Gilliam Center for Entrepreneurship holds 3rd annual Student Showcase

 On September 13, the Gilliam Center for Entrepreneurship (GCFE) held their 3^rd annual Student Showcase. From a non-profit spreading education about climate change in the developing world through song to a new app that wants to change the way we plan our Saturday night, the evening featured pitches from student ventures that had been developed during the 2019 Summer Venture Accelerator.  

For eight weeks, the student entrepreneurs of Cohort 3 were led in all things start-up by GCFE executive director Patrick McQuown. In addition to their daily work at the Ice House, the students traveled to Richmond, Northern Virginia and New York City, which included a day trip to New Jersey to coach high school students at Rowan University as they prepped for their own pitch competition. At the end of the eight-week session, all the ventures were incorporated and with a clear concept ready to pitch at the Showcase.  

Founders and team members of Lumastic, Amplify, BCCM Farming Innovations, LLC, Drivense, RADR, and Cindy V. were joined for the evening by fellow students, parents, faculty from across the university, members of the Board of Visitors and JMU VIP’s as First Lady Alger. We were honored to have the widower of GCFE’s namesake Richard Baxter Gilliam, Sr. in attendance as well.  

Additionally, DyeHappy, BeatGig and Bartrack, alumni of the Summer Venture Accelerator, also came back to give updates on how their businesses have grown since leaving JMU. Everyone was thrilled to hear how much they are continuing to grow. 

Summer Venture Accelerator is planned to start in June of 2020!