News by Topic: Entrepreneurship

“The Future of Technology, the Arts and Design,” the first-ever symposium and panel discussion of its kind held during Imagine RIT: Creativity and Innovation Festival, showcased what RIT alumni envision for next 50 years related to technology, the arts and design and how we can leverage its power for the greater good.

There’s always something new to experience at the Imagine RIT: Creativity and Innovation Festival, which this year featured more than 400 exhibits, including a human hamster wheel, performances by student ensembles, cutting-edge video games and demonstrations to determine how color can affect your mood.

RIT's Saunders College of Business is the host and a sponsor for the 11th annual Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) Saunders College Competition. Young students compete in a Shark Tank-style competition for the opportunity to advance to the finals, where one student business will be named America’s Next Top Young Entrepreneur.

A unique community collaboration among Saunders College of Business, Junior Achievement and local elementary schools introduces young minds to business, economics and free enterprise through discussions, hands-on activities and video lessons.

A uniquely designed magnetic coil piston that will improve suspension systems in on- and off-road vehicles took first place in RIT’s semi-annual Tiger Tank entrepreneurship competition. Sponsored by RIT’s Saunders College of Business and hosted by RIT’s Simone Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Tiger Tank gives students the opportunity to pitch a business idea to a panel of judges with a chance to win cash prizes.

“The Future of Technology, the Arts and Design,” a futurists symposium, takes place at 11 a.m. April 27 during Imagine RIT: Creativity and Innovation Festival. Four RIT alumni will share their visions of the future as it relates to RIT’s core disciplines.

An RIT-funded spring break excursion to the heart of entrepreneurship and innovation aimed to give students the tools and inspiration to take their ideas to the next level.

RIT student Chelsy Ray “pays it forward” each spring when she welcomes a new cohort of high school women to Saunders College of Business for a day of exploration, activity and networking. For the past three years, Ray has co-led the Women Leading Business conference, an opportunity for young women interested in pursuing degrees or careers in business to get up close and personal with professional women in industry.

DiwaTech, an interface design solution to improve video game accessibility, took home the $5,000 first prize during The Next Big Idea business competition, hosted by NTID.

Entrepreneur David Rodriguez ’92 (MBA) is doing his part to provide new clean energy solutions to the nearly 3.4 million residents of Puerto Rico who live in the constant presence of destructive tropical storms and hurricanes.

When he was in high school, Josh Geise, a fifth-year computing security student, was involved in a program that donated refurbished computers to local families. To continue his work in computer refurbishment and help increase computer accessibility in the Rochester area, Geise and friend Brian Martens ’18 started their own nonprofit organization that donates refurbished computers to people in need.

Launched in 2012, the RIT Venture Fund invests in early-stage, high-growth companies founded by students, faculty, staff, alumni and RIT Venture Creations client companies in fields that complement RIT’s core academic competencies. From block chain and clean-energy technology to telecommunications, manufacturing and game development, the Venture Fund looks to create industry diversity and a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.