March 23, 2005
Fourth annual Purdue symposium to celebrate entrepreneurism
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The fourth annual Purdue University Entrepreneurship Symposium on April 1 will offer speakers on the key elements of entrepreneurial success and the contributions of entrepreneurship to society.
The Celebrating Entrepreneurism conference, which also offers fledgling area entrepreneurs the opportunity to network, discuss and ask questions about their dream ventures, begins at 9 a.m. in the third-floor commons area of Rawls Hall.
The symposium, which is free and open to the public, wraps up with a 12:30 p.m. lunch and networking reception. Symposium information and online registration materials are available.
The Krannert Entrepreneurship Club, an organization of Krannert School MBA students and other students from across campus, is organizing the event. Sponsors include Purdue's Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship and the Indiana Venture Center, Inc.
"Every year, our symposium has been growing in popularity and reach," said Anoop Tiwari, Purdue MBA candidate and president of the Krannert Entrepreneurship Club.
"This year, we have paid special attention to make the event extremely interactive and involve as many people as we can. The panel discussions will cater to high-tech ventures as well as small-scale, low-investment venture enthusiasts. It is a phenomenal opportunity to interact with some of the best minds in the industry."
After an introduction by Tiwari, Purdue President Martin C. Jischke will greet symposium attendees at approximately 9 a.m.
Gerald J. Lynch, associate dean for programs and student services at Krannert, will make closing comments at approximately 12:15 p.m. The lunch and networking session will follow on the second floor of Rawls Hall.
The morning of discussion panels and speakers begins at approximately 9:15 a.m. in Rawls Hall with talks by professors Tim Folta of Purdue and Steven Michael of the University of Illinois. Folta, an associate professor of strategic management and entrepreneurship at Krannert, will discuss "Ventures in Life Sciences." Michael, an associate professor of strategic management, will discuss "Success Factors in Small-Scale Ventures."
Following the presentations are two simultaneous panel discussions — Small-Scale Ventures and Entrepreneurship in Life Sciences — offered at 10 a.m. Folta will coordinate the life sciences panel, and Michael will coordinate the small-scale ventures panel.
Another speaker session is scheduled for 11 a.m., when Indiana Venture Center President Steve Beck will speak about "The Economic Impact of Entrepreneurship."
The Indiana Venture Center is a privately funded not-for-profit organization serving as a catalyst for the creation and growth of entrepreneurial, high-growth businesses in Indiana. The center strives to increase both the number and the quality of successful entrepreneurial companies in Indiana and provide new career opportunities to high-knowledge workers.
Beck's presentation will then be followed at approximately 11:30 a.m. by a panel discussion entitled Technology Transfer from Universities. Arnold C. Cooper, Louis A. Weil Jr. Professor of Management at Purdue, will moderate that panel discussion.
Panelists will include Ron Ellis, president and chief executive officer of Endocyte Inc., a biotechnology firm based at the Purdue Research Park; Michael Gruber, venture capitalist for Keiretsu Forum; Simran Trana, acting director of the Purdue Research Foundation's Office of Technology Commercialization; Michael Villalobos, technology manager at the Purdue Research Foundation's Office of Technology Commercialization; Paroon Chadha, entrepreneur and Krannert alumnus; Sean Mooney, assistant professor, Indiana University School of Medicine; Joerg Schreiber, vice president of research and development for the health-care technology company Roche Diagnostics; Michael Silvon, Bioanalytical Systems Inc. vice president of planning and development; Teri Willey of ARCH Development Partners, LLC; and Pete Kissinger, chairman and CEO of Bioanalytical Systems Inc.
"The symposium should be a great help both for people at Purdue and for all business professionals in the Lafayette community, including potential entrepreneurs as well as self-employed business persons," said Akira Takahashi, Purdue MBA candidate and vice president of the Krannert Entrepreneurship Club. "We really hope to welcome as many guests as possible from the community."
The Entrepreneurship Club is based at the Krannert School of Management, but membership is open to all Purdue students, faculty, staff and community members.
The Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship at Discovery Park brings together existing entrepreneurial efforts on campus, including technology-transfer activities and other entrepreneurial competitions, speakers and events. The center also serves as a resource for Purdue researchers to commercialize their discoveries and as the intellectual center of education on, and discussion of, entrepreneurial philosophy and issues.
"The Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship is pleased to once again support the Krannert Entrepreneurship Club and their symposium," said Donald A. Blewett, associate director of the Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship. "Activities such as this continue to encourage Purdue's entrepreneurs and provide exposure to the principles of entrepreneurship."
Writer: Aaron Martin (765) 496-3133, martinac@purdue.edu
Sources: Donald A. Blewett, (765) 494-4485, blewett@mgmt.purdue.edu
Anoop Tiwari, atiwari@purdue.edu
Akira Takahashi, atakahas@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
Note to Journalists: Media are welcome at the event. To make arrangements, contact Anoop Tiwari, president of the Krannert Entrepreneurship Club, at atiwari@purdue.edu.
Related Web sites:
Purdue University Home Page
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