Crystal Fickers

Who will take home the BIG PRIZE THIS Thursday at the Patriot Pitch Competition? Attend as a spectator and find out!

Crystal Fickers — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 19:32:33 +0000

Who will take home the BIG PRIZE THIS Thursday at the Patriot Pitch Competition? Attend as a spectator and find out! Crystal Fickers Mon, 03/20/2023 - 15:32

In This Story

Nicole Washington

Ajay Vinzé

The Patriot Pitch Competition supports idea and early-stage business ventures and is open to current Mason students and recent alumni from all majors/fields of study.

This year’s competition is being led by the School of Business and includes interdisciplinary collaboration from the College of Engineering and Computing and the College of Science. Finalist teams will participate in mentoring sessions this March and make their pitches in front of a live audience THIS Thursday on Thursday, April 13 in Dewberry Hall.

The event will begin at 11 a.m. with entrepreneur Nicole Washington, Founder and CEO of Boralogix, as our esteemed keynote speaker. School of Business Dean Ajay Vinzé and other speakers from Mason’s entrepreneurial ecosystem will follow. A light lunch from HUNGRY & a networking opportunity for registered attendees will precede the pitches.

The pitches will begin at 12:00 p.m. The event is open to spectators. There will also be a “Mason’s Choice Award,” inviting the audience to vote on their favorite pitches and join the fun! Only registered attendees can vote, so be sure to register early.

From 12:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., there will be 4 teams pitching in each of the 4 tracks: Public Engagement, STEM, Social Impact, and General Entrepreneurship. An awards ceremony and networking opportunity for competitors, judges, mentors and coaches, and audience members will follow.

Don’t miss this chance to connect with local entrepreneurs and your fellow innovators on campus!

Registration is required and free!

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Campus News

CIE Opens the Student Design Challenge for #MasonInnovators - Sign Up Today!

Crystal Fickers — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 16:31:15 +0000

CIE Opens the Student Design Challenge for #MasonInnovators - Sign Up Today! Crystal Fickers Mon, 09/19/2022 - 12:31

The Fall 2022 Student Design Challenge Is Open for Registration!

The Fall 2022 Student Design Challenge, inviting students to reinvent the urban agriculture industry, is now open for registration!

The goal of this semester's program is to explore current industry challenges and reimagine solutions such as innovative aquaponics, vertical gardening structures, or disruptive energy systems that will support sustainable and affordable food production in urban areas, while also reducing the carbon footprint of the food system. Each semester, the Student Design Challenge focuses on a different industry.

CIE will provide fall semester participants with access to the tools, technology, and mentorship from Mason alumni, staff, and faculty members, as well as the chance to learn from industry experts and local urban agriculture ventures.

The Student Design Challenge will include over $3,000 in CIE Innovation Awards for selected finalists. In addition to cash prizes, winners will also receive post-program ongoing support from CIE as well as opportunities to present their prototypes at CIE events.

The in-person kick-off event will take place on Tuesday, September 27th at 4:30pm-6:30pm at the MIX (lower level of Horizon Hall).

Urban agriculture has emerged as a sustainable and resourceful way of producing food in urban environments. It is one of the fastest-growing industries (pun intended!) at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) rate of 24.46% which is predicted to result in a global market size of $16+ billion by 2027. Join us we help you develop your vision of the future!

*Read more about CIE's Spring 2022 Student Design Challenge and how the program supports #MasonInnovators.

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Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Business Buzz

CIE's Book Club - Join Us this Thursday!

Crystal Fickers — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 15:47:05 +0000

CIE's Book Club - Join Us this Thursday! Crystal Fickers Mon, 09/19/2022 - 11:47

Join us this Thursday for the Next CIE Book Club Discussion

This Thursday from 12-1pm, the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) is pleased to host a discussion of the Fall 2022 selection for Smart People Still Read Books Book Club: 25 Million Sparks: The Untold Story of Refugee Entrepreneurs by Andrew Leon Hanna.

“25 Millon Sparks is a powerful story of hope – a beautiful reminder of our equal dignity, common humanity, and brilliant potential for innovation… Hanna’s captivating human-centered narration of the stories of three women entrepreneurs in the Za’atari camp allows their voices to be heard clearly.” –Leymah Ghowee, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

Join us as we discuss entrepreneurship from the perspective of three incredibly strong entrepreneurs who persevere despite (or perhaps because of) their circumstances.

