Joshua Francis’ Post

Navigating the Future of Innovation with Jeremy Alan Woods at CSUB In this thought-provoking episode of the Destination for Innovation series, brought to you by The City of Bakersfield and GreenTech Network, we speak with Jeremy Alan Woods, Associate Professor of Management and Faculty Director at CSUB Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Join us as we explore Jeremy's journey from Indiana to Bakersfield, delving into his extensive experience in entrepreneurship, venture management, and the transformative power of empathy and dreaming big. Key Takeaways: Empathy as a Catalyst: Jeremy emphasizes the importance of empathy in fostering a better world, advocating for understanding and support across the human race. Championing Entrepreneurship: Through his work at CSUB, Jeremy has been instrumental in advancing over 20 ventures alone in the last year, highlighting the significant impact of nurturing entrepreneurs within our community. Dreaming Big: Encouraging individuals to dream without limits, Jeremy shares insights on overcoming societal vitriol and fostering kindness worldwide. Bakersfield & Kern County's Unique Position: With a spotlight on the rare confluence of aerospace, energy, and agriculture, Jeremy discusses Kern County's unmatched potential to lead in innovation and industry. The Power of Community: Addressing the essential role of community in achieving inclusive and equitable energy transitions, Jeremy offers a vision for leveraging Kern County's strengths to redefine its global significance. Join us for a compelling conversation that not only showcases Jeremy's personal and professional journey but also casts a vision for Bakersfield's role as a hub of innovation and growth. Let's connect, collaborate, and create a brighter future for Bakersfield and beyond. #Entrepreneurship #innovation #future #markets #greentech Connect. Collaborate. Create. Les Mood

Looking to make a trip to the Windy City this weekend? You're invited to join The Anvil, Purdue University's largest student-led entrepreneurship organization, for BoilerLaunch, a dynamic event showcasing the untapped potential of the Midwest's brightest student minds. 🗓 Saturday, January 20 - Sunday, January 21 📍 AC Hotel by Marriott Chicago Downtown (630 N Rush St, Chicago) Witness these dynamic teams unveil their groundbreaking ideas, from AI-powered healthcare to sustainable solutions, as they compete for a chance to launch their dreams into reality.   Since 2013, The Anvil's renowned flagship event, The Boiler, has propelled many Purdue startups. Now, BoilerLaunch expands its reach, bringing together the top 10 student-led ventures from powerhouse universities. BoilerLaunch isn't just a pitch competition; it's a catalyst for change. Join The Anvil as they ignite the Midwest's innovation engine, empower the next generation of changemakers, and redefine the future of entrepreneurship. More info about BoilerLaunch. ➡ https://ow.ly/8gXR50Qrij1 #Purdue #PurdueInnovates #BoilerLaunch

🚀 My iCREATE Wolfie Tank Experience at Stony Brook University! 🐾🌟 Recently, I had the privilege of participating in the iCREATE Wolfie Tank event at Stony Brook University, and I'm excited to reflect on the innovation and creativity that permeated the atmosphere! 🚀🎓 🔍 About iCREATE Wolfie Tank: Hosted by the innovative hub of creativity, iCREATE, Wolfie Tank is a platform that allows aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators to showcase their groundbreaking ideas. It's a celebration of innovation, collaboration, and the entrepreneurial spirit that defines Stony Brook University. 1️⃣ Diverse Ideas: Witnessed a diverse range of ideas spanning various fields – from technology and healthcare to sustainability and beyond. The creativity on display was awe-inspiring! 2️⃣ Passionate Pitches: Engaged with passionate individuals who eloquently presented their projects and demonstrated their commitment to making a positive impact. The energy in the room was infectious! 3️⃣ Expert Feedback: Grateful for the valuable feedback from experienced judges and mentors. The constructive insights shared will undoubtedly propel these innovative projects to new heights. 👏 Kudos to the Organizers: A big shoutout to the iCREATE team for orchestrating a seamlessly executed event that not only fosters innovation but also builds a supportive community for budding entrepreneurs. 🌐 Looking Forward: As we continue to navigate a rapidly changing world, it's inspiring to see how the Stony Brook community is at the forefront of innovation. Let's keep pushing boundaries, embracing creativity, and supporting each other's entrepreneurial journeys. 🚀 Exciting Times Ahead: Can't wait to see these ideas evolve into reality! Here's to a future filled with innovation, collaboration, and limitless possibilities. #iCREATE #WolfieTank #StonyBrookUniversity #Innovation #Entrepreneurship #IdeasIntoReality #CreativeMinds #FutureLeaders 🚀💡

It's official!!! We've been accepted into the SVG Thrive Academy IV!! Why is that a big deal? Our mission is to help farmers grow their operations without drowning in debt. We do that by connecting investors with farmers, offering flexible lease terms that focus on the financial health of the farm. In this world, it's all about connections. Networking. That's why having the network behind SVG Ventures | THRIVE in our corner is so important. That's also why we've partnered with groups like CAASA - Canadian Association of Alternative Strategies & Assets to help increase our networking opportunities. At the end of the day, it's all about helping farmers grow in a way that makes sense for them. This program is going to be very beneficial for us, and we are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to join this Cohort. #agtech #fintech #agriculture #farmlandinvestment #alternativeinvestments

