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February 2024 | The Hill Institute Newsroom | |
Fellow champions of innovation and entrepreneurship,
Every month, I find myself back at the “desk of the Hill newsroom”, and struggling to write this message to you, but not because we lack story-worthy activities or examples of transformational impacts. It is quite the opposite. I often feel overwhelmed with how many of these stories and impacts our team gets to witness month-after-month.
I’m humbled by the support of so many of you who are THE reason any of this happens. This newsletter would be a pretty boring blank canvas without you. Every amount of support is critical to fueling our ongoing efforts and sustaining our growth for the future - thank you!
Below, you will find highlights of some of our favorite stories this month, from fresh new student ideas and exciting upcoming events, to how participants in our programs not only grow, but thrive.
Let’s keep building together,
Bryan Davis
Executive Director, The Hill Institute
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Mini Pitch Competition
Last week, we hosted yet another successful Mini Pitch Competition which saw a few of Furman’s best and brightest battle it out for 1st place and $500 prize to support launching their proposed venture. This competition was also the Institute’s first entirely student-run event, being planned and executed by two sensational Hill Fellows: Mazi Aarts ‘26 and Chatham Bonner ‘26. We hope you will join us in congratulating both the awesome interns showcased here and the spectacular pitch contestants who brought exciting ideas to center stage.
Soukeyna Pitroipa '25, took home gold after pitching her new venture, Wussu, a candle line designed to replace strongly scented incense with a more sustainable, health friendly candle. When asked about her experience in our competition, Pitroipa remarked, "it’s the mini risk that will take you further in your entrepreneurial journey.”
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GVL Starts
Over the past month, our sixteen stellar ventures have made remarkable progress in grasping key concepts, including: Ideation, Design-Thinking, Business Model Development, Marketing Strategies, and Legal Procedures. Just halfway through this transformative 9-week experience, we can already see the mentoring from executives, University faculty, and the investor community fostering success in these aspiring entrepreneurs and their respective ventures.
Learn More About GVL Starts!
RSVP For Demo Day
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Venture South 2024 Summit
Most recently, three of our Clemens Angel Analyst Fellowship Grads were invited to attend this year’s Venture South Summit, which is an event hosted by one of the largest angel investment groups in North America!
Congrats Kyler Bailey ‘26, Lynnea Parish ‘25, and Cameron Baird ‘24 on the incredible engagement. We are so proud of the impressive industry professionals you have developed into.
Learn More About The Clemens Angel Analyst Fellowship and Our Graduates!
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Open Program Applications | |
Summer Business and Innovation Boot Camp
This dynamic 8-week summer program delivers an immersive career accelerating experience through a unique combination of training, special projects, and exclusive networking opportunities – all hosted in the vibrant heart of downtown Greenville, SC.
Participants kick-off with three weeks of project-based curriculum focused on launching a successful business, combined with a speaker series featuring successful founders, investors, and business leaders.
Following this, our program provides specialized consulting training, then pairs up student teams with local high-growth startups to work as consulting teams for the remainder of the summer to put their newly acquired skills into real-world practice.
Applications Due: April 5th
Program Dates: June 10th - July 28th
The first 20 to apply will be asked to attend our private dinner, March 14th at The Lazy Goat - apply using the link below while spots still remain!
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Paladin Pitch
Mark your calendars for the upcoming Paladin Pitch competition on Thursday, April 11th!
Paladin Pitch is an exciting event that showcases the innovative ideas of four student finalists who will pitch their new venture ideas to a panel of judges and a diverse audience of students, faculty, alumni, and community leaders.
A curated slate of exceptional students compete to take home the $10,000 Johnny Flynn Paladin Pitch Award to support launching their entrepreneurial venture, and it’s not too late to apply to compete.
Applications Due: March 1st, 2024
Competition Date: April 11th, 2024, | Watkins Room, Trone Student Center
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Clemens Angel Analyst Fellowship
We are currently accepting applications for the 4th Annual Clemens Angel Analyst Fellowship, which will run in the Fall Semester, from September 18th through November 20th. This exceptional program prepares students for careers in angel investing, venture capital, private equity, or startup fundraising.
