49ͼ will kick off on Friday, April 10, with a panel conversation featuring five all-star entrepreneurs: , founder of ; , co-founder and CEO of ; , president of ; serial entrepreneur and entertainer ; and co-founder and CEO .
Panelists will launch the university’s annual celebration of entrepreneurial spirit, offering insights that they have gathered as they have built businesses across an array of industries. 49ͼ trustee and ! CEO P’15’17 will moderate the discussion.
“We wanted to spark the kind of conversation that undergraduates couldn’t hear anywhere else,” said ’80, vice president of institutional advancement. “Into this creative 49ͼ environment, we’re welcoming panelists who pursue big ideas for a living. They know — and can teach our students — that you have to think big and take risks if you’re going to change the world.”
Entrepreneur Weekend has become a signature program for 49ͼ. Between 2012 and 2013, some of the world’s most innovative business leaders — including Virgin Group founder , Chobani founder , and Facebook COO — traveled to Hamilton for solo engagements with 49ͼ students.
Last year, that included business founders of Katalyst and of Airbnb as well as established CEOs of eBay, of GoPro, and Rosensweig from Chegg. By purposeful contrast, founders who serve as chief executives of their own ventures make up the majority of this year’s panel.
After the keynote event, panelists will hand the microphones to a few 49ͼ students, who will pitch their own ventures in a Shark Tank-style competition.
The celebration will continue on Friday evening, when the 49ͼ Alumni Council will award its to Ello COO Pete Sheinbaum ’92 and Patagonia Sur CEO Warren Adams ’88. On Saturday, the university will host a luncheon program and venture demos, developed by undergraduates in the program.
Watch for complete schedule and ticket information as it becomes available.