Columbia Entrepreneurship

Open Studio Hours
2020-03-10 04:00 - 19:00, 2020-03-03 04:00 - 19:00, 2020-02-25 04:00 - 19:00, 2020-02-18 04:00 - 19:00, 2020-02-11 16:00 - 19:00, 2020-02-04 16:00 - 19:00 UTC
Open to the whole Columbia community.
Do you have an idea and want to get personal design thinking feedback from the Columbia Entrepreneurship Design Studio? During Studio Hours, teams or individuals are invited to discuss their projects or ideas one-on-one with human-centered designers in the Studio. Teams of Columbia affiliates are also welcome to use the studio space for working independently on their entrepreneurial projects.
If you want to sign up for a specific half-hour time slot, register here.
The Design Studio is located at 645 W 120th Street, Room 430.

Health Tech Career Fair
2020-03-05 18:45 - 20:45
Open to Columbians
RSVP Here

An informal networking event to match students from the business school, Mailman, CUMC, and engineering schools interested in HCIT with leading health tech firms offering internship and full-time hiring opportunities. RSVP here.

Applications are LIVE for the Columbia Startup Lab 2020-2021 Cohort
2020-03-02
Applications for the 2020-2021 cohort are LIVE.
RSVP for our Open House on March 26 to find out more about the space, meet the team, and hear from resident ventures!

Meet the current cohort on our CSL page.

Deadline: Department of Defense X-Force Internship
2020-02-29
Open to the public
Apply

The Department of Defense (DoD) X-Force program will accept applications for its 2020 summer cohort of defense innovation fellows until Feb 29. They are looking for STEM, digital and design talent. This paid internship, students will join a team of graduate and undergraduate university students working together to develop prototypes or apps that solve real-world challenges, in close collaboration with a DoD sponsor. Past products have ranged from a soldier family readiness app, to an F/A-18E Super Hornet (jet fighter) predictive maintenance model, and even a software/hardware test bed for nuclear detection systems. Apply here, and learn more about the program here.

CBS Healthcare Conference
2020-02-28 08:00 - 18:30
Open to all Columbians.
RSVP here

This year’s conference will feature keynotes from George Yancopoulos (Founding Scientist, President, & Chief Scientific Officer of Regeneron), Jason Gorevic (CEO of Teladoc Health), and Clifford Samuel (Senior Vice President of Access Operations and Emerging Markets at Gilead Sciences). Other featured companies include Capsule, Butterfly Network, Nomad Health, New York-Presbyterian, Welltower, Novartis, Pfizer, Huron, and more. RSVP here.

The Black Innovators Series: Kickoff Event with Chris Lyons
2020-02-27 19:30 - 21:30
RSVP Here

This Thursday, Chris Lyons, the incredible leader of the Cultural Leadership Fund at Andreessen Horowitz will kickoff the inaugural Black Innovators Speaker Series, hosted by the Columbia University Black Pre-Professional Society (CUBPS).
Throughout the Spring 2020 semester, CUBPS will be hosting industry leaders in Venture Capital, Entrepreneurship and Technology. In the kickoff event this Thursday, Chris Lyons will talk about his background, his motivations as well as his work with CLF at Andreessen Horowitz.
See you this Thursday for an engaging, intimate conversation and Q&A with Chris Lyons and CUBPS!

Columbia Health Tech Assembly's Monthly Idea Lab
2020-02-27 18:00 - 20:00
Open to Columbia students
RSVP

HTA’s monthly Idea Lab provides an opportunity for students to pitch their projects/ideas so they can receive feedback and recruit new teammates or even pitch themselves as a future collaborator! This month, we are lucky to be joined by Dr. Arno Klein, the Director of the Matter Lab. The Matter Lab is a research non-profit that builds and applies technologies such as wearable devices, mobile apps, and online informatics and analysis tools to help track and improve learning and mental health. Focusing on initiatives in extending therapy through smartphone apps and a centralized mental health database, Dr. Klein is on the forefront of transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders.
When: Thursday, February 27th, 6-8pm
Where: William C. Warren Hall; 1125 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10025

