Join Us November 2

BEHRAKIS GRAND HALL IN THE CREESE STUDENT CENTER

3210 CHESTNUT STREET
PHILADELPHIA, PA

Join us on November 2nd as we look at how starters are using AI to push boundaries and innovate. Startup Fest is The Close School of Entrepreneurship’s annual premiere event. Register for a full day of competitions, vendor expos, a keynote address, workshops, networking opportunities, and more!

Schedule

9:00AM
Registration Opens
Behrakis Lobby
9:30AM
Fast Pitch Competition
Behrakis Center

Students have up to 3 minutes to convince a panel of judges that their idea is the best idea to win a $500 prize.

10:15AM
Student Panel
Behrakis Center Stage

A discussion with a panel of current student founders who are using AI to innovate.

11:00AM
Make With Max Live!
Behrakis Center Stage

Find out how to quickly go from ideation to prototype in minutes from Max Mirho - speaker, content creator, and founder of Make with Max.

Max will crowdsource startup ideas from the audience, narrowing it down to the best “one” idea. Then he will build a prototype of this idea - LIVE - in front of you. Explaining his process and the reasons behind his “build” decisions along the way.

12:00PM
Lunch
Behrakis South

Students who are participating in the Make with Max Hands-On Workshop and invited guests - join us for deli sandwiches and salads.

12:15PM
Make with Max hands-on workshop
Behrakis Center Stage

Want to try what you saw at Make with Max LIVE? Join us for a hands-on workshop. Max will show you how you can use your mobile phone to build a prototype. He will walk you through the process step-by-step, demonstrating that you can literally launch a business from a mobile device! No experience necessary - just bring your mobile device! (Stop next door to Behrakis South first to pick up a complimentary lunch.)

1:30PM
Rising Starters Fast Pitch Competition
Behrakis Center Stage

Local high school students have up to 3 minutes to convince a panel of judges (comprised of Close School Innovation and Entrepreneurship students) that their idea is the best idea to win up to $500 in prizes.

2:30PM
Drexel Startups Fund Competition
Behrakis Center Stage

The final round of the Fall Drexel Startup Funds competition where students compete to win up to $50,000 in awards to fund their ideas.

1:00PM-
5:00PM
Proving Ground Expo
Pearlstein Lobby

Get a jump on your holiday shopping at the Proving Ground Marketplace! Student founders and makers will be selling their unique products and services.

Are you an entrepreneur with a business idea you would like to share or a maker with a product that you are selling? Apply now to have a table.

4:30PM
Awards Announcement
Pearlstein Lobby
4:45PM-
6:00PM
Network Reception Presented By Tenney 110 Build Studio
Baiada Institute

Join us on the 4th Floor of the Pearlstein Building to celebrate Startup Fest. Interact with members of our Startup Community, including students, faculty, staff, and sponsors. All event attendees are invited to attend. Light appetizers, non-alcoholic beverages, wine, and beer.

KeyNote Speaker

Entrepreneurs from different industries and verticals are expected to be in attendance in a number of roles including exhibitors, students, speakers, and roundtables.

Entrepreneurs from different industries and verticals are expected to be in attendance in a number of roles including exhibitors, students, speakers, and roundtables.

Max Mirho

Entrepreneur

Max is an expert in rapid prototyping who’s lectured at universities around the world, including Harvard and Yale. He specializes in getting startup ideas up and running as quickly and cheaply as possible - all without learning programming or code. Max creates online content under the brand “Make with Max” - learn more about him on our social media highlights and VIEW his channel.

Student Judges

Sasha Cole

Senior at the Close School. He is pursuing a major in entrepreneurship and minors in film & TV production, graphic design, and sports management. Sasha is a YouTuber, editor, and podcast producer.

Victoria Faith Miller

Entrepreneurship and Innovation major with a concentration in Social Entrepreneurship, and minors in Marketing and Theatre. She is a senior in her 3rd year, pursuing an accelerated MBA in her 4th year. Victoria is passionate about advocating for girls’ education in developing countries and applying entrepreneurship, filmmaking, and the performing arts to empower youth to tell their stories and make a difference in their communities.

Janis Niv

Entrepreneurship major in her junior year pursuing an entrepreneurship major with a business consulting minor and food entrepreneurship certificate. She has founded Soothepop, a healthy popsicle for sore throats and is preparing for a launch next summer.

Entrepreneurs from different industries and verticals are expected to be in attendance in a number of roles including exhibitors, students, speakers, and roundtables.

Panelist

Max Mirho

Entrepreneur

Max Mirho

Entrepreneur

Max Mirho

Entrepreneur

Max Mirho

Entrepreneur

Max Mirho

Entrepreneur

Max Mirho

Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs from different industries and verticals are expected to be in attendance in a number of roles including exhibitors, students, speakers, and roundtables.

Panelists

Max
Mirho

Entrepreneur

Max
Mirho

Entrepreneur

Max
Mirho

Entrepreneur

Max
Mirho

Entrepreneur

Max
Mirho

Entrepreneur

Max
Mirho

Entrepreneur

Proving Ground Expo

A marketplace where visitors can meet our student entrepreneurs, learn about their ventures, and buy their products. Are you an entrepreneur with a business idea you would like to share or a maker with a product that you are selling? Apply to be a part of Proving Ground!

Raffle Prize

RSVP Now to be entered into a raffle to win a pair of Aonic 40 Wireless Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Headphones, by Shure – an industry leader in Sound Audio Quality since 1925, valued at $268. Each person who RSVPs and attends will be entered. The winner does not need to be present at the time of the drawing to win.

Sponsors

Want To Be a Part Of Startupfest