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
Students have up to 3 minutes to convince a panel of judges that their idea is the best idea to win a $500 prize.
A discussion with a panel of current student founders who are using AI to innovate.
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.
Students who are participating in the Make with Max Hands-On Workshop and invited guests - join us for deli sandwiches and salads.
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.)
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.
The first round of the Fall Drexel Startup Funds competition where students compete for a prize pool of $25,000 in awards to fund their ideas.
5:00PM
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.
6:00PM
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.
Student Panelists
Mila Maltseva
Entrepreneur
A dynamic and accomplished 5th-year senior, carving her path in the world of Venture Capital. Currently pursuing her majors in Finance and Business Analytics and a minor in Entrepreneurship, Mila's academic journey has been marked by dedication and a thirst for knowledge. With her practical experience through her co-ops in Venture Capital and Private Wealth Management, she's well-versed in AI-powered startups as she has been witnessing the rise of such applications. She is also passionate about harnessing AI's potential in the workplace and education.
Grant Cooper
Entrepreneur
A tech entrepreneur with roots in generative AI. He has been leveraging his knowledge of data science and ChatGPT by helping companies integrate AI into existing operations. He combines his passion for art and technology in his AI art company, 'In.finite,' which provides custom art. He previously worked for several startups, as well as at Johnson and Johnson, where he worked to split off and IPO its new spinoff company, Kenvue.
Max Mirho
Entrepreneur
Matthew Santiago
Entrepreneur
A senior at the Close School of Entrepreneurship with minors in MIS and Real Estate Management. He is currently working on a draft beverage company.
Team Ayoda
Startup Company
A group of pre-juniors - Shehyr Usman, John Khachian and Alex Zavalny - from CCI who are currently working on a startup that centers on ERP and Inventory optimization through AI and ML.
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.
Student Panelists
Mila Maltseva
Entrepreneur
A dynamic and accomplished 5th-year senior, carving her path in the world of Venture Capital. Currently pursuing her majors in Finance and Business Analytics and a minor in Entrepreneurship, Mila's academic journey has been marked by dedication and a thirst for knowledge. With her practical experience through her co-ops in Venture Capital and Private Wealth Management, she's well-versed in AI-powered startups as she has been witnessing the rise of such applications. She is also passionate about harnessing AI's potential in the workplace and education.
Grant Cooper
Entrepreneur
A tech entrepreneur with roots in generative AI. He has been leveraging his knowledge of data science and ChatGPT by helping companies integrate AI into existing operations. He combines his passion for art and technology in his AI art company, 'In.finite,' which provides custom art. He previously worked for several startups, as well as at Johnson and Johnson, where he worked to split off and IPO its new spinoff company, Kenvue.
Matthew Santiago
Entrepreneur
A senior at the Close School of Entrepreneurship with minors in MIS and Real Estate Management. He is currently working on a draft beverage company.
Max Mirho
Entrepreneur
Team Ayoda
Startup Company
A group of pre-juniors - Shehyr Usman, John Khachian and Alex Zavalny - from CCI who are currently working on a startup that centers on ERP and Inventory optimization through AI and ML.
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