The discussion will be held in-person and virtually THIS Thursday, November 17th, from 12-1pm in Enterprise Hall, room 278 and via Zoom: go.gmu.edu/CIEzoom . You don't need finish the book in order to join the discussion; all are welcome!

The Smart People Still Read Books Book Club was created to connect the #MasonNation with entrepreneurial works.

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Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Business Buzz

Buy Local Products at The Depot: This Thursday & Friday!

Crystal Fickers — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 13:58:49 +0000

Buy Local Products at The Depot: This Thursday & Friday! Crystal Fickers Mon, 09/19/2022 - 09:58

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) Student Leadership Team will be setting up shop at Dolce Vita in Fairfax again this semester! Head over to stock up on farm fresh goods, locally produced pantry items, and greens from the GMU on-campus Greenhouse.

Learn more about the program, made possible through a partnership from the Fairfax City Economic Development Authority and support from the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia.

12-3pm at Dolce Vita Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar

DEC 8 & 9: This Thursday and Friday!

Mason students look forward to seeing you there!

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Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Business Buzz

CIE Judges at High School Business Pitch Competition

Crystal Fickers — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 17:06:09 +0000

CIE Judges at High School Business Pitch Competition Crystal Fickers Wed, 06/01/2022 - 13:06

In This Story

Crystal Fickers

InnovateTJ judging panel including Crystal Fickers, CIE Program Manager (center)

Last Saturday, over 100 high school students gathered at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) for InnovateTJ, a full-day business pitch competition and workshop series. The classrooms were packed with students listening intently to various speakers. The hallways reverberated with audible jitters.

The entire event was planned and executed by TJHSST students. 28 groups of 2-4 students were given the theme of sustainability to help mold their business ideas.

With her background in launching start-ups and guiding students in entrepreneurial education, Crystal Fickers, CIE’s Program Manager, was asked to be one of the judges for the final day of presentations.

Student groups each took turns presenting their business pitch to the judge panels. Students were then graded on a rubric based on points for innovation, product need, financial analysis, and professionalism.

TJHSST students came with an impressive array of creative solutions to the world’s sustainability problems. Pitch ideas ranged from eco-friendly bags made of hemicellulose, a fintech product intent on investing exclusively in sustainable entities, the decellularization of plant tissue to create human organs, to a product designed to mitigate dust particles in space, amongst others. Two of these groups won cash prize investments to fund their venture.

A big (virtual) round of applause to all of the amazing students working hard to innovate a more sustainable world! As a part of CIE’s broader mission to grow the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem, CIE will continue to offer support to TJHSST students and entrepreneurs of all ages as they prepare to enter the market with their innovative products.

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Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

CIE Shares News & Resources for #MasonInnovators. Sign Up Today!

Marianne Klinker — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 21:01:26 +0000

CIE Shares News & Resources for #MasonInnovators. Sign Up Today! Marianne Klinker Fri, 02/18/2022 - 16:01

Interested in Innovation and Entrepreneurship at ��AV?

The Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship's newsletter is a leading outlet for #MasonInnovators and #MasonEntrepreneurs

Stay updated on CIE's programs, events, resources for innovators, and more!

Open to all!

Don’t miss out - sign up today!

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CIE is Forming #FutureFounders. Join Us!

Marianne Klinker — Fri, 18 Feb 2022 20:58:57 +0000

CIE is Forming #FutureFounders. Join Us! Marianne Klinker Fri, 02/18/2022 - 15:58

HAVE A SIDE HUSTLE OR BUSINESS IDEA?

The Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE) has resources to help you build your vision of the future. Set up a time to meet our entrepreneur-in-residence using our easy appointment page.

INTERESTED IN INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP?

CIE's programs are open to all Patriots!

Work with us

Join CIE's experiential programs to try your hand at starting & running a business

Volunteer for events

Build your professional network & help CIE grow the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem

Sign up for the CIE newsletter

Stay updated on CIE's programs, events, resources for innovators, and more!

Questions? Email us at ciemason@gmu.edu.

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