Credit: Shai Eynav

Credit: Shai Eynav

More than 900 people flocked to campus April 15-16 for Entrepreneurship
@Cornell's Celebration 2010 to learn about and network for all things entrepreneurial.

"I've met people who are aligned with what I'm doing, and it's exciting to see the possibility of new partnerships," said Verneda White '05, founder and creative director of Human Intonation, a Brooklyn-based clothing company that dedicates part of its profits to HIV/AIDS prevention, Darfur peace and Hurricane Katrina efforts. White attended several panel discussions, including "Bootstrapping to Success: Starting a Company on a Shoestring … and a Prayer."

That panel of five speakers with expertise starting their own companies was one of 17 symposiums offered, ranging from discussions about online learning for entrepreneurs and real estate entrepreneurship to fashion with social awareness and growing the "green" economy in upstate New York.

Panelists in the "Bootstrapping" session gave a range of advice for entrepreneurs, from how to find creative sources of funding to how to market ideas with limited money.

Douglas Rowan '61, MBA '62, CEO of ZoomAlbum Inc., encouraged young entrepreneurs to sign every check that goes out from their company so that they keep tight controls on spending. Bill Trenchard '97 -- a successful entrepreneur as a Cornell student, founder of LiveOps Inc. and an angel investor -- said entrepreneurs need to be certain they can answer two questions: What's the world problem that you are addressing? What's your solution?

"This is a fantastic networking opportunity," said Joe Anderson '07 of Northwestern Mutual Financial Network of Latham, N.Y., who is also an investor in a new startup, NorthEast Biogas. "The conference is energizing and motivates me. I'd like to be up there on a panel sometime soon."

"It is always satisfying to work with the various groups across the campus to build an exciting agenda and engage alumni who are happy to come back to Ithaca to participate in the event," said John Jaquette, executive director of Entrepreneurship@Cornell.

In the "Managing your Career … Lessons from Battle-Tested Entrepreneurs" session, young entrepreneurs told stories of starting their businesses in dorm rooms and being persistent, despite numerous setbacks.

When dropping oil prices doomed his greenhouse insulator idea, Jim Farrell '77, MEN '80, returned to the business world, working for an ice cream company and coming up with his next idea -- a specialized blender to allow people to make their own milkshakes in convenience stores and other outlets.

Although it took eight years from idea to profit, Farrell never gave up and today f'Real shakes, smoothies and cappuccinos are in 5,000 locations across the country.

"There was a lot of persistence involved in this whole endeavor," he said. "Entrepreneurship involves some inherent optimism that somehow you'll figure it out."

Along with the panel sessions, the conference included a new business and technology showcase from the Cornell Center for Technology, Enterprise and Commercialization; an expo featuring student and alumni businesses and resources for entrepreneurs; a dinner honoring Lubna Olayan '77 as Cornell Entrepreneur of the Year 2010; three business idea and plan competitions and various networking events.

"I have heard more affirmations this year that attendees are planning already to return next year than in any previous year," said Debra Moesch-Shelley, E@C program manager and Celebration coordinator.

Kathy Hovis is a writer/editor for Entrepreneurship@Cornell.