen Room, Wilson Commons

Wednesday, April 23: 10:30am -12:15pm
Churchill Club Telecast
"Successful Strategies for Early Stage Companies: The Investor Perspective"
Gowen Room, Wilson Commons

Wednesday, April 23: 3:30 -5:00pm
Panel Discussion: "Can Entrepreneurs Develop Economies?"
Havens Lounge, Wilson Commons

Thursday, April 24: 2:30-5:00pm
KEY Capstone Event
Hawkins-Carlson Room, Rush Rhees Library

Friday, May 2
Submittals for Mark Ain Business Model Competition due

Friday, May 2: 9:00am-12:00pm
Forbes Entrepreneurial Competition
Dewey Hall 2-110D

Thursday, May 7 6:30pm-8:30pm
Rochester Regional Business Plan Competition
HSBC Building, Chestnut St.

Tuesday, May 13: 12:00-3:00pm
Golden Horseshoe Business Challenge
Hyatt Regency Hotel, Rochester

Wednesday, May 14: 4:00-5:30pm
Final presentations for Mark Ain Business Model Competition
($10,000 awarded!)    

Thursday, May 15: 5:00-7:00pm
Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) Trade Show
May Room, 4th Floor, Wilson Commons

Tuesday, June 10: 9:00-10:00am
For Inventors, Researchers, and Entrepreneurs Talk
Medical Center, Louise Slaughter Conference Room, B CC 1-9555

Friday, June 13: 10:45am-12:00pm and 12:30-1:30pm
Thomas Jefferson School Students' Entrepreneurship Research Presentations
Hawkins-Carlson Room, Rush Rhees Library


Kauffman Entrepreneurial Year (KEY) Calendar

Click here to view more information about the Kauffman Entrepreneurial Year Program.

Wednesday, September 12: 3:30-4:15pm
Kauffman Entrepreneurial Year (KEY) Information Session
Lattimore 311

Friday, September 14: 2:00-2:45pm
Kauffman Entrepreneurial Year (KEY) Information Session
Lattimore 311

Tuesday, September 18: 3:30-4:15pm
Kauffman Entrepreneurial Year (KEY) Information Session
Lattimore 311

Thursday, September 20: 4:00-4:45pm
Kauffman Entrepreneurial Year (KEY) Information Session
Lattimore 311

Monday, September 24: 4:00-4:45pm
Kauffman Entrepreneurial Year (KEY) Information Session
Lattimore 311

Wednesday, October 3: 4:00-4:45pm
Kauffman Entrepreneurial Year (KEY) Information Session
Lattimore 311

Thursday, October 11: 2:00-2:45pm
Kauffman Entrepreneurial Year (KEY) Information Session
Lattimore 311

Tuesday, October 16: 4:00-4:45pm
Kauffman Entrepreneurial Year (KEY) Information Session
Lattimore 311

Thursday, November 1: 4pm
Kauffman Entrepreneurial Year (KEY) Application Due
Lattimore 311

Wednesday, January 30: 4:00-5:00pm
Kauffman Entrepreneurial Year (KEY) Information Session
Lattimore 311A

Thursday, February 7: 4:00-5:00pm
Kauffman Entrepreneurial Year (KEY) Information Session
Lattimore 311A

Monday, February 11: 4:00-5:00pm
Kauffman Entrepreneurial Year (KEY) Information Session
Lattimore 311A

Tuesday, February 19: 4:00-5:00pm
Kauffman Entrepreneurial Year (KEY) Information Session
Lattimore 311A

Tuesday, February 26: 4:00-5:00pm
Kauffman Entrepreneurial Year (KEY) Information Session
Lattimore 311A

Thursday, March 20: 5:00pm
Kauffman Entrepreneurial Year (KEY) Application Due
Lattimore 311A

Thursday, April 24: 2:30-5:00pm
KEY Capstone Event
Hawkins-Carlson Room, Rush Rhees Library


Kalmbach Leadership Lecture Series - Simon Graduate School of Business

All lectures are held in Schlegel Hall 207

Tuesday, October 9: 12:40-1:20pm
Dr. Sheldon Weinig, founder & former CEO, Materials Research Corp.

