Opportunity-seeking “technologists” in the Phoenix area and startup founders seeking startup support gathered at Techiepalooza, a special event to help startups launch.
The event builds on last year’s first event, which saw a growing community of technologists and entrepreneurs among Arizona State University students, alumni, and community members after a similarly-styled event of the same name in 2012. I was.
Jasmine Amoako-Agyei (right) is a Sustainability-Focused Advanced Business Major at ASU’s WP Carey School of Business and is a member of Countdown: Circular Economy Solutions, a company focused on tackling plastic pollution in West Africa. ) was one of the founders of She recently founded many startups at Techiepalooza.Photo by Erica Groneck/ASU
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Entrepreneurship Fool Cooley Professor Brent Sebold, faculty member of ASU’s Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, will host the gathering to inspire everyone to be entrepreneurial and think like a startup founder. urged. He says the best way to learn how to think like a founder is to jump in and start working with them.
Sebold, Director of Entrepreneurship + Innovation at the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering and Director of the Master of Science Program in ASU’s Interdisciplinary Innovation and Venture Development Program, said Techiepalooza will help launch such collaborations. It is said that it is designed to Startup founders seek out prospective partners with the technical know-how needed to strengthen their startup team by filling in the talent and skill gaps founders may discover in getting their venture off the ground. Get involved in the hope of finding out.
“One of the things we’ve been working on over the last decade is connecting technologists with venture leaders and startup founders,” says Sebold. “And there’s a lot of people coming not just from engineering, but from the WP Carey School of Business and his many schools at ASU. They’ve come together to form a really influential startup founding team. .”
Startup founder and Arizona State University student Jasmine Amoako-Agyei (right) briefly discusses her goals and goals as a founder and student with professors like Brent Sebold (left) and other students. Talking always helps. she aims toThose are the people who might be able to point you in the right direction, she says. Photo by Erica Groneck/ASU
starting a startup as a student
Jasmine Amoako-Agyei is an advanced business major with a focus on sustainability at ASU’s WP Carey School of Business and was one of the founders of the recent Techiepalooza startup. Her Countdown: Circular Economy Solutions, an Amoako-Agyei venture, is a social her startup that takes a community-centric approach to addressing the challenge of global plastic pollution.
Amoako-Agyei, who is also a participant in Venture Devils and works at The Luminosity Lab and Engineering Projects for the Community Service program better known as Epicics, said events like Techiepalooza share ventures like Countdown startups. is a great way to do it. He seeks to spread the word about ASU’s entrepreneurial community.
“I am not an engineering major, but I have been fortunate enough to have professional experience leading engineering projects in the United States and Ghana with a particular focus on technology and sustainable product design,” said Amoako-Agyei. increase. “Both my experiences with Luminosity Lab and EPICS have been great.”
Through The Luminosity Lab, Amoako-Agyei joined a multidisciplinary team, engaged in rapid prototyping sprints, working under the guidance of industry experts who guided her throughout the process.
Her EPICS project gave her the opportunity to lead and mentor a team of talented ASU students doing research across several engineering disciplines.
“As a team, we have been able to foster an enthusiastic, welcoming, and collaborative culture that prioritizes learning while having fun at every stage of the process,” says Amoako-Agyei. “We have grown together and we are eternally grateful for your contribution and dedication to Countdown.”
Amoako-Agyei says he loves networking with other founders and learning about their processes.
“I think the most valuable thing was the chance to meet freshmen who were eager to learn more about our processes and operations,” she says. “There are people who have a particular interest in a particular project we have underway, and we look forward to working with them.”
Amoako-Agyei says learning about supporting and growing Arizona’s startup ecosystem has been invaluable for student founders like her.
“Speakers at the event emphasized leveraging the wealth of investors and the funding available to those wishing to pitch,” said Amoako-Agyei. “Knowing that there is a whole ecosystem growing here in Arizona is very exciting as we are taking steps to participate and share our business ideas with the world. ”
Michael Hool, founder and managing partner of Hool Coury Law, spoke at Techiepalooza about the importance of being committed as a startup founder.He also emphasized that Arizona State University is a great place for entrepreneurship. Photo by Erica Groneck/ASU
Wisdom and guidance for a successful startup
Michael Hool, Founder and Managing Partner of Hool Coury Law and Associate Professor of Law at ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, spoke about the purpose of the event and the history of entrepreneurship at ASU, discussing the 2022 Techiepalooza event has started.
“If you’re just starting out or have an idea and are trying to figure out how to bring your team together, you should encourage it,” says Hool. “The event is designed to allow engineering and technical students to interact with business people, providing an opportunity for students to meet each other, potentially form teams, and grow their businesses.”
Hool encouraged attendees, telling them that building successful startups at ASU is possible.
“We’ve built a lot of companies out of here,” says Hool. “So don’t just think about now, think about the future. Think about where you can go and where you can be because you can do it from here. We can help you. Everything we have at ASU.” programs and entrepreneurship opportunities come with you.
One of those opportunities is the Fulton Schools Hool Coury Law Tech Venture Challenge. This challenge is open to select entrepreneurial teams that have at least one founder affiliated with a startup-focused course or program within ASU’s Fulton School.
Rachel Stewart, Founder and CEO of Xcelerate Restoration Software, spoke about finding the right people to join the team.Photo by Erica Groneck/ASU
Rachel Stewart, Founder and CEO of Xcelerate Restoration Software, shared her experience when she decided to start a software company.
“I want to say to everyone here trying to find a marriage between a founder who understands the space and someone who has the technical resources, I really understand the market, I really understand the customer. We had a big technical blind spot,” Stewart said in his opening remarks at the event.
Finding the right relationship between the two is “extremely powerful,” according to Stewart.
A Techiepalooza speaker emphasized that the startup world is a marathon, not a sprint. They said that as founders and entrepreneurs, you need emotional resilience and grit.
“I’ve always been one of those people who like big challenges,” says Stewart. “But you’ll realize it’s a roller coaster. Some days we think there’s nothing stopping us, nothing stopping us from being hugely successful. And five days later, you’re like, Oh my god, we’re going to fail. That’s the entrepreneurial startup founder’s journey, so be prepared for emotional resilience—that is, maintaining your elation when things are going downhill. I have to.”
Instill investor confidence in backing student founders
Benjamin Brockwell, president of AZ-VC, Arizona’s largest venture capital fund, was on hand to share the venture capital side of the entrepreneurial startup journey.
One of the things Brockwell emphasized is that startup founders, especially founders who are currently students, are well equipped with the level of commitment needed to make their ventures successful and appealing to venture capitalists. is to check
AZ-VC Principal Benjamin Brockwell stressed the importance of committing to a Techiepalooza venture.Photo by Erica Groneck/ASU
Brockwell told Techiepalooza attendees, “One of the things investors have to look for and decide is whether or not students will continue in this long term.” That’s the biggest fear we have.In the end, we’re betting on you.”
Brockwell explained that he had at least a dozen conversations where someone pitched him the entire business plan, but as an investor it was too early to invest in the venture. So they seek internships and jobs.
“It’s one of these things that shocks me every time,” Brockwell said. “They want our capital backing, but at the same time, we would be more than happy to fly the ship if another opportunity arises. Be ready to prove to your investors that you have come a long way. please give me.”
Hool also talked about founders who won thousands of dollars in startup contests and then made millions.
“If you’re committed, that’s where you end up. There are going to be a lot of naysayers who say things you can’t do,” Hool said. The resources here and like-minded people like me and Brent[Siebold]will come with you and help you.”
