Image
Loading...
Hundreds of students packed Geneen Auditorium at the Fuqua School of Business last Thursday, filling the room with a palpable sense of energy and curiosity. Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship and the Christensen Family Center for Innovation (CFCI) have partnered to sponsor Startup Fest since 2024, and each year the event sets an inspiring tone for the spring semester.
Drawing entrepreneurial students from across campus, Startup Fest offers a gateway into the startup ecosystem. It connects students to early-stage opportunities, potential collaborators, and the resources available to help ideas take shape.
Amy Linnane, Managing Director of Programs for Duke I&E, opened the event by highlighting the cash, content and community resources available at Duke. From funding opportunities to mentorship and experiential programs, she emphasized that students do not have to navigate their entrepreneurial journeys alone.
Image
The energy continued with one minute speed pitches from student founders representing a wide range of ventures:
- Uncharted - Customized AI solutions for investment professionals
- Voice Back - Technology empowering people with speech loss to reclaim their voice
- Liv-Sanitas - Liver Disease awareness, assessments and management
- momnt - A wearable time bank that helps to cut down on doom scrolling
- Liberata - An open access academic publishing platform with incentivized quality controls
- Pacto Sunscreen – A refreshing sunscreen for men
- Vetmind AI - AI mental health support for veterans
The spotlight then shifted to Tarun Amasa, who shared his journey from Duke student to Thiel Fellow and founder of Endex.ai. Reflecting on the lessons that shaped his career, he held the auditorium’s attention as he emphasized the importance of curiosity, resilience, and surrounding yourself with people who challenge your thinking. His message resonated deeply with students eager to chart their own paths.
Image
After the program, students migrated to the Kirby Reading Room to continue conversations and explore tables hosted by CFCI, the Cube, Girls in VC, Duke Venture Group, and DAML. The “Innovate like a Blue Devil” t-shirts ran out quickly, but the collaborative spirit carried on well into the evening.
Startup Fest is just the beginning. Duke students have a full slate of I&E events ahead this spring, all building toward the grand finale: The Duke Startup Showcase. Open to students and members of the broader community, the Showcase brings Duke’s most promising student ventures to the stage to compete for over $110K in non-dilutive prizes. Mark your calendar for April 9 and get your ticket to see firsthand what happens when Blue Devils innovate together. Limited sponsorship opportunities are still available. To learn more contact: Erin Gasch.