Monday, October 15: 4:30-5:30pm
Gerald Gaston, former President & CEO, American Bankers Insurance Group

Monday, October 29: 4:30-5:30pm
Ann Mulcahy, CEO, Xerox Corporation

Thursday, November 1: 5:00pm
Mark Ain, Founder and Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors, Kronos

Tuesday, January 22: 4:30-5:30pm
David Rusin, Founder & CEO, American Fiber Systems

Wednesday, January 23: 4:30-5:30pm
Robert Sands, CEO, Constellation Brands

Wednesday, March 26: 4:30-5:30pm
John Shiely, President & CEO, Briggs & Stratton

Thursday, May 1: 4:30-5:30pm
Joe Abrams, Venture Capitalist (lecture in Schlegel 107)

Wednesday, April 4: 4:30-5:30pm
Jon Judge, President & CEO, Paychex

Wednesday, May 7: 4:30-5:30pm
Ron Fielding '76, Sr. VP, Oppenheimer Funds


Farash Lecture Series - Simon Graduate School of Business

All lectures are held in Schlegel Hall 207

Wednesday, October 10: 12:40-1:20pm
Diane McCue '84, VP Kodak

Tuesday, November 6: 12:40-1:20pm
Stephen Down '95, Asst. Controller, Martin-Brower

Tuesday, January 15: 12:40 – 1:20
First lecture in a three-part Investment Series
Tom Thaney ’84, VP, Citigroup and Gabe Potter ’04, Registered Client Service Associate, Citigroup

Monday, January 28: 12:40 – 1:20
Dick van Belzen, Managing Director, Northpoint Advisors

Thursday, February 14: 12:40 – 1:20
John Anderson '80, President, Northern Capital Group, Inc.

Tuesday, February 19: 12:40 – 1:20
Ahmet Abaci '95, Director of Global Strategy, Bausch & Lomb

Wednesday, February 20: 12:40 – 1:20
Investment Series (Lecture II)
Tom Thaney ’84, VP, Citigroup and Gabe Potter ’04, Registered Client Service Associate, Citigroup

Tuesday, March 4: 12:40 – 1:20
Norman Snyder, President & CEO, High Falls Brewery

Thursday, March 6: 12:40 – 1:20
Investment Series (Lecture III)
Tom Thaney ’84, VP, Citigroup and Gabe Potter ’04, Registered Client Service Associate, Citigroup

Thursday, April 17: 12:40 – 1:20
Doug Pileri '90, Vice President, Integrated BTO Delivery, IBM Global Services


Mark Ain Business Model Workshop Series and Competition

http://www.rochester.edu/entrepreneurship/ain.html

In 2006, Mark Ain, Founder and Executive Chairman of the Board of Kronos Incorporated, made a generous donation to fund a Business Feasibility Competition ($10,000 prize).  The second annual Ain Business Model Workshop Series and Competition is scheduled for January-May 2008, and all University of Rochester undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to compete.  The cost of the workshops and entry to the competition is $40, however, undergraduates and members of the Simon Entrepreneurs Club enter free of charge.

Thursday, November 1: 5:00-6:00pm
Mark Ain Lecture and Business Model Kick-off “Identifying and Seizing an Entrepreneurial Opportunity” in Schlegel 207, followed by a reception in the Eisenberg Rotunda


All workshops to be held in Schlegel 102
4:30pm-5:45pm
Refreshments served at all workshops


Thursday, January 17: 4:30-5:45pm
Ain Workshop 1: “Articulating your idea and constructing business model prototypes - an introduction to various models of looking at the value; chain(s) involved with a business idea and identifying where and how to capture value.”  

Thursday, February 28: 4:30-5:45pm
Ain Workshop 2: “Market/business feasibility: research the startup way - an examination of the types of research helpful in early stages.”

Thursday, April 3: 4:30-5:45pm
Ain Workshop 3: “Financial feasibility: early stage financial modeling and sources of financing.”  

Thursday, May 2
Submittals for Mark Ain Business Model Competition due

Wednesday, May 14: 4:00-6:00pm
Final presentations for Mark Ain Business Model Competition ($10,000 awarded!)


