Krannert to host symposium
By Matt Lindner
Staff
Writer
Students looking to learn more about starting their
own business can do so by attending the inaugural entrepreneurial symposium
that is sponsored by Purdue University's Krannert Entrepreneurship Club
at 9 a.m. Saturday.
The symposium's speakers will talk in Stewart Center
and the Krannert Building. The event begins with an introductory speech
from Purdue President Martin Jischke about entrepreneurship in Stewart
Center, Room 206, and features a discussion panel and many speakers
from various different companies.
Veneeth Iyengar, a senior in the School of Management,
feels as though this symposium is an excellent opportunity for all students
to learn about the corporate world and make important business contacts
that will come in handy later on.
"Students will gain exposure to entrepreneurs and
venture capitalists from all over the country," said Iyengar. "This
will give students the opportunity to find out what it takes to get
an idea funded and the economic outlook for entrepreneurs and venture
capitalists in the future."
Another reason why this symposium is so valuable
is because of the number of Purdue alumni that have become successful
in starting their own businesses.
"There are many Purdue graduates in Silicon Valley
that have not only started their own businesses but have also become
extremely successful in doing so as well," said Iyengar.
Corporate sponsors for this event are Baker &
Daniels, Carrot Capital and Gazelle. However, the event is entirely
organized by students.
At 11:30 a.m., David Geliebter will speak in Stewart
Center, Room 206. Geliebter is a founding partner of Carrot Capital,
which is a New York venture capital firm that specializes in helping
college students and recent graduates start their own businesses.
At 3 p.m., Leslie Bottorff and Don Aquilano will
speak in the Krannert Drawing Room. Bottorff is a Purdue alumna and
Harvard master's in business administration graduate, and currently
works as a partner with Onset Ventures, which is a venture capital firm
specializing in the medical industry. Aquilano is the managing director
of Gazelle TechVentures, which is an Indianapolis-based high tech venture
capital firm.
In addition to the speakers, there will also be
three panel discussions in Stewart Center, Room 206 that include Purdue-educated
venture capitalists and entrepreneurs, attorneys and leaders in Indiana
high tech government and corporate companies.
Dan Carney, Krannert School MBA candidate and one
of the symposium's organizers, said the Entrepreneurship Club hopes
to organize many events like this in the future.
"This is the first of hopefully many events that
students can gain knowledge and experience from participating in," said
Carney. "In the future, we are looking to go out to the West Coast to
attend entrepreneurship and venture capital conferences. If more people
join the Entrepreneurship Club, more sponsors will sign up to help the
club out financially, which will allow students to travel for a reduced
fare."
Students interested in joining can do so via the
club's Web site, www.mgmt.purdue.edu/student_clubs/kec.
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