The culture of entrepreneurship, while still young at Columbia SEAS, is off to an impressive start. Nearly 200 spectators witnessed 41 enthusiastic entrepreneurs take 90 seconds each to “pitch” their ideas for new products at PitchFest.

In these times of economic uncertainty, entrepreneurship has emerged as a strong option to produce jobs and promote growth,” says Rebecca Rodriguez, senior associate director for entrepreneurship at CTICE. “It is the perfect vehicle to attract our students because it supports curiosity and intellect and the recognition that individuals can produce amazing things.” 

SEAS students were inclined to develop technical products, often computer-based, such as real-time translation software for 18 different languages proposed by Fred Rassam MS ’08 and a searchable-by-sound musical database proposed by Michael Mandel MS ’06, PhD ’09. Meena George ’03, PhD ’08 GSAS, now a student at the Medical School, pitched an online computer software program that will provide research laboratories with a way to minimize waste of laboratory reagents by creating a secondary market.

One new design that received hearty audience endorsement was Business School student Jennifer Wright’s environmentally friendly pizza box made from 100% recycled materials. The box breaks down into serving plates and a convenient storage container for leftovers.
Student Co-sponsoring organizations included the Society for Entrepreneurship, Technology and Innovation (SETI), the Columbia Organization of Rising Entrepreneurs (CORE), Columbia Entrepreneurs Organization (CEO), Entrepreneurship, Leadership, and Consulting (ELC).

In addition to the Engineering School and CTICE, administrative co-sponsors included Science and Technology Ventures (STV) and the Eugene Lang Center for Entrepreneurship at the Business School.

“Our first PitchFest demonstrated the depth and range of Columbia’s brightest entrepreneurial minds. And our future events should be even more exciting,” says Rodriguez. “There’s really no limit to where they can take these ideas.”