Reunions Entrepreneurs Conference and Pitch Competition

Princeton Entrepreneurship Council (PEC) and Princeton Entrepreneurs' Network (PEN) are pleased to organize this year’s Reunions Tiger Entrepreneurs Conference and Pitch Competition and return to an on-campus, in-person event. This year’s conference will feature alumni panel discussions, workshops, a fireside chat and the annual startup pitch competition. It will be held on Friday, May 20 at the Friend Center. Alumni, students, faculty, postdocs, staff, parents, and their guests are invited to attend.

Register now for educational entrepreneurial sessions, an exciting pitch competition featuring Princeton founders, plus breakfast, lunch and a closing reception.

Return to this page for updates to the agenda. The day’s schedule includes:

8:00 AM to 9:00 AM: Check-in and Breakfast (main floor atrium)

Entrepreneurial Panel Discussions and Skills Workshops

9:00 AM to 9:50 AM (two different sessions in the downstairs classroom bowls)

• Panel discussion featuring various Princeton campus leaders discussing the growing entrepreneurial momentum across the University and ways you can engage with faculty, students, and fellow alumni. Panelists include Cornelia Huellstrunk, Executive Director, Keller Center; Tony Williams, New Ventures Associate, Office of Technology Licensing; Christina Pellicane, Assistant Director and Lead Instructor, Northeast I-Corps Hub; and Anne-Marie Maman '84, Executive Director, Princeton Entrepreneurship Council. Moderated by Don Seitz '79, Assistant Director, Alumni Engagement, Princeton Entrepreneurship Council.

• Workshop "The 4-Step Fundraising Formula". Join Navin Thukkaram '97 and learn how to fund raise like a pro. Using the 4-step Fundraising Formula, you'll be prepared when failure is not an option.

10:00 AM to 10:50 AM (three different sessions in the downstairs classroom bowls)

• Panel discussion featuring younger alumni entrepreneurs, exploring their journeys since graduation and their experiences and insights in developing and launching new products and technology-based solutions. Panelists include Frank Mycroft '07, Founder and CEO @ Booster (climate tech); Ming Lu '12, Co-Founder and COO @ Sensible (data tech), Jen Lee '17, Product Manager @ Stripe (crypto/fintech); Brooks Powell '17, Founder and CEO @ Cheers (consumer tech); and Ayushi Sinha '20, Investor at Bain Capital Ventures

• Workshop on "Managing Your Career Working at Startups". Join Ed Zschau Jr. '86, Will McCalpin '12 and Rachel Yee '19 as they share insights about how to have a personally and financially rewarding career working for and with startups.

• Workshop: "Bootstrapping Your Startup". Not all startups need large amounts of dilutive funding to get off the ground. Lauren Imparato ‘02 will teach you how you can bootstrap your startup from idea to full-fledged company - finding success while maintaining ownership and control.

11:00 AM to 11:50 AM (one session in the downstairs classroom bowl)

• A panel discussion featuring VC professionals from the 25th and 40th Reunion years sharing their perspectives on trends and opportunities, hot sectors, diversity and fundraising dynamics in post-pandemic 2022. Panelists include Steve Brownlie '97, General Partner @ Leadout Capital; Heidi Patel '97, Managing Partner @ Rethink Impact; Kara Nortman '97, Partner @ Upfront Ventures; Dan Von Kohorn '97, Managing Partner @ Broom Ventures; and Lynda Clarizio '82, Founding Partner @ The 98.

11:30 AM to 12:30 PM: Lunch (downstairs)

• Grab lunch and engage with Princeton startup founders at the Startup Showcase (see below).

12:30 PM to 1:15 PM: Fireside chat (in the main floor lecture hall)

• Join a conversation with Geoff Yang ’81, founding partner of Redpoint Ventures and an avid advisor, founder and investor in the sports & entertainment sector. Leading the conversation will be Craig B. Arnold, the newly appointed Vice Dean for Innovation and the Susan Dod Brown Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

Princeton Entrepreneurs’ Network Startup Pitch Competition

FEATURED STARTUPS:

10:30 AM to 12:30 PM: Startup Showcase (in the downstairs hallway). Engage with and learn more about Princeton startups and then vote for your favorite. Three startups with the most votes will then participate in the Pitch Competition.

11:30 AM to 12:30 PM: Lunch (downstairs) Grab lunch and engage with Princeton startup founders at the Startup Showcase.

1:15 PM to 2:15 PM: Pitch Competition (in the main floor lecture hall) featuring the 3 finalists (as voted by attendees) who will pitch and win prizes. Moderators: Mayra Ceja '03 and Julia Macalaster '12.

2:15 PM to 4:00 PM: Cocktail and networking reception (in the atrium) at which we will be joined by alumni members of Princeton Alumni Angels.

PEN would like to thank sponsors Princeton Entrepreneurship Council, Nassau Street Ventures, Keller Center and Meyer Business Law.

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Please email Don Seitz '79 at donseitz@princeton.edu with any questions.