WFU celebrates achievements in entrepreneurship

Wake Forest’s Center for Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship (CICE) recently honored the University’s outstanding entrepreneurs.

Provost Rogan Kersh presented Lindsay Chambers (’00), award-winning interior designer and founder of Lindsay Chambers Design, with the 2017 Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award.

Lindsay Chambers (’00)

The Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award recognizes a Wake Forest alumnus, parent or friend who has demonstrated outstanding entrepreneurial spirit, creativity, achievement and social responsibility.

“My Wake Forest advisor really encouraged me,” said Chambers, who was named the top female custom home developer under 40 in California, where she runs her design firm. “I didn’t believe in myself at that point, but he saw something in me that I kept coming back to as I was finding my way.”

Faculty and student award winners

Wake Forest also recognized one faculty member, nine students and one recent graduate for their achievements.

The Russell D. and Elfriede Hobbs Faculty Award for Exceptional Support of Entrepreneurship

Greg Pool, Entrepreneur-in-Residence
Along with Dan Cohen, Greg Pool leads the Startup Lab, a program that supports students’ entrepreneurial goals through mentoring and coaching. “He has an ability to connect with students, coupled with an inspiring dedication to them,” said Michele Gillespie, dean of the Wake Forest College.

The Russell D. and Elfriede Hobbs Student Award for Entrepreneurial Achievement (Commercial Venture)

Senior Lauren Miller and 2016 graduate Olivia Wolff for Updog Kombucha
Updog Kombucha brews handcrafted, organic kombucha tea. The drink, known for its health benefits, is sold locally across Winston-Salem, both in bottles and on tap in a variety of restaurants.

The Russell D. and Elfriede Hobbs Student Award for Concept Development

Senior Jake Teitelbaum for Resilience Project
Resilience Project supports cancer patients through fun, colorful socks. Patients can design their own socks, which are sold online and in select stores. Half of the proceeds from the sock sales support financial needs during cancer treatments. Teitelbaum created the startup while battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Lelia and David Farr Award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship

Senior Brooke Einbender, senior Zanny Dow and junior Hana Polizzotto for Higher Art Galleries
Higher Art Galleries aims to support student artists through its online platform, where their artwork is available for purchase. The startup also funds art departments at various schools nationwide.

Chambers Family Fund Student Award for Entrepreneurial Achievement

Seniors Jackson Griffin, Clancy Waugh and Alec White for Puttr
Puttr is an interactive app that helps golfers improve their putting skills through 3D models of the greens.

Center for Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship Senior Leadership Award

Senior Tommy Vater
“This is a student who has invested a lot of time and effort into working with our program…helping us to develop a rich culture of entrepreneurship on campus,” said Polly Black, executive director of the CICE.

About CICE

CICE seeks to create and sustain an environment that fosters innovative, creative and entrepreneurial thinking and action across the entire campus community. The Center offers academic, experiential and co-curricular opportunities for undergraduate students, including the Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise minor — the most popular minor in the College.