Magnuson Venture Studio: A new space for the startup founder community
Amayr Babar MEM ’26 and Ali Sareini MEM ’26 grinding on Nautilus. Let’s go!
In Fall 2024, the Magnuson Center expanded its footprint on campus to include a new space on 2F Murdough, adjacent to the Technology Transfer Office above Feldberg Library. This new space is the Magnuson Venture Studio, a place for founders on campus to make connections and find support.
The space features an open setting with multiple places to work, a private booth for calls and meetings, and the offices of a few Magnuson Center team members.
In addition, it’s now the home to a cohort of startups who meet weekly during the term for Founders Night, a forum for sharing achievements and challenges. Over the last academic year, 18 teams participated and helped evolve the program while iterating on their own startups.
The primary goal of this pilot was to build community among committed founders on campus. “Students have a lot going on with many choices about how to spend their time. This group supports those who prioritize their startup work to know that they aren’t alone,” says Roy Schmidt, Program Manager for Startup Support.
The community helps foster a supportive environment for founders who are willing to share both their highs and lows as they go through their startup journeys together.
“More than anything, the Venture Studio was an empowering space for me as a student-entrepreneur,” says Kino co-founder Jackson Gerard ‘25. Kino team member Jessica Bargamian ‘25 adds, “The Venture Studio is an amazing opportunity not only to workshop your own startup, but also to connect with like-minded students and learn from each other.”
“Having a shared space to test ideas, learn from others, and stay accountable helped me refine both the product and the path forward,” says Alastair Huntley, MALS student and founder of SocialTheory.
Learning by doing
Like a startup, the program itself iterated over the year based on learning through experimentation. Schmidt recalls an early lesson, “In the fall term, we had a points system to try and encourage certain actions. It wasn’t the right motivation given the nature of the program, so we ditched that after one term.”
The process to join the cohort was also tested throughout the year, with various combinations of pitching and voting. “The original idea was that the group would help define itself, but it ended up being confusing or uncomfortable for some participants.” Moving forward, Schmidt will be inviting teams to join, including the teams who win TuckLAB: Entrepreneurship and DartUp’s Social Blueprint Challenge each year. “After this first year, I have a better sense of which startup teams best fit into the mix. But that also means we’ll have higher expectations to stay in the group. The community will continue to evolve – we’re all still learning.”
Membership has its privileges
While the strength of the community is the primary benefit, there are also some perks available to the participants.
In addition to the weekly Founders Night dinners, teams in the cohort get 24/7 keycard access to the Venture Studio space.
The startups also have access to an additional funding opportunity, with the team showing the most progress by the end of each term earning a $1k grant to help encourage continued momentum toward their next milestone.
“A lot of my progress and many of the things I've accomplished were motivated by being surrounded by these amazing, determined people who really want to get their ideas out there. Compounding work and putting a bunch of smart, determined people together produces an electric environment,” says Josué Godeme ‘26, founder of Echo and recipient of one of the Venture Studio progress grants.
Another perk of the program: One team from the Venture Studio is selected by the group to be an automatic semifinalist in the spring Magnuson Startup Competition. This past March, Nautilus, founded by Amayr Babar MEM ‘26 and Ali Sareini MEM ‘26, was voted into that spot, and they advanced to present at the finals during the Dartmouth Entrepreneurs Forum and won the competition, earning the $20k Jeff Crowe Grand Prize.
Taking advantage of the Dartmouth connection
Support for the group also includes connections with Magnuson’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Schmidt helps match teams with mentors from the Startup Mentor Network, and some of the Founders Night dinners feature special guests, providing an opportunity to engage in open discussions with experienced founders and investors.
Jonah Hymes ’28, co-founder of MiteOut, encourages other Dartmouth students to look into the resources available here. “One of the biggest takeaways for us was realizing how powerful the Dartmouth network can be when you truly engage with it. The access to mentors, funding, and other students with similar goals provided a level of feedback and support that really pushed us forward.”
“It’s important to understand that it’s your commitment to learning and making progress that matters most. Lots of people have amazing ideas, but execution is the differentiator. If you are willing to put in the work and be open to feedback and building relationships, you’re on the right track,” says Schmidt.
“Trying to balance building a startup with school is tough. And nobody understands that better than other student founders. Putting these motivated students together leads to good things.”
Would joining the Venture Studio community be beneficial for your startup progress? Schedule time with Roy to discuss your goals and learn more. A variety of support options exist, and we encourage you to take advantage of the resources available.
More about the startups mentioned in this article:
Kino: Kino is an AI-powered body intelligence platform. From images on your smartphone, we derive insights that help you manage your health and wellbeing without the need for expensive and inaccessible medical machinery.
MiteOut: MiteOut Technologies prevents hive collapse with a device that combines automated mite treatment and hive monitoring. By delivering precise chemical doses and real-time insights, we help beekeepers protect their colonies with greater accuracy and ease.
Echo: The conversation practice app for intermediate learners who want to sound natural, not textbook-perfect.
Nautilus: Online wash sales made simple and effective. Sell washes online with any equipment or POS. Increase your revenue by managing memberships and marketing with ease. Find out more at nautilus.co
SocialTheory: A digital health company focused on improving patient-centered communication in chronic disease care. Our flagship platform, Survival Story, blends interactive storytelling with evidence-based content to support shared decision-making, build trust, and deepen understanding between patients and clinicians. We are currently in the pilot phase.