Spark Workshop with Vngle
2020-02-25 18:00 - 19:30
Open to all Columbians
RSVP

Join the Tamer Center for a Spark Workshop with Vngle – Grassroots News for Transparency.
Vngle is a grassroots news organization founded to make cities more transparent and accurately represented via “various angles” of on-the-ground news coverage. It serves as a comprehensive outlet for credible hyper-local information regarding different cultures within and across cities.
This concept was born from a voter registration trip to Ferguson, Missouri. In going door-to-door, Blake, founder and CEO of Vngle, began asking locals of Ferguson what it was like to live in the city. He found many of their experiences shockingly divergent from televised and written news reports. Their stories revealed that the dismal conditions of the city had deeper roots than those to which the broader public had been exposed. Wondering why so many of these stories had gone unheard and if other local communities across America were equally underrepresented, Blake was motivated to do something about it by creating Vngle.
The key problems of today’s news sources are lack of representation and lack of transparency. Between the scope of local news today and the silos of social media, it remains a challenge to get different perspectives on what is actually happening across communities. Thus, local matters go underrepresented or not represented at all.
Leading up to the 2020 U.S. presidential election in November, Vngle seeks to highlight underrepresented perspectives and insights on major issues in each of the swing states. Vngle is interested in ideas on which issues to cover, which cities to focus on and the methods to achieve a diversity of voices. More accurate and representative information allows for better informed voters!
This workshop will be an opportunity to collaborate and ideate on issues to cover, ways to gain accurate information, and methods to provide that information to the public. Bring your experience, expertise, and curiosity!
SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY
Blake Stoner, Founder and CEO of Vngle, is a storyteller, social entrepreneur, and tech enthusiast. With a history of community engagement since his childhood, Stoner uses his background as a basis to represent the culture and concerns of communities. Blake enjoys connecting with passionate people, cool opportunities, and general avenues to explore new terrain around culture in America. He earned a BA in Economics from Morehouse College and an MS in Strategic Communication from Columbia University. For his social initiatives, he has been the recipient of various entrepreneurial awards and grants. Blake currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia.

TechDay NYC
2020-02-23
Open to the public.
RSVP

Looking for the next big thing in tech? How about premier access to the startup everyone’s talking about? Or simply want to explore everything this startup scene has to offer? Whether you’re an investor, member of the press, user, developer, job seeker, corporate or someone in between, attending TechDay gives you an exclusive look into today’s latest and greatest tech with direct access to the startups & partners making it all happen.

Space Angels Event
2020-02-21 17:30
Open to all Columbians
RSVP here

The Columbia Space Initiative is hosting Justus Killian, partner at Space Angels (space industry VC based in NYC) on 2/21 at 5:30pm in CEPSR (Schapiro) 415. He will be talking about the state of the commercial space industry as well as Space Angels’ portfolio companies (including SpaceX, Planet Labs, and Made in Space). Those interested in the industry should note that Space Angels is currently hiring an analyst. RSVP here.

Third Thursday - Perfect Your Pitch
2020-02-20 18:00 - 20:00
Open to all Columbians
RSVP

Columbia Engineering‘s next Third Thursday will feature pitch coaches who are angel investors and venture capitalists. The audience will vote on a variety of criteria, including best engagement, best PPT, and best description of a complex concept. This is great practice for CVC 2020!

Innovation Talk Series: Lunch with KJ Singh '11, Managing Director at Techstars
2020-02-20 12:30 - 13:30
Open to all Columbians
RSVP Here

KJ Singh ’11 serves as the Managing Director of the Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs Accelerator powered by Techstars, responsible for sourcing and screening hundreds of startups. During the program, he advises companies on product/market fit, growth tactics, fundraising strategies, and other strategic issues.
Before Techstars, KJ worked in management consulting with Booz & Company in NYC. Prior to that, he was an investment-banker with Redwood Capital Group where he focused on Media and Telecom verticals.
Lunch will be served. In an effort to reduce use of single use beverage containers, drinks will not be provided. Please bring your personal water bottle.
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The Lang Innovation Talk Series invites highly-accomplished industry professionals to speak with current students who are interested in topics within the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The formats range from roundtable discussions to somewhat larger settings. Participating students are expected to arrive prepared with questions and topics for discussion.