This 10-week transformational experience, offers skills, experience, and networking opportunities to accelerate learning in early-stage venture investment. Through discussions, exercises, case studies, guest speakers, and mentoring, fellows learn industry-leader VentureSouth’s due diligence framework for investment decisions. Following the fellowship, there are even opportunities for top-performing students to join VentureSouth as paid Analyst interns, applying their learnings to real-world startups that are fundraising from the Angel Network.
Program Dates: September 18th, November 20th
Meets each Wednesday from 3:00 – 4:30 PM with optional additional opportunities
The first 15 to apply will be asked to attend our private dinner, April 4th, in downtown Greenville - apply using the link below while spots still remain!
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Team and Student Highlights | |
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Student Spotlight
Join us in congratulating Soukeyna Pitroipa '25, who just won first place at this semester’s Mini Pitch Competition. Her winnings include $500 towards launching WUSSU, a candle company designed to bring the native smells of Africa to your home.
We continue to be amazed by the remarkable ingenuity of Furman students and eagerly await the remarkable success in store for Soukeyna!
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Team Spotlight
Help us celebrate Rachel Morris, our illustrious Business Operations Manager, as we recognize the invaluable contributions she has made to our team’s organizational operations. In the past two months alone, she has ushered in a new era of internal communications systems, novel means of tracking Institute engagement, and managed to find time to regularly engage students and faculty from all areas of campus.
To learn more about Rachel and the unparalleled abilities she brings to our team, we encourage you to check out her LinkedIn profile.
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Creative Crescendos in the Symphony of Entrepreneurial Passion
Join Caroline Owen and Robert Cushing on the Class E Podcast as they delve into the world of artistic entrepreneurship. From studying music abroad to crafting original compositions, they share their transformative journey. Explore the birth of the Decatur Fine Arts Academy, where they blend their skills to create a haven for music education.
Listen wherever you get your podcast
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Ready, Set, Go: How One Entrepreneur Launches the Youth Into Success
Join the Class E Podcast with Candace Morris, founder of The Launch Ready Method. Candace discusses her journey from social work to entrepreneurship, highlighting gaps in youth preparation. Learn about The Launch Ready Method's online curriculum for young adults' self-discovery and skill development.
Listen wherever you get your podcast
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Launch Party
Furman101 | 5:30 - 7:00 PM
You are invited to recognize and celebrate our GVL Starts grad, LaShonn Edmunds, Founder of CAIRS Shoes, who is officially launching her first product line of shoes. This night is an intimate gathering of family, friends, and community members that help recognize and build community, but also allows us to highlight results of “is our work making a difference?”
RSVP HERE
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NEXT Founders Forum
University Ridge | 9:00 - 10:30 AM
Founders Forum is an educational series for entrepreneurs, taught by entrepreneurs and subject matter experts in key areas of focus for all startups. Dive into building a highly collaborative product, design, and engineering team with John Barnett of Supermoon and David Siglin of Stitchfix.
RSVP HERE
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GVL Starts DEMO DAY
Greenville One Center | 5:00 - 7:30 PM
We invite you to reserve your spot to watch more than 15 of the area’s most promising new entrepreneurs gather in the heart of Greenville, SC for a shot at one of three $5,000 startup grants. During this event, the GVL Starts’ sixth graduating class will pitch their ventures, giving the judges and all attendees a chance to get an early look at what could be Greenville’s next big idea. Top finalists will compete to win one of two $5,000 startup grants (one software/tech category and one product/service category). The third $5,000 startup grant will be voted on by those who attend the event.
Please join us for Demo Day on Thursday, March 28th from 5-7:30 pm at Greenville ONE Center for live pitches, table displays, food, drink, and a celebration for Greenville's newest entrepreneurs... Register at the link below:
RSVP HERE
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Thank you to our community sponsors and partners! | |
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Our operations are fully supported by generous donors and program sponsors. Please consider donating today to support our mission of creating innovative and entrepreneurially minded leaders at Furman and in the Upstate.
Interested in sponsorship opportunities?
Please email Innovation@Furman.edu
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