On November 15-16, we hosted our third incubator session of the year, focused on team building — a cornerstone for any successful venture. The weekend was packed with engaging activities, insightful discussions, and actionable takeaways for our student entrepreneurs.
Friday Dinner at 9 E. Kendrick, Home of the Provost and Dean of Faculty
We kicked off the weekend with a warm and welcoming dinner at 9 E. Kendrick, home of the Provost and Dean of Faculty. Student entrepreneurs joined mentors for an opportunity to socialize and network informally over delicious food from The Hamilton Inn. The engaging connections and conversation set the tone for a weekend of collaboration and growth.
Insights from Our Mentors
The theme of the weekend was team building. During the morning session, entrepreneur in residence Reece Wilson led a workshop on the art and strategy of building a team. This goal of this session was to equip students with the tools to identify the right talent, foster collaboration, and align their teams with their venture’s mission and goals.
To start the conversation, Reece facilitated a dynamic panel discussion between experienced mentors, who shared invaluable insights on assembling and managing effective teams. Insights from each of the panelists included:
- Ken Carter ’92: “A really well-run team is one where people fill in all the gaps and complement each other’s skills, giving a multiplier effect so the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.â€
- Allison Edgerton ’03: “Figure out what you’re capable of and backbone other core elements of business that you're not capable of. Early on, you’re drawn to people who are jacks of all trades—that person might not serve you at all times. You have to think ahead and hire someone who will help you for the next few years.â€
- Sarah Stein: “Building a team is a lot like building a sports team; you don’t want all forwards on a sports team.â€
- Jason Griswold ’97: “When thinking about a good time to switch your job, there are two ways to think about it: Are you learning, and are you being compensated?â€
Crafting the Perfect Team
Following the insights from mentors, Reece led teams through a series of hands-on exercises to help entrepreneurs identify needs and areas of opportunity for their teams. Entrepreneurs reflected on their skills, pinpointed areas where they needed support, and outlined the characteristics they sought in a team member. The exercise emphasized the importance of finding individuals who could elevate their ventures and align with their goals.
Speed Pitching with Mentors
Continuing our monthly tradition of practicing the pitch and building presentation skills, our monthly mini Shark Tank featured KU Sports Cards (Geordie Waldman ’27) and Gate TVs (Matt Nemsick ’27 and Zaharah Fiorentinos ’27). The mentor panel — Paul Wigdor P’25, Sarah Stein, Ned Lecky, and Brian Horey ’82 — followed up with rapid-fire questions, prompting the founders to consider questions they would field from potential investors. The Gate TVs team received special kudos for delivering their first ever formal pitch in front of a group!
Networking and Mentoring
One of the best aspects of our monthly Incubator weekends is the opportunity for entrepreneurs and mentors to connect in person — to deepen existing relationships and make new connections — to provide entrepreneurs with advice, guidance, and resources that can help them make progress on their ventures.
To facilitate new connections, we organized speed networking over lunch, providing the opportunity for ventures and mentors to meet with people they haven’t previously met. The room was abuzz with conversation, and both entrepreneurs and mentors requested a repeat of this activity during the next Incubator session.
After lunch, students and mentors headed into their small group mentoring breakouts, where they reconnected on progress since their last virtual meeting midway between the October and November sessions. Before everyone headed into their breakouts, Reece presented a preview of the spring semester and shared advice for entrepreneurs and mentors to help them make the most of the winter break and ramp up to the spring semester.
We are immensely grateful to our mentors, participants, and organizers who made this weekend an enriching and impactful experience. This session highlighted the importance of teamwork, strategic hiring, and the value of mentorship in building successful ventures. We look forward to seeing how our students apply these lessons as they continue their entrepreneurial journeys.