Alumni Network Events: Startup Advice from Entrepreneurs
By: Sharita Hanley | Categories: Featured Stories
Some of the best entrepreneurial lessons come not from textbooks, but from candid conversations with founders who’ve lived through the highs and lows,” says Tina Dorr, PhD Chem 12. The Institute is a hub of business leaders who embody such wisdom. “Tech instills a culture of collaboration. Jackets know that no challenge is solved alone, and that’s exactly what entrepreneurship requires,” Dorr explains.
That collaborative spirit was evident when alumni gathered to share their business journeys at “Leadership Lessons from the Trenches,” an Atlanta Intown Network event hosted June 12 by the Georgia Tech Alumni Association.“We intentionally chose panelists with very different journeys—some in tech, some in consumer goods, some scaling fast, others growing steadily,” Dorr, who is vice president of Professional Development for the Network, says. “What they all had in common was authenticity and a willingness to share the challenges behind the glossy headlines.”
Steven Little, Mgt 06
Founder of Section 103 and product design manager at Hudl
“Be passionate. And remember, you don’t have to know everything or do everything perfectly to start something. I have learned everything I know about starting a business as I’ve gone through the process. Ask people who have done it before. Ask AI. Just try things, learn, and keep going.” Little founded Section 103 in 2021.
Nelson Davis, CE 07, MS CE 08
Analytic Vizion Founder
“Every decision you make is a statement of values. While this is always true, it is especially true as you get your startup off the ground. Do not weigh every decision as if it is the same. Recognize what is a $10 bet versus what is a $1,000 bet.” Analytic Vizion is a data and analytic consulting firm.
Tom Mulcahey, MS ME 10, PhD ME 14
CSA Medical Inc., CTO and COO
“If you are going to invest in patents or other forms of intellectual property (IP), educate yourself enough on claim language to understand the key components that build value for your venture. Know what your non-negotiables are and take time to brainstorm ways competition may try to get around your IP and other technologies that could generate the same end effect. IP can be expensive, so make sure you fight for the features that will bring a return on the investment or abandon quickly if things get too narrow.”CSA Medical Inc. is developing RejuvenAir, designed to treat the combination of COPD and chronic bronchitis.