Social Venture Pitch and Mix
2020-02-19 18:00 - 20:00
Open to all students working on social ventures
RSVP

The Tamer Center’s Pitch Mix and Matches offer social entrepreneurs at any stage a chance to pitch their ideas, seek experts, and network with the social venture community.

Deadline Extension! 2020 Columbia Venture Competition
2020-02-14
Learn more about eligibility and submit your application at StartupColumbia.org

THE 2020 VENTURE COMPETITION IS OPEN! AND SO IS YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A PIECE OF THE $250,000 PRIZE POOL.
The 2020 Columbia Venture Competition (CVC) has five challenges but you may only enter one. The descriptions, rules, and eligibility guidelines are listed here. Each challenge will split $50,000 among the top three winners. Four of the challenges are open to students and recent alumni (five years or less from their most current Columbia degree) from any Columbia-affiliated school, including Barnard and Teachers College. The Undergraduate Challenge, sponsored by Columbia College, is open to all current Columbia College, Columbia Engineering, General Studies, and Barnard College undergrads. CVC judges will come from Columbia’s worldwide alumni community from Bordeaux to Beijing to Brooklyn and will represent diverse backgrounds and a wide-ranging set of expertise.

Circular City Open Call
2020-02-14
Open to the public.

Circular City (a collaboration between New Lab and EDCNYC) is seeking startups that are building frontier technologies and developing novel products that address urban challenges in transitioning to a circular economy and improving energy efficiency in buildings. Startups interested in piloting technology or a product in New York City should consider applying. Apply here

Cyber NYC Inventors to Founders Accelerator Kickoff
2020-02-12 18:00 - 20:00
Open to everyone.
RSVP here.

Cyber NYC Inventors to Founders, part of Columbia’s Lab-to-Market Accelerator Network, will have a kick-off event at the Global Cyber Center on Feb 12. This event is a great opportunity to hear startups deliver one-minute pitches, meet investors, CISOs, and leading cyber security companies in New York City. RSVP here.

Deadline: Almaworks Accelerator
2020-02-12
Join the Spring 2020 Cohort of Almaworks, Columbia’s student-run accelerator for NYC startups.
Almaworks takes no equity and aims to help early-stage startups run by NYC student entrepreneurs achieve significant, sustainable growth. Its 60+ student startups have collectively raised more than $14M in seed funding, enrolled in programs like TechStars, Y Combinator or Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator, and awarded numerous Columbia Venture Competition grants and other prizes.
Structure
Almaworks is an intensive 8-week program. Each week consists of 3 hour sessions on Fridays (3PM to 6PM) at the SoHo WeWork (Columbia Startup Lab). While there is no typical Friday session, over the course of the program, teams will participate in workshops, attend office hours with mentors, hear from speakers and alumni, and connect with the extended CORE and Almaworks community. A free catered dinner is also provided.
Testimonials
“The Almaworks accelerator was essential for our growth at Droice Labs. Every Columbia founder should consider it.” — Mayur Saxena, Founder Droice Labs, Almaworks Fall ’16 cohort
“Use Almaworks as a platform to rocket yourselves up to greater things! This is the place where you can find lots of interesting people to connect with — both in terms of other startups and potential investors/mentors.” — George Mgaloblishvili, Founder Legalr, Almaworks Spring ’18 cohort
“Almaworks will now be a lifelong community that all share a mutual passion for creating companies that make life better!” — Angelica Deleon, Founder Leon, Almaworks Spring ’19 cohort

Department of Defense Funding
2020-02-12
Open to the public

The application period for non-dilutive seed funding from the Department of Defense is now open through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer programs: sbir.defensebusiness.org. Deadline is Feb 12, and application tips can be found here.