Rochester Clinical and Translational Curriculum Seminar - University of Rochester Medical Center

Tuesday, September 4: 12:15-1:15pm
Innovative Ways to Write SBIR/STTR Grants
LeChase G-9576 (URMC)

Tuesday, September 11: 12:15-1:15pm
Human Subjects Protection - Beaumont and Research Ethics
LeChase G-9576 (URMC)

Tuesday, September 18: 12:15-1:15pm
How to Talk to an Investor
LeChase G-9576 (URMC)

Tuesday, September 25: 12:15-1:15pm
How is Tech Transfer Done?
Whipple 2-6424 (URMC)

Tuesday, October 2: 12:15-1:15pm
All About Rochester TEN (The Entrepreneurs Network)
Whipple 2-6424 (URMC)

Tuesday, October 9: 12:15-1:15pm
Human Subjects Protection
LeChase G-9576 (URMC)

Tuesday, October 16: 12:15-1:15pm
War Stories: Starting a Business in Rochester
LeChase G-9576 (URMC)

Tuesday, October 23: 12:15-1:15pm
The Perpetual Company
LeChase G-9576 (URMC)

Tuesday, October 30: 12:15-1:15pm
Everything You Need to Know About Business
LeChase G-9576 (URMC)

Tuesday, November 6: 12:15-1:15pm
Venture Capital Defined
LeChase G-9576 (URMC)

Tuesday, November 13: 12:15-1:15pm
Human Subjects Protection
LeChase G-9576 (URMC)

Tuesday, December 4: 12:15-1:15pm
Lies Startups Tell Themselves to Avoid Marketing
LeChase G-9576 (URMC)

Tuesday, December 11: 12:15-1:15pm
Exit Strategies for Technology Companies
LeChase G-9576 (URMC)

Tuesday, December 18: 12:15-1:15pm
Successful Exit Strategies
LeChase G-9576 (URMC)


Biotechnology Management & Entrepreneurship Seminar Series

Wednesday, February 27: 5:30-6:30pm
Joseph Brozino, Professor of Applied Science, Trinity College
and President of the Biomedical Engineering Alliance and Consortium (BEACON)
UR Medical Center, Main Lobby Board Room (2.1321)

Wednesday, March 19: 5:30-6:30pm
Michael Lysaght, Professor Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology & Biotechnology,
and Director of Brown University Center for Biomedical Engineering
UR Medical Center, Main Lobby Board Room (2.1321)

Wednesday, April 16, 2008: 5:30-6:30pm
Norton Peet, International R&D Consultant
UR Medical Center, Main Lobby Board Room (2.1321)


Sustainable Energy Lecture Series (A KEY Student Project)

The University of Rochester Virtual Institute for Energy (URVIE) was created by a group of students accepted into the Kauffman Entrepreneurial Year program for academic year 2007-2008.

In the broadest sense, the goal of URVIE is to encourage research in the area of renewable energy research at the University of Rochester. The university has a unique opportunity in making a great strategic plan for improving the future of our institution and humanity. We also plan to encourage more interdisciplinary research (especially among natural and social sciences) because the energy challenge is going to require input from many academicians to create a sensible solution. To create these new relationships between departments and to take advantage of an enthusiastic student body, we are encouraging more undergraduate involvement in this area of research. We understand that undergraduates are the most passionate about these issues and we seek to empower them by using these research projects to teach and give a sense of contribution to a noble cause. If we are to find the solution to this challenge it will be beneficial to involve the next generation of researchers.

To make this a reality we are creating this website (urvie.org), a speaker series in the spring semester(s) of knowledgeable researchers, professors, writers, authors, and government officials who all are concerned about the issue of energy. We are also going to create an energy themed undergraduate summer research program to help stimulate new research as well as providing valuable research experience to undergraduates.

View lecture series PDF for more information.

Wednesday, January 30: 4:00PM
Philippe M. Fauchet - "Energy: Mankind's Gravest Challenge"
Sloan Auditorium (Goergen Hall 101)

Wednesday, February 6: 4:00PM
Ben W. Ebenhack - "Extending and Preserving the Energy Advantage"
Sloan Auditorium (Goergen Hall 101)

Wednesday, February 20: 4:00PM
Richard M. Ryan - "Consumerism vs. Happiness and our Environmental Footprint"
Sloan Auditorium (Goergen Hall 101)

Wednesday, March 5: 4:00PM
Wolf-Udo Schroder - "Energy Real-Politik"
Sloan Auditorium (Goergen Hall 101)

Tuesday, March 18: 7:30PM
Daniel G. Nocera, MIT - "Powering the Planet: The Challenge for Chemistry in the 21st Century"
Sloan Auditorium (Goergen Hall 101)

