Meet the Techstars Startup Weekend Winners
Details
On Friday Feb. 27th Meet the overall winners of Techstars Startup Weekend – Richmond Changemakers.
The Campus Closet and Drip Share team developed from the merging of a community member, a student group from Hampden-Sydney College, and a group of University of Richmond students.
Learn about their approach to:
- Tackling Sustainability
- Customer Validation
- Prototyping Design
- Business Model
Several of the team members will join us, and in their own words:
Emma Cooke. “I am a sophomore from Columbus, Ohio, majoring in Business Administration with a double concentration in Marketing and Entrepreneurship, and a minor in American Studies. This upcoming summer, I will be interning with IGS Energy, a company in my hometown, as their Campus Talent Engagement Intern. My interest in entrepreneurship started at a young age, but it wasn't until I came to Richmond that I became more serious about all of the possibilities in this field. The program here at U of R has taught me about the importance of building human connection, pushing yourself to think outside of the box, and treating failures as a new opportunity. Entrepreneurship means so much to me because it allows me to embrace the creative, analytical, and professional sides of myself.”
Anna Gregory. “I’m a sophomore from Concord, Massachusetts, majoring in Leadership Studies and double minoring in Entrepreneurship and Rhetoric & Communication. Richmond’s entrepreneurship program has given me an incredible professional and creative outlet in a supportive, encouraging environment. Entrepreneurship has become really important to me because it challenges me to think bigger, take initiative, and actually bring ideas to life.”
Caroline Kelly. "I was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. I am a senior majoring in Business Administration, with concentrations in Management Consulting & Entrepreneurship, and a double major in Leadership Studies. Two summers ago, I was a Public Relations Intern at Nicole Russo Communications Inc. in Boston's North End. This past summer, I was a Summer Associate Intern at Guidepoint where I worked on the Institutional Client Service Consulting team. Upon graduation in May, I will be returning to Guidepoint as a full time Associate on the team. I currently work part-time at the Law School Career Development Center, and at EVR Research, a small investment management firm. Entrepreneurship is important to me because I enjoy identifying everyday pain points and figuring out how to turn ideas into real, practical solutions. It also gives me the opportunity to apply concepts I’ve learned in accounting, finance, and management in a more hands-on, collaborative, and real-world setting."
The Discussion. This series of hybrid events is perfect for budding entrepreneurs, experienced executive mentors cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset, early-stage investors, and students exploring innovative product design.
At each session, business founders serve as guest speakers share about their career, their firm's business model, as well as the successes and challenges in the product development process. Participants learn from the speakers’ experiences, discuss valuable insights, and connect with other entrepreneurs, students, faculty, and investors.
Logistics. A light lunch is served, as entrepreneurs connect with one another, learn from peers, and contribute to the conversation:
- Friday, February 27, 2026
- 11:30am EST - Coffee & Connection
- 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST - Presentation & Discussion
No pre-registration is required. Join us:
Robins School of Business
102 UR Drive, iLab Room 123
University of Richmond, VA 23173
Parking. Free parking is available in the U5 and U6 lots immediately adjacent to the Robins School. Please enter the main foyer, turn to the left and proceed to room 123 (EY Innovation Lab) on the ground floor.
Please note that visitors have a two-hour parking window.
Please sign in when you enter the room, providing your license plate number.
On Zoom Webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89608419334?pwd=am0F9r85xPfh7aBaxtdUDILYsvNAwJ.1
