Join us NOVEMBER 14

Impact and Innovation:
Propel your Startup Dreams to the Next Level!

Startup Fest is The Close School of Entrepreneurship’s premiere annual event. Register for a full day of competitions, vendor expos, thought leadership conversations, workshops, networking opportunities, and more!

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PRESENTED BY

SCHEDULE

9:30AM - 11AM
Coffee and Croissants
Relax and enjoy coffee and croissants during a special taping of Startup Talks with Chuck Sacco. Coffee sponsored by Saxbys!
11 - 12PM
Fast Pitch Competition
Pitch your idea in 2 minutes of less to win cash prizes. This is a verbal pitch only - no slides. Impact-driven ideas will give preferential scoring.
Apply Now!
12 - 1PM
Featured Speaker
Robert Amar of Small World Seafood will be speaking about "The Small World of Seafood". He will share how he created a thriving business by bringing fish and fellowship direct to consumer in his local Fairmount neighborhood during the Covid 19 pandemic. His message stresses the importance of community and neighborhood in the building of a grassroots food business. Don't miss this inspiring talk!
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2 - 3PM & 3 - 4PM
Master Classes with Local Impact-Driven Businesses
Choose from a variety of workshops led by local business leaders from across industry to gain valuable insights and practical knowledge in workshops that will teach you "How To..." in less than an hour.

Masterclass 1: Pitching That Lands: How to Craft and Deliver Winning Pitches with Don Milley, Founder of WhatsitAI

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Masterclass 2: Finding Your Customer and Crafting Your Value with Emily Foote, Chief Growth Officer at Saxybys

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Masterclass 3: Legal Foundations for Startup Success with Greenberg Traurig

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Masterclass 4: How to Find a Problem Worth Solving: The Power of Starting Small with Bo Zhao, Founder and CEO of Baby Gear Group

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1 - 4PM
The Proving Ground Expo
Discover ground-breaking ideas and cutting-edge innovations from Drexel University students at the Proving Ground Expo.
Apply to be a Vendor!
4 - 5:30PM
Startups Fund Fall 25 Competition
The final round of the Fall Drexel Startups Fund competition where students compete for up to $20,000 to fund their ideas.
Apply to Startup Funds now!
6 - 7PM
Networking Reception
Join us at the conclusion of the event for a cocktails and light refreshments in the Baiada Institute, 4th Floor, Pearlstein Building.

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.

Brian Jones

Entrepreneur

Brian 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.

Master Class Speakers

Don Milley

Founder of WhatsitAI

Don Milley is a serial entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience building and scaling ventures across technology, gaming, consumer products, and ecommerce. He is the founder of Whatsit AI, a platform that helps users instantly identify and evaluate vintage and second-hand items. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Entrepreneur, and MSNBC for his contributions to innovation and market disruption.

Emily Foote

Chief Growth Officer at Saxybys

Emily Foote is the Chief Growth and Strategy Officer at Saxbys, where she leads the company’s expansion and community-driven innovation efforts. A former venture capital professional and co-founder of the learning platform Practice, she combines expertise in education, technology, and entrepreneurship to scale mission-driven organizations and develop the next generation of leaders.

Bo Zhao

Founder and CEO of Baby Gear Group

Don Milley has over 15 years of experience building and scaling both traditional and digital enterprises, from mobile apps and browser games to social networks and ecommerce platforms. His diverse background spans technology, finance, consumer products, business development, and more. He has received multiple industry awards and had his work featured in The New York Times, Entrepreneur magazine, and MSNBC. His most recent project, Whatsit AI, is a revolutionary tool that helps people identify the value of vintage, thrifted, or second-hand objects.

Panelists

Brian Jones

Entrepreneur

Brian Jones

Entrepreneur

Brian Jones

Entrepreneur

Brian Jones

Entrepreneur

Brian Jones

Entrepreneur

Brian Jones

Entrepreneur

Proving Ground Expo

Discover ground-breaking ideas and cutting-edge startup innovations by Drexel Dragons at the Proving Ground Expo.

Apply Now

Sponsors

Saxbys

Want to be a part of Startup Fest?

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