After a record-setting rainy month in July, August feels more like the beginning of summer than the end here in Hanover. Despite that, the return to campus will be happening soon, and fall at the Magnuson Center is filling up with events and programs for students, alumni and staff with an interest in entrepreneurship and investment. Many programs are accepting applications now.

Here’s what you can look forward to at the Magnuson Center this fall, and the programs you should apply for today.

The Dartmouth Entrepreneur’s Forum

Friday Sept. 10; Friday Sept. 24

Virtual

The Magnuson Center’s flagship event, the Dartmouth Entrepreneur’s Forum, will take place virtually over two days: Friday, September 10 and Friday, September 24. Although we had been looking forward to bringing the Dartmouth entrepreneurial community together in person, the challenges posed by the Delta variant made everyone more comfortable with a virtual event. If last year’s forum is any indication, DEF will be packed with insightful keynotes, lively panels and vibrant discussions of entrepreneurial innovation, which continues to be at the forefront of the pandemic response. Registration and a full schedule will be available soon.

Dartmouth Innovations Accelerator for Cancer

Applications Due Friday, September 10

The Dartmouth Innovations Accelerator for Cancer, launched in 2020, provides the support, guidance and infrastructure that innovators need to bring their technology from the lab, to the market place. The Accelerator features a 10-week educational program delivered by Simbex and Celdara Medical, mentorship and up to $450,000 in awards.

“The Dartmouth Accelerator provided not only capital, but an educational program that has been indispensable in preparing our team to commercialize our novel therapeutic,” said Jordan Isaacs, Guarini ’24, part of the team that won the $300,000 top prize from the accelerator last year. “To make a difference in patient lives, academic inventions must actually make it to the patient setting rather than remain in a laboratory. The Accelerator has provided the training and funding to help investigators at the [Norris Cotton Cancer Center] bridge this gap.”

The program is open to faculty, staff and graduate students. Apply by Friday, Sept. 10.  Email Lidia Schoonenberg, Program Manager for Startup Support, with questions about participation or mentorship, at Lidia.J.Schoonenberg@Dartmouth.edu.

Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC) Workshops

Applications due Saturday, Sept. 18

Have you ever wanted to know how a venture capitalist thinks? Whether you’re a founder who wants to better understand the other side of the table or a potential investor wanting to hone your skills at evaluating companies, VCIC provides an opportunity to learn and practice in a low-risk environment.

The Dartmouth Undergraduate Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC) Workshops are led by Jim Feuille D’79, Executive Director of the Center for Private Equity and Venture Capital at the Tuck School of Business, and cover topics ranging from interviewing founders to crafting investment strategy.

“Both founders and investors need to learn what it takes to build a successful company that survives the test of time, and founders and investors alike very frequently ‘cross over the edge,’ transitioning from investing to founding, or vice versa,” said Matt Kenney D’21, chair of the Magnuson Student Leadership Board, who helped bring a VCIC competition to campus last spring.

The program requires a 3-hour per week time commitment throughout the fall term. Students may also have the opportunity to compete in VCIC competitions against teams from other universities. Apply here.

3 Day Startup

Friday-Sunday, Sept. 24-26

In Person

Do you have a great idea, but wonder where to get started? If so, 3 Day Startup (3DS) is the perfect opportunity to bring your concept into reality. Over the course of a weekend you’ll work with an interdisciplinary team to bring a startup to life.

“I had no idea where to start that sort of process, so when I got the email about the 3 Day Startup, it seemed like the perfect storm,” said Avery Sholes D’24, who participated in 3DS last spring. “I can get that initial pitch out there, hone the idea, and learn about the next steps.”

The event is free and open to all undergrad, graduate, post-doc students and fellows, even those like Zhoucai Ni D’24, who have no experience with entrepreneurship.

“I accomplished a lot more than I thought I would in 3DS,” said Ni, who participated in the spring. “The course was extremely helpful and taught using experience and practice instead of PowerPoint. I learned how to do market research, pitching to investors, work in a team environment and how to resolve conflicts between team members.”

Apply here by Saturday, Sept. 18. If you have questions, email Sarah Morgan, Program Manager for Experiential Learning, at Sarah.I.Morgan@dartmouth.edu.

Check back for more events from the Magnuson Center this fall.