Wednesday, March 26: 4:00PM
Hector D. Abruna, Cornell - "Developments in Fuel Cell Technology"
Sloan Auditorium (Goergen Hall 101)

Thursday, April 17: 1:00PM
Steven Chu, UC Berkeley - "The Energy Problem and What We Can Do About It"
Gleason 318/418

Sustainable Energy Symposium
Friday (3:00-5:30pm) and Saturday (9:00am-3:00pm), April 4-5
Hubbell Auditorium
Speakers include: Joseph Tainter, Vaclav Smil, Tracey Holloway, John Turner, David Pimentel, Jay Golden
Topics include: Collapse of Complex Societies, Carbon Dioxide Pollution, Hydrogen Fuel Economy, Sustainable Materials, Renewable Sources of Energy


Rochester Regional Business Plan Competition

The 2008 Rochester Regional Business Plan Contest is designed to encourage entrepreneurship and advance new, high-growth ventures in the Greater Rochester New York Region. Each of four contest finalists will receive a customized package of professional services and incubation services to accelerate their growth. The contest winner will receive a $25,000 cash prize.

Contest Eligibility

  • For-profit companies headquartered within the nine-county Rochester, NY/Finger Lakes Region
  • Scalable business concept with high growth potential
  • Companies must be early-stage defined as: 1) Less than $250,000 investment not including sweat equity, and 2) Less than $500,000 cumulative revenue excluding research grants

Judging Criteria
The Selection Committee will rely on information provided in each company's Application Form and Executive Summary to select Semi-Finalists who will then be reviewed based on their business plan and investor verbal presentation. Four Finalists will then be selected and invited to present before a panel of judges at the Awards Ceremony. The judges will choose the contest winners based on the written Business Plans and delivered Presentations. The winning teams will be chosen based on the following criteria:

  • Business scalability and growth potential
  • Clear, concise, compelling executive summary and business plan
  • Probability of success
  • Compelling investor presentation

Registration
Registration in the Business Plan Contest is $100 and includes attendance (limit two people per company) to workshops being offered to assist participants in developing meaningful business plans. Registration for the contest lasts until April 11, 2008. Executive Summary submissions are due April 21, 2008, 8:00 am. Business Plan submissions for semi-finalists are due April 28, 2008, 10:00 am.

  • Workshop One - Assessing Your Business Opportunity - April 2
  • Workshop Two - Planning Your Business - April 9
  • Workshop Three - Communicating Your Plan & Funding Your Business - April 16

Workshop attendance is free to companies registered for the Rochester Regional Business Plan Contest. The workshops are available at $25.00 per person for companies not participating in the contest.

CLICK HERE to visit High Tech Rochester's website, where you will be able to download a contest application form and view the contest guidelines and a suggested Business Plan outline.

CLICK HERE to register for the Rochester Regional Business Plan Contest and Workshops.

Contest Dates

April 2: Workshop One: Assessing Your Business Opportunity
April 9: Workshop Two: Planning Your Business
April 11: FINAL REGISTRATION DEADLINE - Completed Application and $100 fee due
April 16: Workshop Three: Communicating Your Plan and Funding Your Business
April 21: Final submission deadline for Executive Summary - submit by 8:00 am in PDF or MS Word format via email to: BusinessPlan@htr.org
April 24: Semi-Finalists notified
April 28: Final submission deadline for Business Plan - submit by 10:00 am at HTR's Lennox Tech Enterprise Center, 150 Lucius Gordon Drive, W. Henrietta, NY 14586
May 7: Rochester Regional Contest Finals, winners announced at Awards Ceremony
May 13: 2008 Golden Horseshoe Business Plan Contest Finals


Undergraduate Leadership Workshop Series

The Rochester Center for Community Leadership (RCCL) offers workshops on a variety of topics for students and student groups; all workshops are scheduled at the request of students and student groups. Please click here for more information on the RCCL, and to request a specific workshop.

Current Workshop Topics:

  • Meeting Management
  • Navigating Systems
  • Goal Setting
  • Programming 101
  • Leadership Styles
  • Flavors and Diversity
  • Campus Club Connection
  • From Leadership to Internship
  • Group Management
  • Developing Your Communication Skills
  • Values Auction