Dinner with Entrepreneurs
This program launched in 2001 with support from the John E. and Jeanne T. Hughes Foundation. It was designed to bring students together with entrepreneurs in a dinner setting.
Register for Dinner with Entrepreneurs
Why attend?
- network in a business setting with company Founders, CEOs, Presidents, Investors;
- meet and mingle with entrepreneurs;
- witness the entrepreneurial mindset in action;
- explore entrepreneurship as a career choice;
- discuss your own business ideas;
- learn about resources to help launch a business; and
- meet like-minded peers who might partner with you to launch a business.
Details
- check the event schedule below;
- register;
- the number of students is limited to ensure high-impact networking;
- dress casual, but neat;
- dinners are free to WPI students and to others by invitation of the CEI;
- cancellations: please notify "cei at wpi.edu" at least 24 hours in advance! Dinners are very costly and once ordered cannot be cancelled. Please allow a waitlisted student to attend in your place;
- waitlist: Waitlisted students will be notified as openings become available.
Get prepared in advance - networking know-how in 30 minutes!
Thirty minutes prior to each dinner, networking skills are learned and practiced. Arrive at the Higgins House at 5:30 p.m.
- Overcome common networking hurdles.
- Learn networking etiquette.
- Practice new networking skills before the dinner to use at the dinner.
Past Networking Clinic Speakers
Most cited reasons for attending the dinners
- "...meeting business and social venture CEOs, Founders, and Presidents."
- "...finding a support network for developing my business idea."
- "...learning and practicing networking skills."
- "...found an internship in a start-up biotech company."
- "...gained skills, practice, and confidence in networking."
- "...great food and conversation!"
Event Schedule
New dinners are currently being scheduled for the 2009-2010 season, but below are examples of companies that attended dinners during 2008-2009.
-
ISO Indus Entrepreneurs Luncheon - Wed., March 4, 2009 - What entrepreneurs are attending?
- Amar V. Kapur, '65 President & CEO, Aimtek, Inc.
- J. Singh, Managing Director, Early Stage IT
- Arif Padaria, Principal, Pilot House Ventures Group, Inc.
- Raj Melville, Principal, Ambient Engines & Charter Member TiE- Boston
- Rakesh Pandey, Independent Consultant and Charter Member, TiE-Boston
-
WPI Students, Wed., February 18, 2009 - What entrepreneurs are attending?
- Doron Reuveni, CEO, uTest, Inc.
- Arif Padaria, Principal, Pilot House Ventures Group, LLC
- Al Prescott, President, Crescent Innovations, Inc.
- Dr. Steven Munevar, Ph.D., MBA, President and Principal Associate, Munevar & Associates, inc.
- Russ Samara, Principal, Biomass Combustion Systems, Inc.
- Barbara Finer, President, QuiVivity Marketing Partners
-
WPI Students, December 10, 2008 - What entrepreneurs attended?
- Lisa Granquist-Dorward, social entrepreneur
- Laura Briere, CEO & Founder, Vision Advertising
- Barbara Finer, President, QuiVivity Marketing Partners
- Eric Melin, Former President, now CTO, SpiderSplat
- Anthony Salotto, software consulting
-
WPI Students: Wednesday, November 5, 2008 - What entrepreneurs attended?
- Kenneth Rapp, President and CEO of VelQuest Corporation
- David Comeau, Founder of Albright Technologies, Inc.
- Mitchell Sanders, Ph.D., WPI '88, '92 Executive VP and Founder, ECI Biotech
- Paul Hanlon, Owner of Blue-Hive, Strategic Exhibits and Events
Last modified: August 27, 2009 12:29:34