🎙️ #GuestSpeaker - #Entrepreneurship in Life Sciences Yesterday, we had Renato Del Grosso who shared insights on navigating the world of entrepreneurship within the 🔬 #LifeSciences sector. 🌱Here are some key takeaways: - #Team and #Capital: critical importance of assembling a highly qualified team and securing substantial capital for startups in the Life Sciences realm. - #Ecosystem 🤝 Collaboration: it is fundamental to engage with various stakeholders within both local and international entrepreneurial ecosystems. - #Regulations: the intricate regulatory framework surrounding Life Science industries, underline the need for thorough compliance and understanding. - #IntellectualProperty: crucial role of intangible assets, particularly 💡Intellectual Property, in safeguarding and advancing Life Science ventures. Thank you, Renato! #Innovation #Academia #Teaching

Key interactions at Cornell University: 🔹 Alice Li, Executive Director of the Center for Technology Licensing at Cornell University (CTL), provided an in-depth overview of how CTL supports Cornell's goals in commercializing technologies, promoting startups, and building strategic partnerships. Her insights on the intersection of technology and entrepreneurship were incredibly valuable. 🔹Alexander Travis, Director of Cornell Public Health, provided an in-depth session on disease diagnostic commercialization. His discussion on translating research into practical health solutions highlighted the critical intersection of public health and entrepreneurship. Additionally, we had the opportunity to visit the Center for Life Science Ventures, where we saw first-hand how Cornell invests in its brand value. The university's rigorous mechanisms for evaluating companies by investors were truly impressive. Thanks to Louis Walcer, Director of Life Science Venture. The enriching discussions and interactions with peers and experts have broadened my perspective on health innovation management. Kudos to Cornell University for fostering such a dynamic and impactful learning environment! 🌟 #CornellUniversity #Leadership #HealthInnovation #TechnologyLicensing #PublicHealth #Startups #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #LifeSciences #Networking #ProfessionalDevelopment

Yesterday was a big news day. In case this slipped under your radar, here are some *awesome* announcements made at the Mackinac Policy Conference y'all should know about! ❤️ 🧤 🚀 📣 Ben Marchionna was announced as Michigan's first Chief Innovation Ecosystem Officer. He will help build a community of innovation and make Michigan a place where innovators and entrepreneurs feel seen and heard and work together to drive us forward. <-- More focus on founders 📣 The PitchMI pitch competition was announced. It offers a $100k prize to "an innovative solution that transforms the way Michiganders get from point A to point B safely, affordably, and efficiently." <-- More funds for founders 📣 Governor Whitmer announced the Infrastructure for Innovation executive directive, "instructing state agencies to catalogue technology, equipment, and facilities across the state and work with the owners to make it available to the innovators who need it." <-- More support for founders There has never been a better time to be building a high growth startup in Michigan than now. And it looks like tomorrow will be even better :) #startups #founders #michigan

What do major VCs want to see in a community before they bring big dollars (and connections/expertise) your way?? Well, here are some top insights I learned from a recent dinner with one who has Greenville on their short list... The second one, in particular, may be something worth really thinking through/rallying around for our community: 1) High number of independent coffee shops, like Methodical Coffee or Unlocked Coffee Roasters, for example (spots where creatives, developers, or founders prefer to meet or work). 2) Openness to see past “early exit disease” of only having $40-$50M exits and pushing for larger $250M+ exits which not only attracts great PR, but also injects major recycled capital back into a community. *This group would help with this one if they setup here. 3) Strong collaboration currency where the public/private /academic sectors work well together…oh, I don’t know, like The Hill Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Furman University, NEXT Upstate, and City of Greenville, South Carolina / Startup Greenville SC, for example. 4) High quality of life...not wanting to brag (not completely), but do we really have to say that for Greenville, SC anymore? 😇 Grateful to already have some big players like Cliff Holekamp with Cultivation Capital, VentureSouth, and the critical support being delivered by groups like Founderville and SCRA: South Carolina Research Authority. It's a privilege to plug our Furman students right into all of this! The Hill Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Furman University, Furman University, #entrepreneurship #economicdevelopment #venturecapital #innovation #inspiration #StartupGVL #growthopportunities

Launched in 2019 the GIMED EU funded program aimed at empowering the development of green startups and green entrepreneurship ecosystems in the #mediterranean & here comes the closure of the program celebrating remarkable regional green impact created and the beginning of new entrepreneurship support services and activities in collaboration with regional partners and led by MedWaves team. Learn more on this video and https://lnkd.in/e-yaNys5 #greenentrepreneurship #greeninnovation #circulareconomy Berytech Elise Sfeir Rayan Hicham Chaaban Jessica Hajjar Jessica Ghaoui Anthony Kerbage

🎓 We are very happy to announce that we opened Technische Universität Berlin's Micro-Credential in "Sustainable Entrepreneurship" to students of the Freie Universität Berlin and the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and all three universities are represented in the new cohort! ✨ Building on last year's amazing success, especially at Venture Campus, we're thrilled to kick off our micro-credential once again. This dynamic certificate program combines Green Chemistry with hands-on Entrepreneurship seminars to help students bring their chemistry-related startup ideas to life. Join us in shaping the future of sustainable innovations! 🌱💚 Link to learn more about the micro-credential is in the comments. ⬇️ #GreenChemistry #Sustainability #Entrepreneurship