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Your Expert Toolkit
Thank you for being part of the Duke I&E Experts community. This toolkit is designed to make it easy for you to support students and alumni, refer them to the right resources, and understand the impact of your engagement. Use this page to prepare for calls, respond to common questions, and refer students and alumni to the right resources.
Questions? Contact: Kelley.Downey@duke.edu or Erin.Gasch@duke.edu
*This page is periodically updated at least once per quarter
- Experts in Entrepreneurship website: send folks here to review the roster and schedule an appointment.
- Airtable feedback form: please complete after each call. Note: The password is unicorn
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Duke Experts in Entrepreneurship is…
- For Duke students and alumni only.
- Access to amazing Duke alumni who are volunteering to support the Duke I&E ecosystem.
- A resource to seek feedback on how to take entrepreneurial ideas forward.
- To be taken seriously out of respect for everyone’s time.
Duke Experts in Entrepreneurship is not…
- A job search tool. Please redirect the user to the links below.
- A sales or prospecting tool. Experts and their contact lists are not available for product promotion, fundraising, or sales outreach.
- A place to send the same broad question to multiple experts. Each expert’s time is valuable, and the best results come from asking specific, tailored questions.
- To be abused. Users who miss two scheduled calls or who display inappropriate conduct will be banned from future use.
- A regular mentorship or coaching relationship. Our experts will help set you on a path for success and point you to other resources.
Expectations
When users book a call with an expert, they are expected to attend as scheduled. If two calls are missed, the user will lose access to the network. Before scheduling an appointment, users are required to include the following in the calendly form:
- LinkedIn URL and/or a professional bio
- A link to their company/organization's website (if available)
- Up to three questions or issues to discuss
Opinions and advice given by Duke Experts in Entrepreneurship are not those of Duke University. The information provided by the Experts does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials from the Experts shall be used for general informational purposes only.
GUIDANCE for common scenarios
Sales pitches: A few students and alumni have used their expert calls to pitch products/services or ask for contacts to help with sales. Since that’s not what the program is for, we’ve updated the website to make things clearer and addressed it directly with those users. We’ve also shared a few examples below that you can use if it happens during one of your calls. Thank you for flagging these – it keeps the program focused, friendly, and valuable for everyone. Here are a few easy ways to respond:
- “That’s outside the scope of the Experts in Entrepreneurship program, but I’m happy to share general advice on how you might build those connections.”
- “The Experts in Entrepreneurship program isn’t intended for sales outreach or requests for contacts. I encourage you to continue connecting through Duke I&E channels instead.”
- “I appreciate your enthusiasm. Just a quick reminder that the Experts in Entrepreneurship program follows community standards focused on learning, not sales or fundraising.”
1. How do I know if I’m ready to raise?
- Do I need traction before raising?
- What milestones make a startup “fundable”?
- Should I bootstrap longer?
Experts should be ready to discuss readiness signals such as product validation, early revenue, user growth, technical milestones, or team strength.
2. How much should I raise and at what valuation?
- How to determine a reasonable raise amount
- What early stage valuations look like
- How to avoid over dilution
Experts should be prepared to discuss milestone based fundraising and capital efficiency.
3. Should I raise from angels, VCs, crowdfunding, or grants?
- When to pursue angels vs venture capital
- Whether crowdfunding hurts future VC prospects
- How non-dilutive funding fits into strategy
Experts should help founders think about alignment between capital type and company type.
4. How do I structure equity among cofounders and early hires?
- Is 60 40 fair?
- What happens if we add another cofounder?
- How much equity do early employees typically get?
Experts should be ready to discuss vesting, cliffs, option pools, and governance basics.
5. When should I form an LLC or corporation?
- Should I incorporate before revenue?
- Delaware vs home state?
- How does visa status affect this?
Experts should clarify trade-offs and timing considerations.
6. When should I file for a patent or trademark?
- Provisional vs non provisional patent
- Do I need an NDA before pitching?
- Is it too early to think about IP?
Experts should help founders understand strategic IP timing vs unnecessary expense.
