'Entrepalooza' to highlight and explore entrepreneurship

Hosted by Wake Forest University’s Center for Entrepreneurship, this two-day conference will bring together innovators and world -class leaders to explore the thriving, growing and influential field of entrepreneurship.

Entrepalooza will be held on Thursday, April 12 and Friday, April 13.

The following events are free and open to the public and to media. Student and faculty interviews can be pre-arranged.

Thursday, April 12
Annenberg Forum (4:30 to 6:15 p.m.)

StartupLab Demo Day: During this event, student teams will pitch their startups to a live audience made up of entrepreneurs, investors, students, faculty and staff.

Diana Kander, innovation catalyst and author of the New York Times bestseller, All in Startup, will deliver Entrepalooza’s keynote speech. Kander and her family escaped from the Soviet Union when she was eight years old. She perfected her skills as an entrepreneur selling flea market goods to grade school classmates. Kander’s book has been used in more than 70 colleges and universities to teach innovation and entrepreneurship.

Friday, April 13
Z. Smith Reynolds Library, 4th Floor, Room 404

Deac Tank (8:45 – 10:00 a.m.) Students will pitch their ideas live in front of judges in hopes of gaining valuable feedback and monetary prizes.

Panel Discussion: Women and Entrepreneurship (10:30 – 11:30 a.m.)

“Entrepalooza is the marquee entrepreneurship event of the year — providing opportunities for student entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas, concepts and ventures to prospective investors, alumni and parents,” said Dan Cohen, executive director of the Center for Entrepreneurship. “It’s a tremendous opportunity to learn more about business start-ups and innovation from those who have experience and to gain insight and valuable feedback that can enhance ideas.”

The priority of the Center for Entrepreneurship at Wake Forest is to educate and inspire entrepreneurial leaders through engaged teaching, coaching and mentoring within the vibrant entrepreneurial culture.