Morrissette Entrepreneurship

In a few months, Western University will be one of the few institutions in the world to have a building dedicated to entrepreneurship. With classrooms, meeting rooms, maker spaces with 3D printers️, metalworking, machinery and woodworking tools - It will have everything our students and alumni need to create their dreams. When completed, the Ronald D. Schmeichel Building for Entrepreneurship and Innovation will be a collision space for aspiring founders from all disciplines and walks of life, located at the very heart of Western. Learn more about the vision behind this new building, and how it will launch the latest chapter in the story of entrepreneurship at Western University. https://bit.ly/3UineE0

Meet ESI student Maura Selvakumar. She's the founder of Masca Vintage, a sustainable women's fashion and accessories brand that is making it easier for customers to connect convenience and care for the environment. "Many have embraced secondhand fashion as a step towards more sustainable fashion practices. However, many don't have the time or patience to spend hours searching for the perfect pieces in thrift stores. That’s where Masca Vintage comes in. We take the hassle out of the process by curating a selection of high-quality vintage clothes that align with our customers' styles and making them available online from the comfort of their homes." https://lnkd.in/gYYBPBgb

One of the draws of entrepreneurship is the drama. But these aren't made for television; they are the lives of real people striving hard day after day, battling failure, fear, and experiencing the exhilaration of success! Next week, we will hear all that and more with Ivey grad Rob Hunter, who will share lessons on how to start, learn from failure, and re-invent yourself to try again! Come join us in person next Tuesday! https://lnkd.in/gPWXZwaJ

Xatoms won big at this year’s Startup Fest with three prizes totaling $250,000. Led by CEO Diana Virgovicova, CTO Kerem Topalismailoglu, and COO Shirley Zhong, the company is utilizing quantum chemistry and artificial intelligence (AI) to clean the world’s most precious resource: water. Zhong, a dual-degree student at Ivey and Western, also won the 2024 Seed Your Startup Competition’s Social Enterprise prize for Xatoms. This weekend, their three wins at Startup Fest included Best of the Fest prize, Women in Tech investment prize, and Front Row Ventures student entrepreneur prize. https://lnkd.in/gQpq6fNS

Building a high-growth business is like launching a rocket! The founder is the engine builders and venture capital is the rocket fuel. It is a two-sided relationship where priorities are different, but the goals are the same. But what does it take to get lift off and break through the atmosphere? How can entrepreneurs and investors work together to discover the full potential of their ventures? Those are the questions entrepreneur Navin Kaminoulu, and investor Scott Kaplanis will answer on the latest episode of The Entrepreneur Podcast, drawing from their experiences over the past five years, building ventures, raising capital, and exiting. https://lnkd.in/evtb2JJU

Having the right roommate can dramatically impact one's university experience. That is why Abdulrahman Saleh and Josue Vitale co-founded Leazy, a centralized and user-friendly co-leasing platform designed to help students spend less time searching for roommates and properties and more time connecting with quality prospects and finalizing arrangements. Read more about them and their start-up as they work through this summer, to complete their MVP. https://lnkd.in/gvntBdge

Megan Brown has always been fascinated by entrepreneurship. Having seen it in action through her parents, Brown connected that interest with her love for creativity to launch Nature Gemz. Read more about her venture and what she hopes to accomplish this summer at the Entrepreneurial Summer Internship. https://lnkd.in/gzUXP-WM

Zachary Kanemy was drawn to entrepreneurship because of the freedom to create and innovate. "I’ve always had ideas for starting my own business, but only recently have I developed the drive and courage to realize these ideas. I quickly became hooked, as learning was both enjoyable and fulfilling. I was determined to leave no possibility unexplored and never wanted to ask myself, "What if...?" This drive fuels my entrepreneurial journey, pushing me to pursue my passions and ensuring I will have no regrets in the future." This summer, Kanemy is working on his energy drink brand, ViaVerve, which promises to be healthy, sustainable, and socially responsible caffeine! https://lnkd.in/g62tsHy9

Podcasts are a great way to learn tips, find inspiration, and how to apply it to real life. Today, we are featuring Coffee with Her, a podcast created to change the narrative of business and innovation. Created by Mubina Merchant, a graduate of Western University in Mechatronics and Biomedical Engineering, Coffee with Her includes honest conversations about topics that lie beneath the surface like fear, and self-worth, as well as discussions on practices within the industry. https://lnkd.in/gwtXJgNT

What does it feel like to pitch at Dragons' Den Canada? That's what we asked Kristine Beese of Untangle Money. https://lnkd.in/evtb2JJU