7. How do I validate demand before investing heavily in product?
- How do I test if this idea is real?
- What traction signals matter?
- When do you pivot vs keep going?
Experts should be ready with lightweight validation tactics and examples.
8. How do I differentiate in a crowded market?
Especially common in consumer, media, and SaaS startups:
- How do we stand out?
- What makes a compelling narrative?
- What messaging converts?
Experts should discuss positioning, niche strategy, and early GTM experimentation.
9. What do investors actually look for in a pitch?
- What goes into a pitch deck?
- What questions will investors ask?
- What are common red flags?
Experts should be ready to discuss team-market fit, traction, narrative clarity, and capital plan logic.
10. How do I maintain control while raising capital?
Often in manufacturing, climate, and capital intensive startups:
- How much dilution is normal?
- How do voting rights work?
- How early do investors expect exit clarity?
Experts should be ready to discuss governance, board structure, and realistic expectations.
general
- Explore the Duke I&E website for updated information on funding, events, and programs.
- Join Duke I&E Network group and engage with the community.
- Ask a Blue Devil to get advice from the Duke community.
STUDENTS
Encourage students to meet with the Duke I&E team for more information on any of the following.
- Duke I&E Funding
- Launch: up to $1K plus coaching and community.
- Interplay Fellowship (Deadline March): up to $40K for graduating founders looking to pursue their startup full-time.
- Duke Startup Showcase (Deadline January): Over $110K in non-dilutive prizes available. Attend the showcase on April 9 to see startups pitch on the big stage!
- Alison Bernstein Venture Activation Fund: support for student founders to access tools, expertise and professional services that can enhance their ventures.
- Find the full list of I&E funding opportunities here.
- Duke I&E Community
- LAUNCH - community for early stage founders to join where they can gain group coaching and up to $1,000 in funding.
- Melissa & Doug Entrepreneurs: An annual cohort of students from various ages/stages/degree programs who receive 1-on-1 coaching, networking opportunities, and funding.
- Duke in Silicon Valley: A 4-week total immersion summer study-away program that connects students with founders and companies in the bay area (for undergraduates only).
- Duke I&E Content
- Duke I&E Certificate: The Duke I&E certificate is somewhere between a major and a minor in terms of the amount of time and effort required to complete it, and it is interdisciplinary by design. The Duke I&E Certificate includes two required courses (Strategies for Innovation & Entrepreneurship and the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Capstone) and two electives from a choice of 70 in diverse fields such as public policy, health, business, engineering, and the arts. Students also must complete two learning experiences related to innovation and entrepreneurship, totaling 450 hours. Examples of experiences include developing a venture, working as an intern at an innovative company, doing research, engaging in the community, and completing independent projects. In short: the Duke I&E Certificate helps students set themselves apart with creativity, business skills, and the ability to turn ideas into action.
- Events & Popups: There's always fun stuff happening at the Duke I&E Bullpen!
- Month of Impact: A monthly roundup of the Duke community's headlines (fundraising, acquisitions, and awards).
- Career support: visit the Career Hub
ALUMNI
Background
The Experts in Entrepreneurship program was piloted in 2024–2025 with 12 Duke alumni experts to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world entrepreneurial decision-making. In its second year, 2025–2026, the program has grown to 18 experts to meet increasing demand from students and alumni.
Success story
Senior and Duke softball standout Aminah Vega is stepping up as the founder of TruePathPro, a patented softball and baseball hitting training tool. Through Experts in Entrepreneurship, Aminah connected with Al Araiza to refine her business model, sharpen her customer strategy, and secure patent pending status. “The guidance I received through I&E shaped how I approached the market and helped take my idea from concept to a protected product.”
Student Feedback
"People never want to give us (founders) the time of day, and here you are, ready to give us your time and thoughts." -Afifa
SUbscribe
Subscribe to the Entrepreneur Office Hours Substack for weekly insights straight from Duke I&E faculty and experts. Tools, strategies, and real stories that will help students and alumni launch smarter, lead better, and think bigger.
Take note
Keep an eye on this page for up-to-date information on upcoming events for students and alumni.
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