Tamer Fund for Social Ventures Webinars (12pm & 7pm)
2020-02-11
Open to all Columbians

The next deadline to apply to the Tamer Fund for Social Ventures is March 1! Learn about the application process, and ask any questions you may have at one of two webinars on February 11: 12–1 p.m. (RSVP) or 7–8 p.m. (RSVP).
The Tamer Fund for Social Ventures provides seed grants to nonprofit, for-profit, and hybrid early-stage Columbia University affiliated social and environmental ventures.

Fireside Chat: How to Start a Biotech Startup
2020-02-10 12:00
Open to undergraduates
RSVP here

Join us for a lunchtime fireside with Y Combinator partner Jared Friedman, Visiting Partner Dr. Uri Lopatin and YC alum Shara Ticku of C16 Biosciences.
Since 2014, YC has funded over 250 bio companies, which makes us one of the largest seed stage biotech funders in the world.
Learn what it takes to launch and scale a life sciences company and hear how and why biotech startup funding will change in the next 10 years. Food and drinks will be served. Hosted by CORE.

Application Deadline: GEC Inaugural Symposium
2020-02-10
Open to all Columbia students.
Apply here.

The Graduate Entrepreneurship Council (GEC) will host its inaugural Symposium, sponsored by WeWork, Techstars, Mintz Levin, Wolf & Company, P.C., which brings together the top venture capitalists and the brightest entrepreneurs from Columbia, Harvard, MIT, Northwestern, and UPenn. Only 25 will be selected from each school. Learn more and apply by February 10 at www.the-gec.com/yearly-symposium.

TigerLaunch
2020-02-08 10:30
Open to students
RSVP

CORE is proud to be hosting the NYC Regional competition of TigerLaunch, the nation’s largest student-run startup competition, in conjunction with the Princeton Entrepreneurship Club.
This Saturday, February 8, you’ll hear pitches from the top 15 teams selected from around the East Coast. Throughout the day, you’ll also have the opportunity to meet with top collegiate founders, venture capitalists, and other students from universities throughout the region.
Lunch and snacks will be served.

Application Deadline: Design Your Future
2020-02-05 17:00
Open to all Columbia students (including Barnard and Teachers College)
Apply Here
Applications Close: February 5th at 5pm
Accepted Applicants Notified February 7th by 5pm

The future can feel uncertain, so we’ve created Design Your Future as a three-session program where students learn to apply human-centered design to their careers and to life after graduation. The goal of this program to help you to better navigate your career and life choices in the face of this uncertainty.
Design Your Future is for students who are nearing the end of their studies and preparing to launch out into the world. This can be both an exciting and unnerving time. What if you discover that your new job isn’t for you? What happens if you start to drift away from the things you feel passionate about? Many recent graduates feel stuck after leaving school.
Dates and Times:
February 13th — 11:00am to 1:00pm
February 20th — 11:00am to 1:00pm
February 27th — 11:00am to 1:00pm
Apply Here

Deadline: Columbia Venture Community Investor Matching
2020-02-01
Columbia Venture Community‘s investor matching is open again! Besides matching with top-tier VCs, there’s also several new acceleration resources available. You can see all the current and upcoming opportunities listed here. Companies whose founders, key employees, or investors are alumni or otherwise affiliated with Columbia can apply here before Feb 1st.

Impact Investing: A Fireside Chat Between Investor and Founder
2020-01-30 17:30 - 19:30
Open to all Columbians (including Barnard and Teachers College)
RSVP here

Get investors to back your social mission: Join us Jan 30 at the Columbia Startup Lab for a fireside chat on Impact Investing with serial entrepreneur, Prof Sarah Holloway ’03SIPA, and founder and investor Jolyne Caruso-Fitzgerald, ’81 Barnard. RSVP: http://ow.ly/RlrV50y1jxO
